Why am I still thinking about this?

I can't seem to make myself let go of the Air Force Academy thing. Part of a comment from my last post on it:

the reason they have that 'odd looking chapel' and so on stuff is because of the part of the constitution that says "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (religion)... because of the nature of the academies and the military in general, not having an outlet for religious practice ON the base would limit people from practicing it, because many time duty and other restrictions keeps them on base
that's why that's there...

~air force academy grad

At first glance, this is a completely sound argument. I'm well aware that there are huge restrictions, both in terms of military responsibilities/privilages and the number of hours in a day, that could quite easily restrict the cadets and staff from being able to go to religious services off-campus. Fair enough: I'll be the first to say that everyone has a right to whatever manner of religious worship they want.

But. (You knew there was a 'but' coming, didn't you?) But the problem is that being in the military is a choice. We have an entirely volunteer military, and I personally wouldn't want it any other way. Attending the Academy, joining the Army, whatever - it's all entirely voluntary. I know for a fact that not only are freshman at the Academy provided with ample opportunities to leave the Academy, but one could even say that they are encouraged to do so, through means such as "basic training". No one is forcing them to be there, and none of the staff have been forced to be their either. It's completely voluntary.

And, as everyone is well aware, when you join the military you take the good with the bad. On the one hand, you're pretty much assured a job and someplace to live. On the other hand, that might be "trying to convince Iraqis that you don't deserve to die" and "A tent on the outskirts of Baghdad". It's a package deal: if you want to be in the military, you take the good and the bad together. That's just how life works - choices, and constantly needing to decide if Perk A is worth Drawback B.

I'm not convinced that the issue of religion at the Academy is in any way different from the above example. You want to go to a well-regarded tech school, be guarenteed on-campus housing, get a $30k/year education completely free at taxpayer expense - indeed, even get paid for getting that education - and so on? Great. You need to meet these admissions criteria, take an oath, wear a uniform, go through boot camp, and so on. I don't see 'if you want to sit in church, go off federal ground to do so' to be too ridiculous. If you don't have enough time to do so or can't get off campus - so be it. I'm not saying that they should ban, say, having a bible in your room, or a rosary, or anything like that. Practice religion on your own: fine. Practice religion at the expense of taxpayers: Not fine.

Anyway, if the military can ban people from revealing their sexuality if it's anything other than "strictly hetero", then I say they can tell them to take their church off government property.