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Faith

Air Force Chaplain Clarifies Details About Muslim Military Training Doc, Bronze Star Medal: ‘I Don’t View This as Accommodating Islam’

Mar. 14, 2013 9:17am Billy Hallowell

Jon Trainer Speaks With TheBlaze About His Islam Military Training Document

Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force/Corey Parrish

“It was simply informing our troops, ‘You’re in a different culture. They have a different set of values than you do.’”

That’s how Air Force Lt. Col. Jon Trainer, 51, describes the presentation at the center of recent controversy surrounding him being awarded a Bronze Star.

Trainer has been the subject of news reports and scrutiny this week after a local media story indicated he was awarded the Bronze Star Medalbecause of the presentation. But Trainer says that presentation was only part of a larger portfolio of work — and beyond that, it was an important presentation.

“I don’t view this as a politically correct — and I am a conservative evangelical chaplain,” he said.

The chaplain, who most recently served on a voluntary deployment to Afghanistan, encountered a plethora of criticism when it was alleged that his creation of the PowerPoint about properly treating and disposing of Islamic religious materials played a major role in his selection for the military honor.

TheBlaze interviewed Trainer on Wednesday to speak further about this document and the criticism he has received. The faith leader, who completed his last deployment in June 2012, explained that the media reports surrounding his Bronze Star Medal have not been entirely accurate. Rather than being predication upon a PowerPoint presentation, the military’s fifth most prestigious award was given to him as a result of his overall service oversees, he told TheBlaze.

“The relationships that I built over the long haul in my ministry in Afghanistan, the messages [I delivered], the counseling [and] the way I am living my life far outweighs the PowerPoint presentation I put together over a two day period in a seven-month deployment,” he said when asked about the reason for the award.

During his time in Afghanistan, Trainer said that he was in a command staff position in Kabul. Along with three other chaplains, he was a part of a central team responsible for overseeing every military faith leader who was part of the chaplaincy across all military branches in Afghanistan. His role was centered upon training and pastoring military members.

“I did 90% of the counseling so I had a very significant role as pastor and then you have things like the Koran burning that occurred that required extra effort on my part,” Trainer explained. “My award is based on my level of responsibility and then how well I performed on the duties assigned.”

EXPLAINING THE CONTROVERSIAL DOCUMENT

Trainer described the purpose of the PowerPoint presentation, which was used to train American military personnel in better understanding Islamic texts and the cultural elements at play in the region. The faith leader told TheBlaze that he drafted the document in the wake of violent riots following soldiers’ apparent inadvertent burning of copies of the Koran early last year.

The document, called “Proper Handling and Disposal of Islamic Religious Material,” was a tool that he crafted in an effort to protect both soldiers and the mission they were sent to fulfill.

Air Force Lt. Col. Jon Trainer (Photo Credit: Jon Trainer)

“We were simply trying to help soldiers identify Islamic religious material and then know how to approach it and…dispose of it,” he explained. “Our bottom line was — if you encounter any kind of material that you think could be religious material, we [wanted] Afghan mullahs to deal with that material…so that our actions [couldn't] be misinterpreted as being disrespectful of their holy scriptures.”

Some would dismiss this as bowing to Islamic extremism, however there are a number of important elements to consider. U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan and other Muslim countries, for that matter, are forced to cope with the sometimes-murderous ramifications of cultural clashes that unfold in the religion. The creation of this document was, in Trainer’s view, an effort that would prevent soldiers from falling prey to extremist attacks and reactions.

“You get a high school graduate engaged in operations in Afghanistan and if he comes across something while clearing out a house — he knows how to approach that,” Trainer said of the program’s intention. “It was simply informing our troops, ‘You’re in a different culture. They have a different set of values than you do.’”

The training included about 20 slides. Gen. John R. Allen ordered that it be distributed after its creation to every person in the U.S. military theater in Afghanistan within a 72-hour period. The document also became a part of pre-deployment training for soldiers preparing to head into battle and it was used as part of the newcomers briefing once they arrived in Afghanistan.

“I don’t view this as accommodating Islam,” he said. “I think it’s simply smart cultural behavior.”

The chaplain went on to note that he wrote his Master’s thesis paper on “undermining radical Islam by using the instruments of power.” Thus, Trainer explained the importance of engaging with Muslims’ minds to affect change. In the end, he felt the training enhanced the mission and helped to protect it.

“It’s just a tool that may prevent a soldier from making a mistake that he or she doesn’t have to make,” he added.

ADDRESSING CONTROVERSY OVER THE BRONZE STAR

Trainer also addressed critics who have wondered why he, as a non-combat member of the Air Force, received the Bronze Star. He explained that there are different designations for the award — and he highlighted that the chaplain who served in the same role before him also received the honor.

There’s a Bronze Star for valor and, as he explained, “That’s for engaging in contact with the enemy and heroic performance.” Then, there’s a meritorious Bronze Star, another version of the award that is given to those who show valiant service, but who aren’t necessarily on the front lines. It was this latter honor that he was given.

The Air Force web site describes the award, in detail:

The Bronze Star is awarded to personnel in any branch of the military service who distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.

The award recognizes acts of heroism performed in ground combat if they are of lesser degree than that required for the Silver Star. It also recognizes single acts of merit and meritorious service if the achievement or service is of a lesser degree than that deemed worthy of the Legion of Merit; but such service must have been accomplished with distinction.

And another government explanation adds, “Executive Order 11046 authorizes the secretary of the military department to grant the award for either heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving aerial flight, in connection with operations against any opposing armed force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict.”

Considering these elements and Trainer’s overall service, he qualified — as did the faith leader preceding him — for the award.

Trainer, who has been off the battlefield and preaching in the U.S. since last summer, isn’t sure if the training is still being used, as he’s been out of deployment for quite a while. But there’s one thing he is sure about: He’d like to voluntarily redeploy once again in the near future, as he says he enjoys serving the country he loves.

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Comments (63)

Ironeagle
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 11:08am
This Chaplin is either ignorant of the nature of Islam or is a liar.

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- encinom
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 11:54am
  Or unlike most on the blaze an d Pam Geller, he is not a bigot or a racist.
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:21pm
  You can almost set your watch by a liberal’s emotional responses.
  
  When they have no argument in the face of truth they always resort to adhominem attacks with a sprinkle of homophobia, and racism. I suppose it’s because being called these things is the greatest fear of a liberal, so they wield these labels like a sword.
  
  Unfortunately for them, we’ve been unjustly called these things so much, and so often, that it’s meaningless, much like a liberal’s reasoning ability.
  
  In my opinion the greatest piece of racism in modern history wasn’t White Sheets, and Jim Crow laws. It was creating a society that destroyed individual ambition. Having the certainty of Uncle Sam taking care of you, (but only if you don’t work. Only if you have lots of kids), has destroyed more lives and families than an army of KKK.
  
  Sadly for all of us, and our children, this safety net, has become a noose around all of our necks; and it’s beginning to tighten.
  
  Report this comment
- Triple7
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:03pm
  ENCINOM the bed wetting useful idiot troll for the Neo Bolsheviks admits support for radical murderous Islam.
  
  Report this comment
- EgbertThrockmorton
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:26pm
  As a USAF veteran, this “award” makes me ill. It demeans the valor and meritorious service I have personally witnessed in my military tenure.
  I had no idea being a political proctologist “entitled” one to receive military decorations for
  actions that are not deserved.
  Sorry, Chaplain John, I do not believe you “earned” this one at all. Not even close.
  
  Report this comment
- Ari Ben TZion
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:17pm
  “Rev” Trainer’s PowerPoint was on: “..properly treating and disposing of Islamic religious materials…”
  
  Ok, so I take it that instead of calling Mohammed a child molester, we would have to call him a kindergarten teacher?
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:31pm
  There are plenty of medals and rewards that the Chaplain can be given. If one isn’t suitable, then make a new one, just like we are about to do for drone pilots.
  
  Report this comment
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:49am
Some of you need to lighten up. He was awarded a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service not valor. The PowerPoint was not the sole reason. You need to keep in mind what happened when Korans were burnt. If his presentation saved one grunt from being KIA or WIA , it had merit. The award was for meritorious service over a full tour of duty.

I do believe that the Air Force and Navy had out “feel good” medals since most of them never really experience combat or are truly placed in harms way.

I know a lot of you will come down on me for my comments. I did my time in Vietnam. I received a Bronze Star (Valor), a Bronze Star (Meritorious Service) and 2 Purple Hearts.

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- Dachande
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 11:34am
  Dismayed,
  
  You are correct. People need to lighten up and learn how our military works. They also have to remember that officers often receive inflated awards anyways.
  
  There is also something we refer to as End of Tour Awards, which appears that this is what it was. I received a BSM as my end of tour for my time in Afghanistan last year, though the 638 didn’t really reflect the actual reasons my platoon leader put me in for it, which was directly combat related. Which is fine with me, I know why I got it. I’ve heard some of my senior NCO peers say I should have received more, I guess they mean a V device at least. But I’m okay with it because I know what I the actual reasons and I’m proud of it. There are also a lot of politics behind the awards now. Our maintenance chief put our mechanics in for ARCOMs w/ V Device, same mission, and the over inflated difficulty of him submitting that was really unjustified. I still don’t think those kids got the awards their actions under continuous enemy fire qualify them for.
  
  Report this comment
- Nogs28
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:19pm
  You’re right as rain Dismayed, unfortunately we have a lot of stupid CIVILIANS and service members who ACT LIKE civilians who shoot their mouth off with out getting all the facts.
  
  So an excerpt on the BSM:
  “… Awards may also be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The required achievement or service while of lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction. To be eligible for the Bronze Star Medal, a military member must be getting hostile fire/imminent danger pay, during the event for which the medal is to be awarded….”
  
  LTC Trainer received the Bronze Star was awarded for meritorious service over a period of six months, not for one incident that lasted 48-72 hours. The award was given, in part, because LTC Trainer was serving as a LTC on a command staff with oversight of every chaplain deployed in the AOR…in other words the ————–>>>significance of the position and the rank of the individual play a large part in the kind of medal given<<<————–
  
  Report this comment
- FlingPoo
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:22pm
  If you haven’t served in the Air Force or Navy you really should not comment on thier medal system. The Air Force conducts many missions in the “joint”environment. This individual was regognized for his service. Whether you agree with it or not really doesn’t matter becuase you were not there and do not know, first hand, what he did. The BSM is the war time equivalent of the MSM. The combat “V” is what distinguishes how it was earned. I have one, earned by my father, for one of his tours in Vietnam. He was in the Navy, by the way, and did 30 months on patrol boats. I did a tour at the pentagon and have seen, first hand, that every service awards “feel good” medals!
  
  Report this comment
- dustbunnieskill
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:37pm
  Good I shall burn one tonight..dont tell they bad guys that i refuse to obey thier religious Laws
  
  Report this comment
- Waydah
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:09pm
  All of us who served went where we were sent and did what we were told. I don’t remember being given a choice! If you were decorated in combat, then congratulations. The majority of vets never saw combat regardless of service branch. So what?
  However, it would seem that this chaplain simple did his job like anyone would have expected him to do during those seven months. How is that meritorious?
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 5:14pm
  Fling
  
  As a 64 year old, I can beat my chest and say I shed blood for the country, but, it takes no special talent to earn the Purple Heart. My NCOIC, MSG Johnson, used to call it the “I was there and forgot to duck” medal. He had 4. Two from Korea and 2 from Vietnam.
  
  During the Vietnam War, most soldiers didn’t serve in country. They were in CONUS or Europe. In those days, the military was staffed to engage in 2 major wars. While the USAF and USN had commissioned and enlisted personnel who were in active contact (Brown Water Navy, SAR, ANGLIO’s, FAC’s), most were in either combat support or combat service assignments. That is simply the nature of the services.
  
  I acknowledge that all services hand out “feel goods” since I consider my Bronze Star (MS) as a” feel good medal”. I got an ARCOM for being at my desk every day.
  
  I take an old man’s pride in the PH but I am still inclined to agree with MSG Johnson.
  
  My father served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. What he was most proud of was not a medal. It was the Combat Medic Badge with two stars.
  
  Thank you and your father for your service.
  
  Report this comment
- Rokytop
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 3:39pm
  Thank you.
  
  Report this comment
woodyee
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:27am
“I don’t view this as accommodating islam.”

Yeah, and most thieves don’t view their actions as stealing. This guy is what’s known as a REMF* and/or a “Ticket-puncher.”, a self-promoting ‘associate’ of the guys doing the real job – avoiding the action but receiving recognition as part of his association, so that his record gets built up with qualifications for promotion.

*REMF – Rear Echelon Mother-f(shut-your-mouth!).”

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WALTERC
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:26am
What medal did the guy who put together the Christianity and Jewish sensitivity power point get?

Yeah, I don’t remember hearing about that one either.

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bdandsl
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:08am
If this Chaplain had any character or honor he would have refused the medal knowing he did nothing to deserve it!

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- jcldwl
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:27am
  I see no where that states he engaged in an heroic act in combat to earn this bronze star. That is what the bronze star is for. If he is truly conservative as he states, he would know that and would have refused it.
  
  Report this comment
EODGhost
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:05am
I recommended bronze stars to my soldiers for their actions in combat. He got his for a briefing. Office warrior? I think not. A Meritorious Service Medal might have been more appropriate. Better still, a hearty handshake and a coffee mug.

Thanks for making medals like the Bronze Star, Purple Heart virtually worthless. The General Officers of today, like General Sanchez, and McCrystal are empty vessels.

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- woodyee
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:33am
  Well said, Sir.
  Semper Fi!
  
  Report this comment
- shorelineliz
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:03pm
  Well said. Semper Fi
  
  @Conservative Evangelical Chaplain:
  
  Yeah. This is why Evangelicalism is down the toilet. it is “accommodating” culture instead of confronting it. You sir. Are a disgrace.
  
  Report this comment
VetMike
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:03am
The Bronze Star was devalued quite some time ago. The military had to start awarding a “V” device to distinguish a Bronze Start given for Valor vs one given for merit. The Army also awarded the Bronze Star retroactively to every soldier from WWII who had been awarded the Purple Heart. The Chaplain should have been awarded a Meritorious Service Medal or even a Legion of Merit.

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bikerdogred1
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:55am
The bronze star is a combat award Trainer is a phony just like obama.

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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:54am
Like I always heard in the Army, its not who you know, but who you blow. This happened in peace time, when a National Guard 5 ton dump truck went over a cliff into a Class 5 white water river with five occupants, five of us from day shift slid down into that water and eventually safely got them out. All were injured, and some seriously and all had to be safely removed on stretchers. The operation took so long, that when I came up with the first victim we were surrounded by news crews. The great thing is that all survived and eventually recovered. The story does not quite end there. The following day when a crane was brought out to remove the truck was flipped over by a combination of it’s weight and the rush of the water. It’s operator suffered a broken ankle. Nasty incident altogether. The five of us got ARCOMs about a month later. Not exactly a life saving award, but we were told that what we did was expected of us anyway. Not griping or anything, nor am I trying to pat myself on the back, but I am still stumped with a chaplain receiving a Bronze Star for developing what amounts to a class.

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:49am
.
‘I Don’t View This as Accommodating Islam’….Well I do….

“We were simply trying to help soldiers identify Islamic religious material and then know how to approach it and…dispose of it,”……..

Well I think from now on ya’ll should use the SpankDaMonkey disposal approach for Islamic religious material. Step1: Clean yourself after a Nasty Bowel movement, then Urinate on it, then flush what’s left…..Or just rip out the pages and throw it to the pigs…..

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walnutportconservative
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:47am
The main point, as the Lt. Col. explains, is our troops operate in a different culture. Let us get out of that region, and just protect our boarders. Yes… I am a protectionist of sorts. I am saddened by all the bumps in the road, which are our qualified young men in service to this nation. Losing our qualified young men, in and of itself, is changing our culture. Change?

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2GodBeTheGlory
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:46am
My question is this, why was any of our troops “handling” any “book”? It’s not like their going to read it. Just leave it where it lays. Done deal, no problem. Unless your CIA or a contractor, as a military member I just don’s see why you need to handle anything such as this. The military is not tasked with cleanup, or disposal. The military is for my defense, not nation building or taking care of another country. This is misuse of funds and is NOT authorized use under the Constitution.

Creating a power point presentation is NOT an act of valor… see definition of valor

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:46am
It seems that the military has adopted civilian society’s penchant for giving awards for nothing. Next, they will be calling the muslim a “hero”. This action takes away from the bronze stars awarded in real combat.

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eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:43am
Uh, there simply is no such thing as “islamic RELIGIOUS materials”, as islam is not a RELIGION. Trainer can try to defend himself by hiding behind his claim, “I am a conservative evangelical chaplain”, but this does not change the fact that islam is a cult/terrorist organization which has declared WAR on the United States. The koran, and all other so-called “islamic religious materials” are terrorist propaganda materials – defending and disseminating (or allowing to be disseminated) these materials IS “accommodating” America’s enemies – propagandizing for America’s enemies – this is an act of TREASON. We are at WAR with islam, and this is a war which we must win.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:08am
  Academically, most theologians define a cult as a group relatively small that has a single living leader. After a period of time, if that leader dies, the group would then be defined as a sect. After a debatable size and time ratio, it becomes a religion. Islam should be defined academically as a religion, albeit it can be argued a twisted and evil one. Some examples of cults would be the Branch Davidians with David Koresh, or the cult of Śri Sathya Sai Baba in India.
  
  Report this comment
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:42am
He has been ordered to change his story around to smother the truth.

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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:41am
Outrageous! Propaganda. Stealth jihad within. How long do we have since we’ve gone back to sleep? We are being tricked and bullied using our own 1st Amendment Rights against us:

http://www.usasurvival.org/ck.02.07.13.html

also on youtube under the title:
“investigate al Jazeera now’ National Press Conference (Part 1 of 3)

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- boss_ross
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:45am
  you’re being hysterical for no reason.
  
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civilwarcometh
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:41am
Top military commanders are not the American peoples friends anymore. When they are afraid to offend the enemy, label a terrorist attack work place violence and say our number one threat to national security is global warming/climate change. Chinese hacking our defensive computer system. This is not America anymore. The elitist NWO crowd has infiltrated our entire system.

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Stoic one
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:40am
Well I am glad to get the broader story. This makes a lot more sense. Not the presentation, but the overall service. Now we know what is important to his superior above & beyond the chaplain’s service – a powerpoint presentation. I bet the ‘boss’ thinks that will help HIS career.

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Listen_then_think
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:36am
The relationships that I built over the long hall in my ministry
It is “the long haul” not the long hall. Blaze editors need to step up.

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:43am
  Maybe they should hire you Mr. Perfect.
  
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All American American
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:35am
I was in the air farce. They give out Bronze Stars to all kinds of desk jockeys as long as you are of a certain rank, usually O-3 and above.

As far as the islamic pandering, yawn. We’ve been doing that for YEARS as part of pre-deployment training. This guy did what everyone does—take something that’s already been done, change a few words like “happy” to “glad,” put your name on it, present it as “new,” and boom, Bronze Star.

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- boss_ross
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:44am
  This guy is right. When I was in Iraq all the Captains got Bronze Stars (even the desk jockies) and I didn’t. I got a commendation medal (because I was just a Lieutenant)
  
  Report this comment
- Bum thrower
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:46am
  You got that right; the Air Farce is strictly 9-5; then to the club; if they didn’t have Ordinance to deliver they’d be just another flying club; except they’d be VERY expensive.
  
  Report this comment
Cavallo
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:34am
From some of the examples I have heard about personally, the Bronze Star seems to have taken on a “Did his job without just marking time until he could go home – award”.

What exactly are we doing over there anyway? What is our mission and why is it important? How does it help the American citizen? It’s certainly not defending our freedom.
The Taliban will likely be back in power about 5 years after we leave, likely through popular election.. in elections likely more free and open and honest than the shady BS we have here in the States (finding ballots in the trunks of cars, people voting six times, machines registering different outcomes than what is selected.. etc etc)

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boss_ross
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:32am
Hold on. Time out everyone. Rightunite, the Lt. Col. isn’t a boob. He didn’t award himself the medal. Jungle J, I wouldn’t refuse the medal so why should he? I’d accept the medal and move on to my promotion and then retirement. It’s Air Force Leadership that’s the issue here not the chaplain. He didn’t do anything wrong, he’s just doing his job. I don’t think that any kind of training or power point presentation is worthy of a meritorious service award let alone a meritorious Bronze Star, but the Col. here isn’t the bad guy in this story…his boss is. Colonel or General so and so who wrote the package based on a power point presentation.

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- woodyee
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:30am
  Well!
  
  You robbed a bank and gave me a portion of the loot, and I accepted it.
  
  You’re going to jail, and I’m going to enjoy the freedom to take your honey out on dates on your dime, eh? Yeah, I thought that’d blow the crap out of your ears…
  
  Report this comment
RANGER1965
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:31am
This came from the top. The White House.

The military doesn’t give Bronze or Silver Stars out for Power Point presentations no matter how relevant.

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- boss_ross
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:37am
  it didn’t come from the white house. where do you guys get this stuff?
  
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- RANGER1965
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:46am
  Of course it did. Bronze Stars for power point presentations? Pfffttt!
  
  and no…I don’t blame the reciepient. But the Obama administration has made it clear that everyone in the goverment has a priority to show sensitivity to Muslims. Hell including NASA. It stands to reason that awards for this type of cultural sensitivity would be given.
  
  Report this comment
jungle J
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:27am
If he was a real preacher he would have refused the medal and the controversy. The sane understand hustle better than the hustlers.

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- boss_ross
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:33am
  you’re wrong on this one. no one refuses medals. Guys can choose not to wear them if they don’t agree they deserve it, but no one on earth would refuse a medal especially when he’s promotion orders are going to state “awarded bronze star for exceptional service…”
  
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RightUnite
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:19am
Well, of course you’re going to say that you boob!!!

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