Military Chaplains Essay

Hans Zeiger says, “The chaplain serves soldiers, sailors and airmen in a way that civilian clergy cannot.” As military chaplains live with the soldiers while on deployment and on bases, the chaplain corps has a unique opportunity to minister to the men and women of the service branches. Chaplains assist soldiers with counseling, leading religious services and keeping up morale. Since the conception of the Army Chaplain Corps, certain times of struggle have brought controversy. However, the chaplains continue to lead others in their spiritual walk. With the stresses of war come great obstacles for chaplains to deal with, on the other hand, great rewards also come with chaplaincy. Throughout history, chaplains have served a vital role in the

service of men and women of the military.
When the Army Chaplain Corps formed during the Revolutionary War, a rich history began. Interestingly, a multitude of controversies began closer to the Civil War. One disputed act Congress passed in August of 1861, with the name of, An Act providing for better Organization of the Military Establishment, boldly required all chaplains to have Christian beliefs. In Section Seven it states, “Provided, That none but regularly ordained ministers of some Christian denomination shall be eligible to selection or appointment.” During that time, Christianity made up the major religion in the United States. However, as time moved onward, more diverse groups of people populated the United States and joined the military; therefore requiring a change in the chaplain corps. Fortunately, the law of 1861 that demanded that chaplains have Christian faith, changed. In July of 1862, Congress passed the revision of the necessary qualifications, stating, “That no person shall be appointed a chaplain in the
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United States army who is not a regularly ordained minister of some religious denomination. . .” Just a few months after the revision, “. . . in September 1862, the first Jewish chaplain was legally commissioned by President Lincoln.” (Chris Rodda). Diversity has clearly spread throughout the branches, as the Air Force Chaplain Corps currently allows chaplains of four religions, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Islam.
Since chaplains started their service in the military, “419 chaplains have died in a war.” (Joe Carter). Every story provides a moving experience for the reader, and everyone should learn their stories, however, one story in particular stands out among the rest. On a cold February night in 1943, a U.S.A.T., or United States Army Transport, named the Dorchester, fell under attack from a German U-boat while traversing the waters of the Atlantic Ocean between Newfoundland and Greenland. Unfortunately, the U-boat fired three torpedoes at the ship and managed to hit the ship with one of the torpedoes. It hit the ship below the waterline and the ship would clearly sink in less than a half hour. Four chaplains on board, Lt. George L. Fox, Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Lt. John P. Washington and Lt. Clark V. Poling, knew they had to act quick to save as much men as possible. When the life vest supply ran out, the chaplains gave up their own to terrified young soldiers. While everyone panicked, the chaplains brought peace to many men that night. Tragically, of the 902 men aboard the ship, 672 of them, including the chaplains, died that night. All four chaplains posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart and an exclusive Special Medal for Heroism made only for the four chaplains. These chaplains showcased how to have a selfless outlook on life and serve as a role model to all. Evidently, military chaplains have a very impressive history.
To become a chaplain, a candidate must meet main requirements. For Navy Chaplains, candidates, the website for the United States Navy instructs that a candidate must first obtain, “. . . a bachelor's degree from a qualified four-year undergraduate educational institution.” Then a candidate needs to receive a graduate degree in a theological related study. After the master's degree, a candidate must serve in a full time leadership position for two years before they can serve on active duty. Lastly, the Navy's websites states, candidates “Must be able to obtain an Ecclesiastical Endorsement from a religious faith organization registered with the Department of Defense.” Becoming a chaplain can definitely prove an academically daunting task for candidates.
Aside from the educational requirements to becoming a chaplain, the actual indoctrination process can also take place in a couple of ways. In an interview with Commander David Stroud, a Chaplain in the Navy, he gives a perspective on one way to complete the chaplain training. “I was a chaplain candidate, which is a program we have for seminary students. Basically, while you are in
seminary, you go through chaplain indoctrination (learning to wear the uniform and military courtesy and custom, etc.) and then spend about three weeks each year working alongside active duty chaplains to see if it is something you want to pursue when you complete seminary.” Once he graduated from seminary in 1996, he applied to serve as a chaplain. He then had to serve in a civilian church setting for two years before going active duty, so he served as an associate pastor at his home church, as well as in the Naval Reserves, until he could become an active duty chaplain. Another way to become a chaplain in the Navy includes completing ODS or Officer Development School. ODS aims to transform civilians into Naval Officers. It takes place over five weeks at Newport, Rhode Island. Staff teach men and women aiming to join the navy as a Staff Corps Officers in areas such as Naval Leadership, Naval Administration, Military Law and more. Physical training and tests also train the officers for life in the navy. Definitely showing that ODS effectively prepares civilians to become Navy Chaplains.
Just like any other job, chaplains have daily routines. Main duties across the service branches include: ensuring the freedom of religious exercise, leading religious ministry in one's own faith, counseling families and individuals and much more. Life as a Navy Chaplain probably has the most diversity with the possibility to serve in the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. Naval Chaplain David Kim has a very diverse experience as a chaplain. He has served with sea bees as well as marines. He says, “What was taught to us in chaplain school was to always have what they call a hip pocket sermons. Something ready-to-go in your hip pocket that you can break it out and do a field service on the fly.” Evidently, daily activities not only demand strong communication skills, but also creativity and flexibility to provide soldiers with quality spiritual leadership.
Counseling, another duty placed upon the chaplains, unfortunately, proves a necessary thing for soldiers to do, however, they do not attend the much needed counseling.

Erika Andersen, a contributor to Forbes, says even though we may see leaders as a “John Wayne-like character. . .”, effective leaders know when to ask others for help. In the military, men and women train to rely on themselves as well as their team; however, service men and women have an amazing stubbornness at times and that can end up detrimental for their health. Chaplains serve as counselors to those who find themselves in times of hardship. Any conversation with a chaplain has a special confidentiality that talking to other soldiers cannot offer. Because chaplains consider all opportunities to assist others as sacred, they respect the confidentiality of any conversation. God has used chaplains in amazing ways in very hard situations. In the book, Miracles and Moments of Grace: Inspiring Stories From Military Chaplains, by Nancy Kennedy, she illustrates the story of U.S. Army Chaplain James Blount. Chaplain Blount served on a deployment to Kosovo, during that deployment, God put him in the right place at the right time. A soldier on base had started shooting at his comrades to try to get them to shoot him, Blount counseled the soldier before any tragedy unfolded, eventually talking him out of any action and preventing a tragedy from happening. Even though counseling can challenge chaplains, it can prove one of the most rewarding tasks of

chaplain.
One duty in particular can definitely challenge any chaplain emotionally and mentally. Hospital Chaplains have at times, a heartbreaking job in which they must stand strong and comfort others in the last moments on their worldly lives. Another story illustrated by Nancy Kennedy, tells about New Jersey National Guard Chaplain Joanne Martindale and one of her stories as a hospital chaplain. During her deployment, a mass casualty event happened. Simply meaning 14 or more soldiers were injured or killed. A soldier requests her presence and to write a letter to his family and to pray with him. As he starts his prayer, he dies in her arms. After she returned from deployment, Lt. Colonel Martindale met with the family of the soldier to help the family gain some closure and comfort in knowing about their father and husband. Hospital chaplains have quite a hard job at times, nevertheless, they can find comfort in assisting others find peace in sometimes their fleeting moments on Earth.
Duty assignments as chapel chaplains can offer stability for some; as life on base provides more comfort because families can stay together. In my interview with Chaplain David Stroud, he covered
over his experiences as a chapel chaplain. “You have to prepare for worship each week, Bible studies, Sunday school, youth group, etc.” While serving as a chapel chaplain, one can get acquainted with military life and can really help new chaplains get into military life. During time as a chapel chaplain, one can get restless just doing things on base, however, chapel chaplains can find fulfillment with how they keep soldiers and their families in a strong relationship with each other and God.
Military Chaplains deal with many challenges as well as blessings throughout their career. Quality before quantity, this aphorism applies to any chaplain corps. While many branches struggle to find an abundance of chaplains, they strive to find high quality chaplains before accepting less qualified applicants. Major Scott Weichl, a Chaplain for USANATO, says that, “The challenges are extended deployments and frequent absences from home due to training.” A challenge possibly solvable from a higher number of chaplains.
A chaplain does not just lead religious services, he/she comforts soldiers at their lowest and celebrates with them at their highest. As Major Weichl says, “The challenges are many, yet the blessings are more abundant.” In my interview with Chaplain Stroud, he said, “I am in charge of suicide prevention so I do a good bit of training in that area. It is not day to day, but you have to respond to emergencies when they arise. Thankfully, they don't happen too often, but when they do you kind of have to drop what you are doing and go take care of whatever it is.” Suicide ravages throughout the military, destroying morale, consequently leading to more problems. The current statistics of veteran suicide levels out at roughly 21 veterans a day. Veteran suicide only shows the need for more contact with chaplains and proves to be the biggest challenge for many.
While Chaplain Stroud has dealt with suicides, but because of his ministry in the Navy, he has experienced many amazing things. He provided a couple examples “I have flown in an F-14 and an F-18, I have been underway on a submarine, I have crossed the Atlantic on a surface ship, I spent 6 months on the ground in Afghanistan, I got to represent the entire U.S. Navy and welcome the
survivors of the USS ARIZONA to the memorial, . . .” Obviously, the biggest blessing comes from leading others in a stronger relationship with God. So the blessings of a chaplaincy definitely outweigh the challenges.
Clearly, chaplains have fulfilled a vital role in the success in the military. Throughout history, chaplains have protected the spiritual rights of service men and women, as well as sacrifice their lives for others. Not only do chaplain candidates complete rigorous academic standards, but learn to serve others for two years before becoming active duty chaplains. Chaplains have a vast array of roles they fill to assist soldiers in their lives. Even though chaplains experience many challenges, the rewards clearly outweigh the challenges. Through it all, chaplains have clearly served a crucial part in the service of others.