Lawyers representing a group of active and retired Air Force officers are seeking to change the original complaint to include the Air Force’s recently revised religious guidelines. According to Associated Press news service, the litigants claim that the revised rules permit continued evangelical efforts, including undue influence by senior officers over subordinates. The group also wants to include a new plaintiff, MSgt. Phillip Burleigh, who claims that superiors told him to use Jesus Christ as a recruiting tool.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.