Having Faith in the Academy

The Air Force needs to put “constant attention” on its efforts to promote diversity of beliefs at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told reporters Tuesday. Responding to questions about the school’s challenges regarding religious tolerance of non-Christians, Schwartz, who is USAF’s first Jewish Chief of Staff, said the Air Force must have access “to the largest possible pool of talent” and can’t afford to discriminate against anyone. Officials must routinely check the academy’s curriculum to ensure that it promotes “diversity and respect” for all beliefs, he said. “This is not about me,” said Schwartz, himself an academy grad. “It’s about our Air Force,” he continued, adding, “We need to be inclusive.” The only faith the academy should be preaching, he said, is “public service.”