From: (typhoon)

Lt. Berry is being punished merely for asking for the continuation of
a religious exemption that was easily accommodated for eighteen
months. It's a shame the military can't find a way to be as
accommodating of traditional faiths like Catholicism.

If an officer or enlisted is not available to perform all his duties at all
times when not on medical waiver,in hospital, on leave or pass his performance
is substandard. He is to be rated as such on his performance reports.

During the above stated eighteen months there may have been no scheduling
problems. If his new commander feels that he would have difficulty working
schedules around the person in question without being unfair to the others then
the person in question is causing a conflict and should seek retraining in a
field where such a conflict would not exist. Until then it would be perfectly
fair to rate him as substandard.

It sure would be nice to accomodate each serviceman, but it can't always be
done and the mission must come first.

To Lt. Berry I would say "you should have thought of that before selecting the
job."

What would he have done if his partnered officer took ill just prior to going
underground and the only person available was female? Would he have refused to
go? What about the crew underground? How long would they have to wait for
relief because of him?

Dan, U. S. Air Force, retired