The United States now has a different kind of Air Force.

From Dateline Zero - Noah Shachtman reports on changes at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where Evangelical Christianity was once so dominant that 55 complaints were filed in 4 years alleging discrimination against non-Christians. But today, the Academy is boasting of its thriving pagan community — and its friendliness towards spell-casters.

In a press release issued Thursday, the Academy features Tech. Sgt. Brandon Longcrier (pictured), “the lay leader for the Academy’s Earth-Centered Spirituality community, which includes Wiccans and Pagans from various traditions.” (It’s part of a larger effort by the school to promote an image of tolerance.)

During an inter-faith discussion group, the release notes, one cadet asked Longcrier “whether Wiccans or Pagans practiced ‘black magic.’”

Sergeant Longcrier responded by citing the Wiccan credo, or Rede: “An it harm none, do what ye will.” That would seem to preclude harmful spellcraft. However, the Rede “would not apply to a battlefield,” according to the Academy release.

From Boing Boing: “US Air Force Academy: We are ready for The Witches,” and Wired: “Air Force Academy Now Welcomes Spell-Casters.” For more on the new, pagan-friendly Air Force, and how earth magick can heal you from “pizza poisoning,” check out that Wired article.

I suppose I could put some sort of crack here about exchanging a broom for a F-22A Raptor. But here’s something that jumped into my mind …

The past few years there have been stories about Bible references being inscribed on weapons used by U.S. Military; and the recent computer virus that attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities allegedly has a Bible code embedded in it. What happens when the U.S. Military begins deliberately recruiting people who practice witchcraft or some other esoteric belief set?

Will bullets and other weapons be inscribed with charms and spells? Will hexes be placed on enemies of the U.S. State? This sort of thing has been done, too; although not by the U.S. Military … yet.

SEE RELATED: LIFE posts photos from a 1941 “Hitler hex party”