Category Archives: Chaplain

Religion News Service Covers Spiritual Triage

Religion News Service — the non-profit media group that famously took a grant from atheists aimed at providing favorable news coverage — provided a balanced look at the US Army’s research into the previously-discussed virtual chaplain training, otherwise known as “spiritual triage.”

Trailing the [computer animated] combat medics, the uniformed military chaplain kneels and performs “spiritual triage,” assessing who is dead, who is soon to die, and who is likely to survive.

For the dead, there is silent prayer; for the gravely wounded and those in pain, there are words of comfort…At each point in the action, a prompt asks users what they think is the appropriate Read more

Chaplains Practice Wartime Role in Korea

An Air Force article documents the story of Chaplain (Maj) Robert Borger, deputy wing chaplain at Osan Air Base, Korea, as he “played” in a wartime exercise:

Chaplains play a huge role in the hospital during times of war. They give hope and comfort in the last minutes of the lives of those expected to die.

“During wartime, we provide care and ministry to the critically injured,” said [Chaplain] Robert Borger…”We spend their last moments with them, providing care, to give them a view to that window of hope.”

Chaplains need to train to their duties just as other troops do.  In the photo above, Chaplain Borger sports his chemical protection suit (and obligatory reflective belt…).

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Church Services Remember Four Chaplains Day

Update: A Navy Chaplain spoke at a Virginia church service noting

“These chaplains were united in their belief that with God all things are possible,” and they served as an enduring witness to “the power of God to transcend chaos and calamity and produce in us the strength to do all things.”

The story of the four chaplains inspired three Colorado Springs-area military chaplains.

February 3rd marked the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the US Army Transport Dorchester — a tragedy made famous as much by the act of four chaplains as the fact 627 of the 900 men aboard died.

The four chaplains were Protestants George Fox and Clark Poling; Catholic priest John Washington; and a Jewish rabbi, Alexander Goode.  The chaplains famously gave up their own life vests and sank with the ship, arm in arm without regard to any person’s particular religious faith.

The Rev Robert Phillips of Peoria, IL, remembered the chaplains at the end of his service and remarked on the impact the chaplains had on the military as a whole:  Read more

Chaplains Support Troops in Presidential Inauguration

Many people were aware of some of the roles US servicemembers played in supporting the inauguration — from logistics (like role-playing the rehearsal) to protection.

There was another, lower-key support element as well:  Chaplains deployed to support the troops, too:

The chaplains’ mission is to provide emotional and spiritual support for [6,000] Guardsmen so soldiers and airmen may focus their attention on accomplishing their assigned mission during the ceremony.

The US military generally does an admirable job of supporting religious freedom, and chaplains deploy around the world — and to Washington, DC — to help make that happen.

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Chaplain Teams Trained on Caring for Themselves

An article at Army.mil notes some religious support teams spend so much time caring for others they may neglect their own well-being:

These RST’s work hard to provide moral, ethical and spiritual leadership to their units. On a weekly basis, they care for hundreds of Soldiers from diverse backgrounds and provide counseling for issues ranging from interpersonal relationships to combat stress…

“Compassion fatigue and burnout is a very real problem,” said Read more

US Military Chaplains, Needed and Serving

A quick article local to Fort Campbell notes the vast religious support structure provided to Army Soldiers at the sprawling base, as well as the troops’ demand for it:

There are over 50 chaplains and 50 chaplain assistants at Fort Campbell…There are seven chapels on post…

In addition to Catholic services, there are Protestant services for those who are Baptist, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Episcopal, Church of Christ, Assembly of God and other Protestant traditions, as well as Read more

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