The value and values of military chaplains

Q: What is the proper role of religion -- and personal religious belief -- in the U.S. armed forces? Should a particular religious affiliation disqualify someone from active military service? How far should the military go to accommodate personal religious beliefs and practices?

This question applies directly to what might be the most undervalued asset in our military's arsenal -- U.S military chaplains. They not only attend to the personal religious beliefs of those in uniform, but they have been effectively boosting morale, easing the horrors of war, comforting grief, and bringing spiritual peace to the rigors of military life for many decades.

Few would disagree on the importance of a soldier's mental health and stability. And the spiritual component is vital to anyone who looks to and needs God's help. It may not be a universal panacea to all religious-based intolerance and violence, but the collective efforts of chaplains both in war and peacetime stand as a testament to the value and effectiveness of spiritual counseling and prayer.

Military chaplains represent many religions. Some are Christian Scientists. In fact, I remember when a chaplain visited me many years ago during basic training. I recall his unconditional love, gentleness and tender manner while surrounded by harsh conditions and loud voices. His words were a huge help in finding my own fortitude during that time. We also prayed about painful blisters on my feet, which were quickly healed as a result.

I could tell that it would not have mattered to him if I was a Christian Scientist, a Muslim, Jew or a member of any other Christian church. I later learned that this unconditional embrace is what all chaplains are trained to do.

Historically, the military community has been a place where people of all stripes learn tolerance by rubbing shoulders with each other, both in peace and in war. When incidents like the Fort Hood shooting rampage occur, soldiers and their families instantly band together to help each other heal, and it matters little what their faith traditions are.

Chaplains can serve as an example for all of us, in or out of uniform, to find common ground with those of different religious beliefs and to reach those with wounded hearts and bodies with such an unhesitatingly spiritual love as to bring real comfort and healing.

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I went to religious services during Navy boot camp because it was a way to escape the regimentation and discipline, for a few hours, that were imposed upon us during those weeks. It served that purpose but I'm sure some local clergymen would have been happy to come on base and give services on a rotating basis.

Otherwise, I found the Chaplins in the military to be worthless. Since they were integrated into the officer corps they had no interest or empathy for enlisted personnel and made no effort at any kind of organized outreach.

The Armed forces would be better served with a program of enlisted lay people who were allowed time and resources to serve their fellows or perhaps ordained clergy would prefer to join the ranks and serve along with us. The way it is set up is a bust. The military offers tremendous challenges to a chaplaincy that is willing to address them. Domestic and substance abuse, debilitating moral standards, sexual assault of female personnel and hazing are just a few issues that chaplains could work to decrease the incidence of, in a humanitarian way, if they chose. Instead, they chose to lead a tepid prayer service and then head off for lunch at the club and a round of golf.

Chaplins, in my experience, are a bunch of freeloaders. The average dogface and deckape would be better off without them.

They got no respect. Earned none. Wouldn't have lasted a day underway on a fast attack submarine, dogmeat.

Posted by: dwickert51 | November 24, 2009 12:08 PM
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The value and values of military chaplains

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