The Air Force's proselytism problem.

Barry Lynn's quote in the Air Force Times ("Free Speech For Chaplains," Oct. 31) surely summed up the issue neatly. "The easy and appropriate solution," he said, "is for the Air Force to make it official policy that chaplains should not proselytize." Of course, we know that the problem is not so easily solved when we see a statement attributed to the Deputy Chief of Chaplains that he reserves the right to go after those not affiliated with any religious group. And, apparently, the Chief of Chaplains backed him!

I'm weakly optimistic that Americans United's viewpoint will ultimately prevail. Another part of the solution is advising those who must proselytize not to join the Air Force. And if you're already in, get out! The Chief of Staff of the Air Force ought to direct the two top chaplains to retire and replace them with two who have open minds.

I am a retired Air Force chaplain, United Methodist. I've been out for 30 years now, but a major reason I retired before I had to was this very issue. Of my seven assignments, all--except a year I spent traveling the remote radar sites in Alaska--had the problem. I never encountered a line commander who gave me problems, but other chaplains and the over-zealous, born-again Religious Right folks of all ages did, particularly the young adults who had just recently gotten the light.

When I became a supervisory chaplain, I recall a young Free Will Baptist chaplain who informed me that he would be inviting a "Jews For Jesus" group onto the base for a program. Fortunately, I could turn to the Chaplain Regulations on that one. These rules state that no group can be involved on the base if their prime purpose is to proselytize. While he didn't accept my bringing it to his attention gracefully, he ungracefully accepted it and didn't do it.

Thank you, Americans United, of which I am a member, for your continued diligent watching and taking positive action on this issue.

Lt. Col. Lawrence V. Tagg

U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Tucson, Ariz.