Posted on 03/12/2013 6:44:58 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
Air Force Chaplain Awarded Bronze Star for PowerPoint Teaching Proper Sensitivity for the Koran
An Air Force chaplain has been awarded a Bronze Star for his service in crafting an especially good PowerPoint about how to treat Islamic religious materials with sensitivity, according to Ohio’s Dayton Daily News. After U.S. troops in Afghanistan accidentally burned copies of the Koran, sparking riots that took over 30 lives, Lieutenant Colonel Jon Trainer came to the rescue:
After the accidental burning last year of Qurans by U.S. troops in Afghanistan sparked deadly rioting, an Air National Guard chaplain from Springfield stepped in and potentially saved countless American lives.
For his effort, Lt. Col. Jon Trainer received the prestigious Bronze Star — a medal given for heroic or meritorious achievement in connection with operations against an armed enemy.
And he did it with a PowerPoint presentation. . . .
Within 48 hours, Trainer developed a PowerPoint presentation on the proper handling and disposal of Islamic religious material that was seen by every American — military and civilian alike — in Afghanistan. The presentation then was distributed to the U.S. for use in all pre-deployment training.
The piece explains that Trainer also helped teach service members just how wide the breadth of their sensitivity had to be, covering what constitutes Islamic religious material in the first place. “When a Muslim writes down even a few verses from the Quran on a piece of paper,” he told the paper, “that immediately gets that same protected status.”
Trainer is a nondenominational Christian minister who has been in the Air Force for 17 years. He is also being recognized for his work running the Army’s suicide-prevention program, in which he’s trained more than 36,000 service members.
The Bronze Star is the U.S. military’s fifth most prestigious combat award, and can be awarded for acts of merit or valor in a combat zone (if the military deems it an act of heroism, the award is given with a “V” device).
damn, you beat me...
In addition:
-I did not receive a Bronze Star with a V for Valor...I did not deserve one; however, I did receive a BSM for meritorious service...this is a more common award given to non-combatants for meritorious work while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
-the Bronze Star was awarded for meritorious service over a period of six months, not for one incident that lasted 48-72 hours
-the citation package includes bullet points outlining other achievements during the deployment
-the award was given, in part, because I was serving as a Lt Col 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
-the training package in response to the Quran burning is mentioned because it had theater-wide import—strategic implications, not because it had anything to do with Islam
Here is a fairer representation of my tour:
http://sunburynews.com/2012/06/lt-col-jon-trainer-harlem-zoning-board-presented-bronze-star/
Chap T
I take back the hoax comments, found his facebook page and seems legit, even the Antarctica comments.
https://www.facebook.com/jon.trainer1
He also seems to lean right based on his likes. Several pro-life pages and Conservative economics like CATO.
Thanks for that post. You’ve been here long enough I hope you can understand how and why people were skeptical about this. The other post with details does help clear that up.
bump, should have waited for you to post. That does give a much different perspective than the media posted.
Still, you have to admit, the last name ‘Trainer’ associated with a Power Point is kind of funny.
Thanks for your service.
I get a lot of kidding about my name tape on the uniform...God gave me a good name for my job!
As an instructional designer, I can appreciate that one.
I may be imagining things, but this seems to be a step calculated to undermine another of the things Americans hold sacred. If the boys in DC can hand out these medals like Cracker Jack toys, it diminishes the service for which they were originally intended, and leaves us with little to admire and hold sacred about our military service.
you can’t make this up since the only way to eternal life is belief in Jesus as the Son Of God. All others face the judgment and hell.Christians don’t face any judgment because they are saved by their belief in Jesus. Why would you waste time by judging someone already pardoned for all sins?
You must understand that there are two kinds of Bronze Stars...one for Valor and one for Meritorious service...soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines know the difference...we hold those who wear the V with highest regard and understand ours is a lesser award...
But I also perceive a disturbing trend among the propagandists in this government to undermine and downgrade all we hold dear, especially regarding the military and the services rendered by our heroes.
Thank you for your service, and forgive me if I offended you. It was most assuredly not my intention. God bless you.
no problem! thankful for the opportunity to shed a little light on things here...it has been a real caution for me regarding the tendency to jump to conclusions...i have never been so vilified and by people who are on my side of the aisle...
Would you be willing to post a new thread on what you put in post #22 outlining the real reason for your reward to counter how the media put it? I think it would help to have your side of the story out more.
I am waiting to see if my chain of command will take it up; I have asked Rich Lowry to clarify things...we’ll see...
Completely understandable.
if you have not seen the powerpoint slides, how can you comment on their content?
Thanks for your service to our country!
Thank you, Chaplain!
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