Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood | U.S. Army Reserve Brig Gen. Carlton Fisher, deputy chief of chaplains, U.S. Army...... read more read more
FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY – “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:9-10
These words have resonated with soldiers for decades, as one never ever knows where their military path may take them. Whether they make a trip across the state or traverse the globe, today’s soldiers are fortunate to have the support of their Unit Ministry Team (UMT) to help guide them spiritually. To help in that mission, the 84th Training Command (TC) UMT hosted their first UMT training workshop here Feb. 17 – 20, 2016. More than 30 chaplains and chaplain assistants from the U.S. Army Reserve Command, the 84th TC, the 75th TC, the 85th Support Command, and First Army participated.
As part of the training, the UMT held a round-table discussion to identify how Army Reserve and Active Army Chaplains could collaborate during the 84th Training Command’s Combat Support Training Program exercises. During the workshop, they were able to develop a plan to better support Soldiers during the exercises.
Brig. Gen. Carlton Fisher, the deputy chief of chaplains for the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), said that he was “extremely confident in how we’re syncing training.”
When asked how chaplaincy in the Reserve component differs from the active component, the 84th TC’s command chaplain, Col. David Hunter, noted that the missions are similar, but the execution is slightly different. “Chaplains are there to provide comfort and when someone first comes to you, you have to be able to assess them and identify the type of support that they need. Once you understand if it’s a spiritual, emotional, mental or physical problem, then you can help them work through it and refer them to any additional resources they may need.”
The active component is able to conduct these meetings in person on a daily basis and have the resources available on post. Army Reserve soldiers are geographically dispersed, so USAR chaplains have to think of creative ways to make that personal connection. They do this by building a network of chaplains from other units and by leveraging their personal relationships. This workshop was just another example of how the 84th TC UMT continued to build their team and to reinforce collaboration across components.
While the workshop was filled with discussion and presentations, Hunter said that the highlight of the four days was a presentation by Kevin Elder, the General Dynamics lead in the 84th TC’s exercise directorate. Elder spent more than 21 years on active duty as an Army Ranger and he spoke about his personal spiritual journey and his experiences with Ranger and Special Operations chaplains. He talked about how important it is for chaplains to be alongside their troops, side by side, shoulder to shoulder. Elder validated the crucial role that UMTs have in helping soldiers and said that “Unit ministry readiness is Army Readiness.”
This is an important sentiment as readiness has been an ongoing priority throughout the Army for several years. It’s vital that soldiers are prepared physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to accomplish their missions. Through this workshop, the 84th TC UMT ensured that another group of chaplains are trained and ready to provide spiritual support.
| Date Taken: | 03.02.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.02.2016 11:59 |
| Story ID: | 190851 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 227 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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