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IWAKUNI, Japan - Marines face adversity throughout their careers. Often times these struggles come on deployments, but there is someone who is always willing to help.
Despite their backgrounds, beliefs or jobs, Marines and sailors have religious needs that must be met. The ones who meet those needs are chaplains.
“The basic mission of the Chaplain Corps is to provide ministries for all of our servicemembers, wherever we require them to go,” said Lt. Cmdr. Denise Wallingford, Marine Aircraft Group 12 Chaplain. “Since the American government requires servicemembers to go away from their hometowns, away from their perishes or church communities, the government has servicemembers who can provide those religious ministries for them.”
Even though deployments and training exercises are just phases that eventually pass, it’s important to have a chaplain for every step of the process.
“During the exercise people go through stuff, they get an e-mail from back home of some discouraging news … sometimes it’s hard to keep all that stuff in. Sometimes you might need to talk to somebody who can give you a different perspective or just listen to you as you sit there and cry. Having someone with 100 percent confidentiality who can’t repeat anything you say without your written consent is an important thing,” said Wallingford.
Having the chaplain around for emergencies is a necessity, but it also helps Marines with hardships they face in their daily work.
“The Marines are impacted by the chaplain in a very positive way,” said Seaman Sean Woodall, religious program specialist for MAG-12.
Woodall said that when Marines see the chaplain around and know their religious needs are provided for, it definitely boosts their morale.
One such way Chaplain Wallingford provides for religious needs is through a program she created called, “Preach on the Beach.”
“Because we are staying out in town and we’re about 25 minutes away from the base where the chapels are, I decided to go ahead and start ‘Preach on the Beach,’ which is just a ten minute walk from the hotel,” said Wallingford. “Marines and sailors who have been working hard don’t have to get dressed in anything other than their beach gear to go to church.”
The "Preach on the Beach" services are offered every Sunday at 10 a.m. while Marines from Iwakuni are in Guam.
“I want people to have the opportunity to connect with God and worship in a way that they feel they need to,” said Wallingford.
“Just because we are on deployment and away from our home doesn’t mean that we can’t come and worship with another group of believers.”
Marines are alike in many ways, but not all worship in the same way, however all are welcome to attend "Preach on the Beach."
“Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or whatever it is, I will help you find where you can go to worship in the way that you need to,” said Wallingford.
Marines are forced to adapt and overcome. Having a chaplain helps deal with those struggles regardless of the location.
“I care,” said Wallingford. “I literally care about every Marine and sailor. So to be able to express that in some tangible way that lets them know that even though this exercise might be tough, even though getting up in the daily grind might be difficult, there’s a smile, there’s somebody who actually cares about the fact that they’re here and alive.”
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2013 23:55 |
| Story ID: | 110433 |
| Location: | IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, In every clime and place, chaplains follows Marines abroad, by Cpl Brian Stevens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
