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DoD Report on Ft. Hood Shooting Includes Recommendations on Religion In Military

By Howard M. Friedman

The Department of Defense yesterday released an 86-page report Protecting the Force: Lessons from Fort Hood. The study was ordered by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates after the November killing of 13 and wounding of 43 at Ft. Hood by Army Major Nidal Hasan. Among the Report's numerous Findings (supplemented by Discussion and Recommendations) are three that impact religion in the military:

Finding 2.3: DoD standards for denying requests for recognition as an ecclesiastical endorser of chaplains may be inadequate.... This limited authority to deny requests for designation as ecclesiastical endorsers could allow undue improper influence by individuals with a propensity toward violence.....

Finding 2.7: DoD policy regarding religious accommodation lacks the clarity necessary to help commanders distinguish appropriate religious practices from those that might indicate a potential for self-radicalization....

Finding 4.9: The lack of published guidance for religious support in mass casualty incidents hampers integration of religious support to installation emergency management plans.

Today's Wall Street Journal discusses the report.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 16, 2010 (boomark / email).