My Letter to the Military

Partha-Sarathi das

For those that don’t know, I am submitting a request when I return to be released from my commitment to the Army. I beg everyone to pray for me that this will happen. The Lord always listens to His devotees prayers. below is the letter:

I have been a practicing member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) since 1998. On 15 April 2005, I accepted formal vows and took spiritual initiation into the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, which is an ancient spiritual tradition. The vows I accepted consisted of no engaging in illicit sex, no eating of any meat, fish, or eggs, no consumption of any intoxicants (including caffeine), and no gambling. Additionally I vowed to chant sixteen rounds of prayer (1728 prayers) on rosary type beads. I was also awarded the sacred thread of a brahmana (priest). After my wife left me in June 2005, I started to concentrate more on spiritual life.  In November 2006, I was given permission by my spiritual teacher to accept the saffron cloth of a brahmacri (celibate student). As a brahmacri, I have decided to also accept a life long vow of celibacy with the understanding that it is my duty to preach this message to whomever I met.The vows I have accepted require me to spend a minimum of two hours daily to complete my prescribed prayers and spend a minimum of two hours studying scripture. In additionally as a brahmana, I also perform worship of Deities. Due to the strict following of these vows, this often leaves me to sleep for three to four hours daily. As a strict follower of Krsna, I am also required to fast twice a month for twenty four hours. Taking all this into consideration, I decided that my life would be best served as monk, strictly living in a temple and dedicating my life to educating others about God.

Partha-sarathi Chanting Japa

As a brahmana, I am required by scripture to preach this message of Krishna Consciousness and the chanting of the Maha Mantra; Hare Hare Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama to everyone I come in contact with regardless of race, creed or gender. Army regulations state that there will be no proselytizing of any single religion, faith or practice. The fact that the Army restricts me from following my scripture puts me in the middle of a dilemma. Should I break my vows, and what is expected of me from the scripture or should I knowingly violate and disregard regulations concerning proselytizing, and be charged under Article 92, Failure to obey an order or regulation of the UCMJ. To be very honest, I will choose to follow my scripture over the military, after all the military will not help me go back to Godhead. I feel that it is best for the US Army to release me so not cause a situation which could bring unnecessary attention to me and the US military.

As a Hare Krsna devotee, I am required to maintain a strict vegetarian diet, while deployed to Mosul in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09, I was unable to be provided with adequate and nutritious meals. The US military’s idea of a vegetarian diet consists of food cooked in the same oil as meat and cooked in the same pots as meat. The salads are prepared using the same utensils as those used to prepare meat products. In any given time you can find in a military dinning facility salad’s and cooked vegetables prepared with meat or animal products. While yes, when not in a combat zone, this is not an issue, it is an issue when out training and participating in Mission Readiness Training Exercises, National Training Center Rotations and deployments such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bosnia etc. The military does provide Soldiers with meals, but the Army cannot sustain my strict vegetarian diet, even the Vegetarian MREs are made with eggs, rendering them useless to someone like myself. In addition, this can present a concern for the safety of not only me, but also the safety of my Soldiers. As a Sergeant First Class in the US Army, I am entrusted with safety and wellbeing of any Soldiers that I am placed in charge of. This is an obligation I take very serious.

According to the scriptures that are followed in this spiritual tradition, the association you have will help to form and develop your characteristics. The Army is for the most part not a place for a person striving to become a monk. We all know that everywhere you go, there are talks of sex, and even as I write this I have individuals telling me to give up these vows and get married and be a “normal” person. In the Bhagavad-Gita it is clearly stated that in order to develop saintly qualities, one must be in the constant association of saintly persons. As mentioned earlier, I have accepted vows to practice renunciation and extremely strict spiritual vows; does the Army really want a soldier or leader that is always tired from lack of sleep and proper diet? I personally feel it is a major concern not only for my safety but especially for the safety of those I am chosen to lead in today’s conflicts.

I have served honorably in the US Army for thirteen years, and never asked anything of the military. My non-commissioned officer evaluation reports and my awards and decorations speak for themselves and can attest to the service I have given my country, and the US Army. I originally decided to submit this packet in November 2006, but the then Command Sergeants Major  and our present Squadron commander, requested me to postpone submitting it due to the Squadron’s upcoming deployment, feeling I was a valuable asset to the Squadron’s mission. I had no hesitation and agreed to put my dream on hold to help ensure that Soldiers in Iraq had good leadership to look to during combat operations. For over ten years I have justified my military service and my spiritual practices. I have lead a double life, but I can no longer justify it. I feel it has come to a point in my life to move forward and accept in my heart my calling as a monk and servant of God.

I am writing this request to explain my reasons for requesting a Chapter 5-3, Secretarial Plenary Authority or “Once in a Lifetime Opportunity” Chapter. According to AR 635-200, this provisional is for those Soldiers who desire to leave active duty. Soldiers may qualify for discharge under this provision if the military service is interfering with a Soldier’s religious practices. I have clearly explained this in the above main body of this letter. The military has taught me about honor. I feel submitting this request is the honorable solution to this. I would feel if denied I would be a liability to Soldiers. Today’s Soldiers, fighting in today’s conflict need leaders who are focused on the mission at hand. To be very honest, my focus is else where and because it is I am a liability to Soldiers I have been chosen to lead.