American Atheists extends its gratitude to the men and women of all theological positions who are serving or have served this country in the armed forces. Of course, a special salute to my two favorite veterans, my Dad and my friend Kathleen, two atheist veterans who served in very different but very real foxholes.
Can we hear from the vets out there?
Thank you for that. It is true that atheists are rare in the military, but we are out there. I am proud to have served my country and the people of this great nation, and proud to have served alongside some of the finest human beings I have ever met. It is incumbent upon all of us to keep working hard to keep this nation great.
USMC 1992-2000
I’m not much of a veteran (got disabled in training) but enough to count according to the VA. Enlisted after 9/11 as an atheist… got issued a bible along with everyone else at MEPS, got “witnessed” to by Navy medical staff, etc… was an interesting experience. Was following in the footsteps of my Dad who is more of an agnostic and made it through his 6 years in one piece. A big thanks to all veterans of all stripes today.
I have spent my twelve years of service in the Army, the Florida National Guard, and I am currently serving in the Army Reserve. I make a point of not bowing my head when the chaplain is leading a prayer. This has led me to identify two other atheists in my unit. We also have a Jew and a Muslim. Pretty good for Oklahoma.
I am very open about my atheism in my Reserve unit, and I have yet to get any flak over it.
Too bad I can’t be that open in my civilian employment. Parents would scream bloody murder and the school board would find an excuse to get rid of me. The fact that I don’t attend any of the area churches is already causing some raised eyebrows. Gotta love living in the buckle of the Bible Belt.
I spent my time in the USMC 2003-2007 among the freethinking minority. I also made it a point to not lower my head during unit lead prayers, as I could not allow myself to submit to it. I saw too much proselytizing in the military, and am glad to be away from that portion of it.
Pretty low response. I wonder, are there really so few veterans reading this blog, or maybe there are other reasons they remain silent?
I just got out of the army a few months ago. I served openly all five years as an atheist. Luckily I was in an intel unit, so *most* people at least understood. I didn’t lower my head at prayers or even say, “so help me God” during my enlistment. In that time, I’ve only had a few people go over my paperwork and ask me why I am an atheist. My dogtags say it, and some people have asked, why not just put “no preference.” Well, I do have a preference. Apparently the person filling in my ERB when I was at basic training took it upon themselves to put “no preference” instead of “atheist” which is what I requested. When I went to get that changed, the guy had a fit. I’m like, this is not your job. Your job is to change it. I mean, some people have “Jedi” listed! Come on! Is that really more acceptable? I didn’t have to deal with too much discrimination though, (aside from the few senior NCOs who told me that my problem is that I need to find God) except probably at basic training. I chose to attend the Buddhist service on Sundays because 1. it wasn’t Christian and 2. why should I have to clean toilets while others got to play footsies in the pews of the Gospel service? Plus, the Buddhist service was really long, relaxing, and there was a hidden telephone so that I could scam phone calls every Sunday, for as long as I wanted! Bonus! Some of the drill sergeants on Sundays, in their deep Southern drawls, would make fun of the soldiers who didn’t go to a Christian service, and almost not let us go. Then I’d pull the discrimination card, and we’d get to leave. One of our “rewards” was to get this “Free Day Away” thing at a local church. I thought that it was absolutely heinous that a church organization somehow had enough of a pull with the higher-ups at Ft Leonard Wood that they’d let everyone go for a day. The soldiers went because they’d get to mingle, drink sugary drinks, eat pizza, and buy candy bars. The church was one of those ones that tried to save you, and made everyone come up and witness the Lord. Whatever. I just morally could not possibly go. I don’t really like candy and pop enough to sit through a church service and get ’saved.’ That being said, when I was stationed in California, we had the most amazing chaplain I’ve ever met. He was definitely not your typical religious person. He was more of a new-agey kind of guy. Even before I told him that I wasn’t a Christian, he knew. And then he read my aura. (!!!) He was there for everyone’s support, regardless of what they believed or did not believe. I hadn’t seen anyone like that since. At any rate, I guess my experiences probably weren’t typical because I wasn’t stationed someplace dominated by line units and that demographic.
Atheist and U.S. Army (1987 – 1995). Gulf War veteran. 2nd ACR.