The Army is investigating allegations that soldiers were pressured to attend a Christian concert -- and punished when they refused, according to an Army Times article.
Pvt. Anthony Smith says he was one of 80 soldiers in Advanced Individual Training at Fort Eustis, Va., who were punished for opting not to attend a Christian rock concert on post. The soldiers were confined to their barracks, ordered to clean and were barred from using cell phones and other electronics, according to Smith and another soldier who asked to remain anonymous.
I have been in the army for 12 years and believe me this is what happened. They were not punished because they did not go to a Christian rock band. They were punished because they did not go to a company function. Concerts and events are really the only break that the Drill Sergeants get during a cycle so when an event comes up they want everyone to go and, same as when I was in basic training and they made us go see the Commodores, if you didn’t go to the concert then you had to clean up your areas and couldn’t use the phone. It wasn’t a punishment but that is what everyone would have been doing if there was no concert at all. The new recruits are using this to get back and the Drill Sergeants they have been trying to find ways since I came in the army and they will continue to do so.