Chaplain (MajGen) Douglas Carver, outgoing US Army Chief of Chaplains, led his final National Prayer Breakfast at Fort Hood on April 19th. He focused on the topic of trust.
[Carver] asked the audience to trust in God, as they trust in each other, and as the American public trusts in them.
“Nothing in all of creation can separate you from the love of God,” Read more
US military Chaplains are deployed in the Horn of Africa
to establish lines of communication with local religious leaders.
Chaplain (CAPT) Jon Cutler and Chaplain (LtCol) David Terrinoni met with religious leaders and visited a Catholic orphanage. While their main goal was to interact with the locals, the Chaplains also ministered to the needs of their own team:
“There is religious diversity here, but no synagogues, which make me glad Chaplain Cutler could visit,” said Chief Petty Officer Richard Anthonissen…
Cutler was able to serve Anthonissen in a way that only a rabbi can.
“During my last [CTFJ-HOA] tour, there were only Jewish lay-leaders available,” said Anthonissen. “While they meet your faith needs, a rabbi is much more – a rabbi is a teacher who makes you think and challenge your assumptions in a good way.”
Elsewhere, Chaplain (MajGen) Cecil Richardson, Read more
Chaplain (BrigGen) Donald L. Rutherford is set to become the US Army’s next Chief of Chaplains. The position is currently held by Chaplain (MajGen) Douglas Carver.
Rutherford is a Catholic and currently the Deputy Chief of Chaplains; he would be promoted to Major General as well.
Chaplain Rutherford recently spoke at the Redstone Arsenal National Prayer Luncheon on the topic of resiliency and spiritual fitness: Read more
Chaplain (LtCol) Gary Hensley received the Order of Titus from US Army Chief of Chaplains MajGen Douglas Carver in early January. As noted in the article,
A non-denominational award, the Order of Titus is unique among U.S. Army honors in that it recognizes observer-trainers rather than key leaders and staff. The award highlights “the great importance of realistic, doctrinally-guided combat ministry training in ensuring the delivery of prevailing religious support to the American Soldier.”
While he has previously been deployed to combat zones, Chaplain Hensley is currently serving as not only Chaplain to the Fort Leavenworth community, but also as an “observer-trainer” in the unit’s mission.
Via the Army Chaplaincy blog.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi recently spoke to a group of 400 Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants at the National Guard Bureau’s 2011 Joint Chaplain Conference in Washington. She praised the Chaplains and lauded their roles in
The Chaplain Corps is one of the best tools to help fight the rise in military suicides, Pelosi said. Read more
Kentucky Army National Guard Chaplain Pat Dolan was promoted to Brigadier General at the beginning of January. He will serve as the Army National Guard Assistant to the Army Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (Major General) Douglas Carver. According to Army Public Affairs, he is the first Roman Catholic Priest to hold the position.
Chaplain (BrigGen) Dolan has been deployed to a variety of locations, including four times to Iraq.
Via the Army Chaplaincy blog.
In its continuing efforts to reduce suicides and improve the overall mission effectiveness of Soldiers on the battlefield, Army Chief of Chaplains MajGen Douglas L. Carver recently lauded the value of “spiritual fitness” for both servicemembers and their families.
The Army defines spiritual fitness as the development of the personal qualities needed to sustain a person in times of stress, hardship and tragedy. These qualities can come from religious, philosophical or human values…and form the basis for character, disposition, decision making and integrity.
“That’s what I think spiritual practice does, lighten the load,” [Chaplain Carver] added. “And who wouldn’t want to take a few rocks out of a rucksack?”
Coincidentally, the Department of Defense published this article on Spiritual Fitness a few weeks prior to an outcry by atheists on this very topic. The article adequately explains the Army is not categorically calling “spiritual fitness” a “religious” endeavor, despite accusations to the contrary by atheists.
Carver recalled an interesting story from a morally conflicted Soldier: Read more
The US Army has made a concerted effort to support the “whole Soldier” concept with its Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program. These programs have targeted the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of American servicemembers.
Chaplains in Afghanistan have been vital to that cause in many respects: Read more