Fort Benning, GA – a U.S. Army base that sees 25,000 soldiers a year – has not exactly been known for its sensitivity to religious minorities. The discrimination and abuse suffered last year by 20-year-old Michael Handman, simply for his Jewish faith, resulted in one fellow trainee being kicked out of the Army, and two drill seargants disciplined. (His experience, by the way, represents the kind of outrageous behavior that led many of us to wish Rep. McHugh would be questioned for his church-state beliefs during his confirmation hearing as the new Secretary of the Army, but I digress..)
Commanders at Fort Benning have taken some helpful first steps in improving this situation, as the Army Times reports.
Drill sergeants now have to attend classes on how to accommodate soldiers of varying religious faiths. Fort Benning plans to begin holding Jewish worship services on Fridays and observe the holidays of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah on post, rather than busing soldiers to a synagogue in neighboring Columbus.
About two weeks ago, Fort Benning also added a full-time Jewish chaplain, Maj. Carols Huerta, one of only a few rabbis serving in the Army Chaplain Corps.
Kosher meals ready-to-eat that the Army provides for soldiers in the field are now also available at Benning as well.
Progress.
