Late Update Regarding Ft. Leonard Wood in MO

AU Urges Army To Make Further Changes To ‘Church Retreat’ Program

U.S. military officials should make further changes at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri to ensure that soldiers are not subjected to unwanted religious proselytism, Americans United told Army officials in December.

In July of 2008, Americans United wrote to Department of Defense officials to raise concerns about the “Tabernacle Baptist Church Retreat” (previously known as “Free Day Away”), a program sponsored by a congregation in Lebanon, Mo. Under the program, soldiers are taken to the church for food and recreational activities but are required to attend an evangelistic service while there...

Shortly after AU sent its missive, Department of Defense officials issued guidelines stating that it should be made clear that attendance is voluntary and that soldiers who remain behind should be allotted free time and not be made to work.

But Americans United says that’s not enough. In a follow-up letter sent to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates Dec. 18, AU suggested that trainees who choose not to attend the church-sponsored event should be offered equivalent recreational activities...

Read more here: http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2010/02/au-urges-army-to-make-further.html