Most people can understand the need for military Chaplains when they think of Soldiers deployed to a combat zone, separated from their spiritual resources.  A North Dakota National Guard unit, activated to help fight local flooding, demonstrated the need for Chaplains even locally:

Because the guardsmen have been activated for an emergency, it can be hard to find times to hold church services and gatherings. Guardsmen work 12-hour shifts, so many simply don’t have the energy for extra activities.

To make up for this, chaplains deliver daily devotionals to the guardsmen at their duty locations so they can still have spiritual support, even if they can’t make it to a church service. Chaplains have even delivered Bibles on MP3 so guardsmen can listen while on breaks.

“It really is ministry on the fly,” [Chaplain (Capt) Brock] Sailer said. “We have to find them, be it at meal times or helping them with their jobs, so we can work and talk at the same time.”

Chaplain Sailer also held Easter services for the activated Guardsmen this past weekend.  The services were also attended by MajGen David Sprynczynatyk, the North Dakota adjutant general, and Command SgtMaj Daniel Job, the state’s senior enlisted leader.

The US military serves the Nation in many ways, and Chaplains stand ready to protect religious freedom and free exercise no matter what way that may be.