Category Archives: Chaplain

Chaplain Candidate Quits Over Insignia

Updated: Ed Brayton picked up the story for his blog, where commenters varied from ardent detractors to the supportive.

As noted at Jews in Green, a Messianic Jewish Chaplain candidate withdrew from Chaplain training after being told by the Navy that he would be required to wear the Christian cross, rather than the tablets worn by Jewish Chaplains.

In the 12 December article about candidate Michael Hiles, Rabbi Eric Tokajer says

This decision essentially bars Messianic Jews from serving as chaplains within the U.S. Navy because it would require them to wear an insignia inconsistent with their faith and belief system.

Religion in the Deployment Line

During a recent exercise, a unit that was simulating deploying to the war zone trudged its way through the processing line.  A deployment processing line is made up of a half dozen manned stations where deployers make sure they are ready to depart.  Personnelists check paperwork, medics administer shots, lawyers update wills, and family care representatives make sure deployers have their family affairs in order.

One station is manned by a Chaplain.  During this particular line, as in many, the Chaplain had camouflage New Testaments, Torahs, and guides on handling stress and separation on the table in front of him.  He chatted with each military member as they went by, seeing how they were doing.  Though he never proffered the materials in front of him, several members picked up a New Testament from the stack on the table.

One military member, however, pointed out an omission.  There were no religious materials that served him, a Hindu.  Read more

Military Chaplains Accused of “Treason”

Two Chaplains have recently come under fire from Michael Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.  One of Weinstein’s surrogates, Jason Leopold, has distributed a commentary on two Chaplains, one who was in Afghanistan, one in Iraq.  Both were videotaped in TV shows, and it is the content of those videos with which Weinstein finds offense. Read more

Support for Military Marriages

A recent Armed Forces Press article notes the efforts by military leaders to stave off increases in military divorce rates.  According to the article, approximately 58% of military members are married, and there is an approximately 3.5% divorce rate.

While praising the benefits these programs offer families, officials said they recognize that strong marital and family relationships make better Soldiers.

It also has an important impact on a soldier’s decision to re-enlist…The Army recruits Soldiers, but it retains families.

There are a wide variety of programs, many of which are run by the Chaplaincy.  The article includes praise for the US Army’s “Strong Bonds.”  Strong Bonds is a Chaplain-run program that has come under fire Read more

Merry Christmas from ChristianFighterPilot.com

Remember our troops.  Around the world, men and women in uniform will celebrate Christmas in whatever way they can.  They will do so with those that are closest to them—for our deployed troops, that may be the soldiers next to them.

For some, it will merely be the continuation of an annual tradition that will remind them of friends and family.  For military Christians, it will be the celebration of the birth of their Savior.  Some will sing Christmas songs and sit in Christmas services; some will have no ability to mark the occasion other than a private thought between tactical maneuvers. Many will celebrate Christmas while in uniform Read more

Generals, Combat Stress, and Chaplains

USA Today has published an article that discreetly (or perhaps inadvertently) highlighted the value of Chaplains in today’s military.  General Carter Ham, one of 12 four-star generals in the Army, made news with his admission that he sought counseling from a Chaplain to deal with combat stress.

Talks with a chaplain he trusted helped Ham understand that his mood swings and trouble sleeping were normal responses to the stress…

Talking to a Chaplain is by no means required.  In the same article, Brigadier General Gary Patton had “an ‘in-depth’ talk with a counselor” to deal with his combat stress.  Still, for those to whom faith has a particularly strong value, having the ability to speak with a spiritual advisor who shares one’s faith–and one’s military lifestyle–may be invaluable to recovery.  In addition, the Manual for Courts Martial Rule 503 Read more

Baptism in Biblical Lands

An article by Spc Jodi Krause documents the baptism of several Army soldiers while deployed to Balad, Iraq.  The article includes photos of the baptisms, which occurred in the base pool.  Their Chaplain, Chaplain (Lt Col) Joel Severson said: 

As a pastor, [my] calling is to make believers and baptize them. In a sense, I am fulfilling my calling to the Lord to baptize them and continue to build them up in their faith.

Also noted at the AGreaterFreedom.com.

Military Non-Theists want Protective Regs

UPDATED 14 November 2008 

When they say ‘there are no atheists in foxholes’ it’s slanderous…

As noted at the Stars and Stripes, the Secular Coalition for America held a news conference demanding new regulations to “protect young military members from…rampant religious discrimination in the services.”

In their press release, the Secular Coalition notes that one atheist military officer was “thwarted” in his attempt to lodge a complaint against a General officer who “opined that there were ‘no atheists in foxholes.'”  The officer “contends this statement qualifies as unlawful discrimination under current Army regulations.”

As with some other complaints of religious issues in the military, the Coalition maintains that the perpetrators are Read more

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