Soldiers Forced to See Chaplain After Failing Army's Spiritual Fitness Test

[Emit]

After failing a recently implemented mandatory Army-wide "Spiritual Fitness" test, soldiers are given the following message on their computer screens:

"Spiritual fitness is an area of possible difficulty for you. You may lack a sense of meaning and purpose in your life. At times, it is hard for you to make sense of what is happening to you and others around you. You may not feel connected to something larger than yourself. You may question your beliefs, principles, and values. Nevertheless, who you are and what you do matter. There are things to do to provide more meaning and purpose in your life. Improving your spiritual fitness should be an important goal. Change is possible, and the relevant self-development training modules will be helpful. If you need further help, please do not hesitate to seek out help from the people you care about and trust -- strong people always do. Be patient in your development as it will take time to improve in this area. Still, persistence is key and you will improve here if you make this area a priority."

This mandatory online test, called the Global Assessment Tool (GAT), is part of the Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) program, a program that puts spiritual fitness on par with physical and mental fitness.

Upon flunking the "Spiritual Fitness" section of the GAT, and receiving the above message telling them that "Change is possible" and that "you will improve here if you make this area a priority," the spiritually deficient soldiers are directed to training modules to correct this problem with their "fitness."

Nothing at this point in the CSF program tells the soldiers that the online training modules that follow the GAT test are not mandatory, so the soldiers naturally assume that the training modules they're immediately directed to upon failing the test are also mandatory.

~snip~

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/1/19/114940/359

[Wickerman]

1. I guess command has decided that soldier need extra Jesus

when they are tasked with killing for more and more tangential reasons. :shrug:

[patrice]

8. b.i.n.g.o.!.

[FreakinDJ]

2. Fighting to uphold Freedom of Religion ????????

[justabob]

3. spiritual fitness?

on a par with physical and mental fitness?

:wtf: :banghead:

[immoderate]

7. Yes, they form the "three-legged pile of stool."

I would think spiritual fitness at the expense of mental fitness. :shrug:

--imm

[justabob]

9. yeah

I thought the same thing about mental vs spiritual fitness. It just gets more and more surreal everyday. I may have to go on another news blackout. This shit challenges my mental fitness.

[immoderate]

4. If you "know" your purpose, you won't ask questions.

Orwell smiles.

--imm

[rfranklin]

5. Are you qualified to be a killer for Jesus?

I wonder why he won't help us defeat the Taliban?

[brewens]

6. I could bluff my way through that, I'm pretty sure. Just like a drunk

with an alcohol evaluation after a DUI. They know all the right answers and lie their ass off to avoid the additional counseling.
I'm working on a t-shirt design. "My First Amendment Freedom From Religion Right Gives You The Right To Keep your Superstition Out Of My Face!" Something real close to that anyway.

[Zywiec]

10. A program that puts spiritual fitness on par with physical and mental fitness?

That's simply not true.

There are requirements for Physical Fitness that must be passed at least twice a year, the test mentioned here is optional and was probably designed to get some background on the number of Soldiers committing suicide.

Here are the other things tested:

Emotional Fitness
Emotional fitness is an area in which you do well. Emotional fitness reflects a positive mood, satisfaction with life, freedom from depression, optimism, solid character strengths, effective ways of dealing with problems, and personal resilience. You usually approach life's challenges in a positive and optimistic way by showing self-control, stamina, and good character in your choices and actions. You can use your emotional fitness to strengthen yourself in other areas of your life and to help others around you.

Social Fitness
Social fitness is an area in which you do well. Social fitness reflects positive feelings about the Army, your particular unit, and your fellow Soldiers. It means that you trust and get along with your fellow Soldiers and leaders and that your overall morale is high. You have close and supportive friends, and you feel part of a group. You have trusted and valued relationships and friendships that are fulfilling and comfortable. You can use your social fitness to strengthen yourself in other areas of your life and to help others around you.

Family Fitness
Family fitness is an area in which you do well. Family fitness reflects positive feelings about how your family is doing and how you are doing in your relationships with your family members or significant other. On the whole, you are satisfied with your family or your partner, and your family is satisfied with you and the work that you do. Your relationship with your family members or your partner is positive. Overall, you are part of a family unit that is safe, supportive, and loving, with the means to live in a healthy and secure way. You can use your family fitness to strengthen yourself in other areas of your life and to help others around you.

If your scores aren't high enough, the program offers this: You may click here at any time to connect with a counselor who is ready to assist you with a problem that requires immediate attention. Also, you may dial 1-800-342-9647 to speak with someone immediately.

Again, this is probably all part of the Army's training program to help prevent suicides, and shouldn't necessarily be immediately dismissed by people who have no spirituality.

:patriot:

[frogmarch]

11. Sounds like something

from an Army fortune cookie.

Silly.