A DoD news release describes visits between US military chaplains and what are apparently their Afghan equivalents: “religious and cultural advisors” in the Afghan Army.

The article chose an interesting contrast in highlighting the roles each nation’s “chaplains” filled.

From the Americans:

To demonstrate how the chaplains nurture the living, [Chaplain (Maj) Brian] Curry and his team showed the Afghan RCAs a coffee shop that was built and is operated by the religious support teams…It provides a place for Soldiers to take a break from their work, watch movies, read books, play games, or use computers or phones to talk to their families in the United States.

From the Afghans: 

“Our officers teach classes twice a month, and our sergeants teach classes twice a week,” [Afghan Lt. Col. Sayed] Balkishah said as he showed the Americans their classrooms. The classes focus on cultural and religious training that is guided by the Quran.

While it appears the US chaplains were trying to highlight something other than the stereotypical religious service, the contrast comes across as American chaplains serving coffee while Afghan RCAs teach the Quran.

Still, the Afghan Army representatives seemed to have a positive take on the meeting, even from a religious point of view:

“We are happy to have met you, and we look forward to continuing to work with you,” said Balkishah. “We learn that we have to be related to our God and talk to our God for help, and we are both the same in this way.”

Every small step counts.

Chaplain Curry presented the Afghans with a Quran:

Afghan National Army religious cultural adviser Col. Khalilullah (right) blesses a Holy Quran that U.S. Army Chaplain (Maj.) Brian Curry (center) presented to him during a partnership visit at Kandahar Airfield Nov. 15. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Stephanie L. Carl)