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CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The Afghan National Army 1st Brigade, 215th Corps and Regimental Combat Team 5 conducted a Religious Engagement Conference here, Nov. 23.
“In this part of Afghanistan, culture is religion and religion is culture,” said Dauod Parwani, the RCT-5 cultural advisor. “The two concepts are inseparable, and unless you are speaking in the language of religion, no one will listen to you.”
The conference brought together religious leaders from the partnered forces, including ANA Religious and Cultural Affairs Officers and U.S. Navy chaplains, to discuss the importance of religious engagement with Afghan forces and the people of southern Helmand province.
Navy Cmdr. Mark Winward, the RCT-5 chaplain and a native of East Hartford, Conn., said the spirit of the conference is best reflected by a quote from a fellow chaplain, Navy Capt. Paul Wrigley, on the impact of religious belief in theater operations.
“An operational commander, however well trained in the military issues, who is ignorant of or discounts the importance of religious belief can strengthen his enemy, offend his allies, alienate his own forces and antagonize public opinion,” Winward recited. “Religious belief is a factor he must consider in evaluating the enemy’s intentions and capabilities, the state of his own forces, his relationship with his allies and his courses of action,”
The successful efforts by Afghan and coalition forces to understand the impact religion and culture can have on operations are due in no small part to the development and utilization of the ANA’s RCAO program.
Currently, Mullahs make up almost half of the RCAO corps, and like U.S. military chaplains, they serve their fellow soldiers as religious officers.
According to U.S. Army Col. Brent Causey, U.S. Forces Afghanistan command chaplain, coalition force chaplains are deeply involved in the turnover of responsibilities with the Afghan government, just as infantry units are deeply involved with turnover of security.
“Engagement with Afghan religious leaders requires a comprehensive, coordinated and focused approach, informed by in-depth knowledge of Afghan religion, culture and history,” Causey said.
He believes the partnering efforts of USFOR-A chaplains are essential to mentoring the RCAOs as they develop their roles and responsibilities to serve their fellow soldiers and surrounding communities.
Some roles of the RCAOs include promoting Islamic faith and values, conducting religious observances, providing counseling for ANA personnel and family members, conducting casualty assistance for ANA family members, meeting with local leaders and community organizations for religious or humanitarian purposes, and serving as the principal advisor to the commander on all matters regarding religious, cultural, moral or family related issues.
“Building a relationship with the RCA officers is as important as building a relationship with the local religious leaders, Mullahs, and religious scholars,” said Causey.
Winward said that religious freedoms are an important part of basic human rights. He emphasized that people of southern Helmand must understand the partnered force will never infringe on their rights.
“As Americans we value freedom of religion, and that means we value and respect Afghan religion,” Winward said. “Religious engagement is absolutely critical to our initiatives here in Afghanistan. We recognize that religion is central and important to the Afghan people, and it is critical that the Afghan people know that the ANA and coalition forces support their faith, and respect their religion and culture.”
After the conference and through continued mentoring and training from U.S. military chaplains, the RCAOs will become more proficient in their basic focuses of attention: internal ministry – counseling soldiers at their respective units, horizontal support – building a team to establish relationships, and finally, external support – advising commanders on the effect religious and spiritual activities have on operations.
Editor’s note: Regimental Combat Team 5 is assigned to 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 11.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.26.2011 00:18 |
| Story ID: | 80563 |
| Location: | CAMP DWYER, HELMAND PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 613 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Afghan and Marine forces examine the impact of culture, religion, by Andrew Miller, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
