Asim Hafiz, an Imam and religious advisor to the British Ministry of Defence, recently visited Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, and took the time to meet with Islamic US Marines.

While the entire event is very benign, the comments in the article actually highlighted a very basic concept behind the importance of faith in the military and the service of military chaplains:

“Anytime you meet another Muslim it’s exciting,” said Master Sgt. Anetra Cargile…“It’s like meeting someone from your hometown, ‘Oh yeah, you’re from there also?’ It’s almost like you’re family, you have that mutual connection. You’re both close to God in the same way; you both understand the same thing. It lifted my day.”

The same sense of connection is true for any religious group. Outside of official visits, like that of Hafiz, or of chaplains, there’s only one way to know another person’s faith.

Expression.

The recent change to DoD policy accommodating religious expression may serve to protect and even encourage the expression and sharing of faith that will help strengthen the morale, good order, and discipline of fellow believers and entire units. Sometimes all it takes is something that ‘lifts your day.’

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