Buddhists in the United States military

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Insignia of Buddhist chaplains of the United States Air Force[1]

Buddhists make up a small percentage of the United States military, with a 2009 article stating that only 5,287 of 1.4 million military personnel identified themselves as Buddhists.[2]

As popular Western understandings of

Asian-Americans
practicing authentic Buddhist traditions whose relationship to violence and war is more complex than the stereotype, and individuals who embrace Buddhist beliefs while already committed to a term of military service.

History

Among the earliest Buddhists to serve in number in the US military were the

Military Intelligence Service,[4] and many Nisei linguists serving in the MIS had studied Japanese at Buddhist-run schools in the United States.[5] However, Nisei units such as the 442nd were only permitted Christian chaplains; Assistant Secretary of Defense John J. McCloy feared that negative American perceptions of Buddhists would compromise the reputation of the unit.[6]

Following World War II, the denotation "B" for Buddhist became an allowed option on American

dog-tags.[5]

Chaplains

In 1990, the American military first resolved to make plans for inclusion of Buddhists chaplains in the armed forces; in August of that year

Institute of Heraldry produced a rank insignia, based on the dharmachakra emblem.[7]

The first Buddhist chaplain in the

Buddhist Studies from the Graduate Theological Union/Institute of Buddhist Studies located in Berkeley, California.[8] The first Buddhist chaplain in the United States Army was former Southern Baptist Thomas Dyer, appointed in 2008.[9] Buddhist chaplains are endorsed by the Buddhist Churches of America.[10]

Chapel

As of 2009, there was only one official dedicated Buddhist chapel in the United States military, located in the basement of the

Jewish chapels. The Buddhist chapel was constructed in 2005, and a 2009 report stated that at the chapel's Wednesday services "about half of the 18 pillows on the floor are usually occupied."[2]

References

  1. ^ Selected : Emblems : Occupational Badges : Buddhist Chaplain Archived August 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. AF.mil
  2. ^ a b c Jeff Brady. Military Buddhist Chapel Represents Tolerance. National Public Radio, October 13, 2009
  3. ISBN 978-0-16-086705-7
    .
  4. ISBN 978-0-316-24223-3
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-0-252-09289-3
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-231-52012-6
    .
  7. ISBN 978-0-8061-2622-7
    .
  8. ^ U.S. Navy Commissions Military's First Buddhist Chaplain. United States Navy story number NNS040723-10, Release Date: 7/23/2004
  9. ISBN 978-1-62190-079-5
    .
  10. ISBN 978-1-61429-037-7
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddhists_in_the_United_States_military&oldid=1183858526"