The US Senate is on record now as saying US military academies may “allow voluntary, non denominational prayer,” according to an amendment attached to the 2006 defense authorization bill by chief sponsor Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.). The action comes in response to a new Air Force guideline that discourages public prayer at official Air Force Academy functions, like football games. Senators were unanimous in their approval.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.