I figure this is probably a long shot, but is there any way to observe Shabbat Friday nights to Saturday nights during Basic Training.  I talked to a Marines recruiter about this and he said Sundays you have off.  But I wanna join the Air Force...any difference...any way possible?

Thanks a lot guys and thanks for the website...it helps a lot in getting info for being a Jew in the US Military

I’m starting BT soon as well, Army though, not Air Force.  The way it was explained to me by my recruiter is that it is possible to keep Shabbos, and then on Sunday make up the training that was missed(Sunday normally being an offday).  I’m hoping that’s true.

I don’t know many specifics about Army boot camp, but I know in the Marines this was absolutely not an option.  Boot camp is very different from regular life in the military.  Your schedule is far more regimented and in-flexible than it will ever be again.  I would speak with a Jewish chaplain (or any chaplain) at the base you will be going to boot camp at to confirm this statement by the recruiter.  Recruiters are known for bending the truth a little bit, so a second opinion is always a good idea.

Report back and let us know what you find out.  It would be a pleasant surprise to find out that this, in fact, is the case.

There was NO way to observe Shabbos while my husband was at Army BCT at Fort Benning.  Saturday is a training day, full stop.  Sunday is the day the soldiers are allowed to attend religious observance.  Though Sundays usually happened, there were a few times they were not allowed to attend.

I have been speaking with the Army JAG recruiters, as I recently applied to JAG.  I have been told that this request is novel when it comes to Army JAG.  I love inventing the wheel!  I anticipate the same response my husband received: NO.

stacey

G’day,

I’m a religious Jew (one of the only ones in the Australian Army Reserve). Our training is conducted predominatly over Saturday periods. This is a real issue for me. The way I deal with it is as follows. My Rav advsied me not to write or fire a weapon on Shabbos. All other tasks I do b’shinui. The writing or firing I try and leave for after Shabbos (if I can).

Look, you can’t join the military and expect to keep shabbos like you would in yeshiva, if u do you’re kidding yourself. So in BT you can attend lectures, particpate in training, do moderate PT, and carry - assuming you’re in a base, which u would b. I even handle weapons, I just dont fire. I guess a good rule would be whatever can be avoided should be avoided, if you have no choice then do b’shinui. Thats the price to pay for not being in Israel and being in the minority. Dont forget u still have to be effective and you dont want to come accross as the numpty Jew.

Thats my 2cents…