Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD – Lt. Col. Peter Baktis, 18th Military Police Brigade chaplain, leads...... read more read more
By Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger
18th Military Police Brigade
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Soldiers who are deployed are under constant pressure on the battlefield and at the same time personal stresses back home loom over their head: family issues, financial issues, personal loneliness, spouse issues and many more.
Soldiers can become overwhelmed with all these added stresses along with trying to be there for the battle buddy and when this need arises, they are able to seek out help to battle their stresses. Who can they go to in this time of need?
The U.S. Army answers that call by providing the availability of chaplains!
"The mission of a chaplain, while deployed, is to minister and help Soldiers in order to meet their spiritual needs," said Maj. Charles Hamlin, chaplain, 716th Military Police Battalion and native of Flaherty, Ky.
While chaplains deal with Soldier issues on a daily basis and provide Soldiers with needed guidance and a place to vent their stresses, who does the chaplain go to when the stresses of combat become overwhelming?
"We are not invincible people," said Lt. Col. Peter Baktis, chaplain, 18th Military Police Brigade and native of Brooklyn, N.Y. "People always think that we have all the answers."
When chaplains need to find answers for themselves; some go to their religious powers, some take time to themselves, some talk to friends and loved ones back home, and some seek guidance from other chaplains and their chaplain assistants.
"At times we all hit our capacity," said Baktis, referring to the stress chaplains face doing their daily job.
Baktis began to look for a way to give his chaplains a break while deployed so that they can recharge their batteries and continue their mission of providing care for Soldiers.
The Brooklyn native, found that a getaway at the Morale Welfare and Recreational facility: Freedom Rest, which is located in the Green Zone of Baghdad.
The facility, which consists of a large pool, dining facility and many recreational activities to entertain Soldiers, provides Soldiers a break from the stresses of combat.
The chaplains of the 18th MP Bde.; which has a total of four battalions scattered throughout the Iraq theater, came together recently at Freedom Rest to hold a chaplain's retreat to recharge their spiritual batteries.
"This conference gives us a chance, in a non-threatening environment, to experience that we are not alone in our mission and that others are having the same experiences," said Baktis, referring to the there-day chaplain retreat.
The conference is not only a spiritual recharge for the chaplains, but also served as a career development seminar.
"You get great ministry ideas, the brigade is separated geographically throughout Iraq and we get new ideas on how to minister to troops that are scattered throughout Iraq," said Capt. Jay Clark, chaplain, 728th Military Police Battalion and native of Bismarck, N.D.
During the retreat the chaplains discussed the different stresses they face while helping Soldiers and ways to combat those stresses.
"Walking with Soldiers who lose a team mate and helping them overcome that hurt and pain to get back into the fight is the hardest part of the job," said Hamlin, a chaplain of 14 years.
"Caring for Soldiers enough to share in their hurt and taking ownership of their hurt in whatever issue that is," continued Hamlin. "Showing the Soldier you care... Chaplains need to be caring to the point where they are carrying that burden for the Soldiers."
Baktis said the hardest part of the job is giving Soldiers a reason for doing their jobs.
"Answering people's questions about their end purpose is the hardest part," said Baktis, a chaplain for 17 years. "Giving people meaning and purpose. Sometimes Soldiers don't see the change that they are making here."
Capt. Christopher Dickey, chaplain, 95th Military Police Battalion, compared giving purpose to Soldiers here like raising children.
"It's like seeing your kids grow up," said Dickey. "You see them everyday, so you don't see the change when you're here everyday."
Dickey mentioned the Iraqi police improvement from the beginning of the operation in Iraq to now and how military police are now in a more support role.
"Being alone in the job is the hardest part of the job," said Capt. Simon Chang, chaplain, 793rd Military Police Battalion. "When I have problems I just go to God or my senior chaplain, who are more experienced,"
Chang, with seven years experience as a chaplain, credits the retreat to reorienting himself to his mission, which will set him up for success on the rest of his deployment.
The chaplains said that unlike past wars this war has been a constant everyday battle with little downtime for Soldiers. So a retreat like Freedom Rest is much needed.
"The retreat has recharged my battery," said Hamlin. "I was able to unwind and not have to focus on work. Got a chance to heal and recharge myself."
During the conference the chaplains also talked about the future of the Chaplain Corps and how the bonds established now are extremely important to the future of the Corps.
"You all are the future of the Chaplain Corps," said Baktis talking to the chaplains and chaplain assistants during the conference.
Baktis continued to say how the battalion chaplains needed to work together with other chaplains in their areas of operations to better support the many Soldiers scattered across Iraq.
"It is time to take care of yourself, so you can go and take care of others as a team," said Baktis.
The 18th Military Police Brigade is deployed from Germany in support of Multi-National Divisions-Baghdad's mission to train and support the Iraqi police force.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2008 09:41 |
| Story ID: | 20179 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 538 |
| Downloads: | 348 |
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