A local Philadelphia newspaper covers the story of Rabbi Jon Cutler, a Jewish Navy Reserve Chaplain serving a 13-month tour in Iraq.  Cutler is the head Chaplain for 23 others.

Like many Chaplains, Cutler has the benefit of civilian religious counterparts to help fulfill troops’ spiritual needs:

When Cutler came to Iraq this winter, [he] set about creating a synagogue in the base’s chapel complex. Today, that synagogue — supplied with a Torah scroll brought over from the U.S. and the ark that holds it constructed by civilian contractors — has between 10 and 15 military personnel attending Friday night services. There is a steady crowd at Saturday Torah studies and weekly Jewish movie nights.

As with other Chaplains, his services are not restricted to only those of his faith:

…only two or three of the people who attend services come from practicing Jewish backgrounds, Cutler said. Many of the young people deployed there are searching for religious meaning and have found it in Judaism. He has given study materials to several troops who said they are interested in converting to Judaism when they return home.

There is a yearning out there for those people who aren’t affiliated with the religion to reach out and learn more, Cutler said…

The Chaplain is currently on leave in the US.

As originally noted at Jews in Green.