Atheist Group Accuses Air Force Of Religious Discrimination

A national atheist group is claiming the U.S. Air Force denied an atheist airman reenlistment after he refused to say "so help me God" in his oath last year.

The American Humanist Association has reportedly sent a letter to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada this week demanding that they allow an atheist airman to reenlist with the base without having to say an oath that references God. Rather, the atheist group argues the nonreligious airman should be allowed to say a secular oath.

In its letter sent to the air force base, the American Humanist Association argues that the unnamed atheist airman was told in late August that he could not reenlist because he had crossed out the phrase "so help me God" on his air force contract. The base reportedly told the airman that he had to complete his contract in its entirety before he could re-join the Air Force.

"The government cannot compel a nonbeliever to take an oath that affirms the existence of a supreme being," Monica Miller, an attorney with the atheist group's legal arm, said in a statement to the Air Force Times. "Numerous cases affirm that atheists have the right to omit theistic language from enlistment or reenlistment contracts."

Air Force officials have defended their policy that requires every airman to recite the oath. Air Force Capt. Brooke Brzozowske told Al Jazeera news that "Reciting 'so help me God' in the reenlistment and commissioning oaths is a statutory requirement."

The American Humanist Association has said it is willing to pursue legal action if the Air Force does not change its policy.