US Africa Command chaplains recently traveled to newly independent South Sudan to meet their counterparts in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. They have an interesting patch:
The patch bears a large cross and reads Read more…
Air Force Chaplain (Capt) Christian Lapaul Williams provides a moving first hand account of his role at Arlington National Cemetery. Worth the read.
A DoD article highlights US Army Chaplain (LtCol) Avi Weiss, a chaplain who “FOB hops” around Afghanistan as the only Jewish religious leader in the theater.
“Attempting to keep traditional Jewish laws is difficult in this environment,” said Weiss, explaining the shortage of rabbis in the military. “It’s a credit to the military that it Read more…
Some people take issue with the presence of military chaplains serving within the borders of the US, but the religious ministry team of a Marine Expeditionary Unit showed that soldiers stateside sometimes need their spiritual resources brought to them, as well. The unit was in field training during Easter this year:
While training is the number one priority, seven religious services were held to allow the service members to practice their faith even Read more…
Chaplains have been serving the troops for almost as long as the US military has existed, providing spiritual support and protecting free exercise wherever US servicemembers are deployed.
Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, February, 1971: Helmets are removed but placed nearby for quick retrieval as Chaplain (Capt.) Albert Hartlage Read more…
A group of US Army Africa chaplains have been engaging with the Liberian Armed Forces to help their chaplaincy:
Chaplain (Maj.) Allen Staley, and Command Chap. (Col.) Gary Brown …worked with more than 20 Liberian Armed Forces chaplains during a Chaplain Professionalization Seminar in Monrovia, Liberia.
The US military is helping Liberia develop its own chaplaincy, and they’re Read more…
US Army Chaplain (Capt) Thomas Dyer was once a Marine. He was also once a Southern Baptist preacher.
Dyer has served for several years, including a deployment to Iraq. While he’s the first Army Buddhist chaplain, several Buddhists have recently become chaplain candidates.
The TV station local to Fort Benning recently did a short segment on the Chaplain, and the military’s support to religious freedom his service demonstrates:
The US military continues to face a shortage of Catholic priests, while the Catholic church itself has a shortage of church leaders:
Catholics make up the largest single religious denomination in the military…There is one chaplain for every 1,300 Catholic servicemen and servicewomen.
One way they’re attempting to alleviate the strain is with a joint scholarship Read more…
A US Army article details the support of Army chaplains to families and Soldiers as they deploy and return home. Check out the name of the chaplain:
“We help strengthen family relationships,” said Maj. Billy Graham, 101st CAB chaplain. “We conduct the ‘Strong Bonds’ retreats for married soldiers and hold events for single Read more…
Chaplains in the US Marine Corps are actually officers in the US Navy. Chaplain (LtCmdr) Mark Tews comments on the importance of chaplains to his Marines:
“If a Marine is having a bad day and needs a place to go and to feel safe and talk about any issues, the chaplain is always there for them,” he explained. “For Marines, this is a place of sanctuary where they don’t have to worry about anything and can talk with the chaplain about anything.”
Two US Army chaplains, Chaplain (Col) John McGraw and Chaplain (Col) Jerry Lewis, recently took the Army’s resiliency mantra to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their African hosts seemed to welcome the opportunity:
Chief of DRC Chaplains Col. Jeanne Paul Keela sees the emerging relationship between his organization and U.S. Army chaplains as Read more…
The Jewish online magazine Tablet covers the story of US Army Chaplain (LtCol) Larry Bazer, who recently returned from a deployment as the “only Jewish chaplain in Afghanistan.”
The article contains some interesting commentaries on the chaplaincy in general, as well as some specifics related to life as a Jewish chaplain:
The [Camp Phoenix] chapel, said Bazer, “was a cozy little place”: a small, nondescript room built of plywood. During the day it was devoid of any religious symbols, but during the evenings a few crosses would turn it into a Protestant chapel, or some icons into a Catholic church. On Friday nights, candles and challah—sent each month by the “challah lady,” a Long Island Jewish woman—made it a synagogue.
Chaplain Bazer’s congregations varied from none to nearly 20 as he traveled Afghanistan as the only Jewish Read more…
Zhen Guan, a monk originally from China, was recently sworn in as the US Army’s latest Second Lieutenant and Buddhist chaplain candidate. He gave his oath with his hand on the Vimalakirti Sutra, which is a Buddhist text.
Guan’s oath was administered by Chaplain Read more…
US Army Chaplain (Capt) Rudy Stevens, currently assigned to Fort Bragg, was invited to deliver the invocation at the US House of Representatives in February.
“Lord, too often, we Americans back home forget to pray for our leaders here in D.C. Forgive us, Lord. For those assembled here in the people’s House, I pray that you give them courage, strength, and wisdom. Give them courage from our convictions, strength from your spirit, and wisdom for Read more…
US Navy Chaplain (CAPT) Steve Brown was once an enlisted Marine. He wanted to serve as a Chaplain, but there are no Marine chaplains — they’re in the Navy. So that’s what he joined. He has served for 32 years, and his peer chaplains have recognized that service in recommending him for a servant leadership award.
The John H. Craven Servant Leadership Award is a peer-nominated award that acknowledges the significant Read more…
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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of any government, military, or religious organization.
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