Courtesy Photo | Chaplain Bradley Walgren leads a prayer at the 2016 Statewide Symposium in Support of...... read more read more
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During the event, hosted by the Arizona Coalition of Military Families, participants were offered three classes on military chaplains, faith, spirituality and how they benefit veterans and service members.
“The presentations and panels dealing with the role of faith and spirituality in the lives and healing of veterans are important to make the people who serve them (e.g., families, faith communities, pastors, health care professionals, etc.) aware that an important aspect of the healing of veterans who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events during their military careers is spiritual in nature,” said Michael Wold, regional coordinator of Institute for Healing of Memories.
The Chaplain Corps provides counseling services for spiritual and non-spiritual issues to Soldiers wherever they serve. Since the Corps was established on July 29, 1775, about 25,000 chaplains have served.
“Military life brings on stress with other members of your unit, with your family and with the citizens of the countries where you are deployed. It also brings morale conflicts,” Wold said. “Chaplains have a unique ability to counsel on all types of personal matters because the conversations are held confidential not unlike those between attorney and client.”
As long as armies have existed, military chaplains have served alongside Soldiers, providing for their spiritual needs, working to improve morale and aiding the wounded. The Bible tells of the early Israelites bringing their priests into battle with them. Pagan priests accompanied the Roman Legions during their conquests; as Christianity became the predominant religion of the Roman Empire, Christian chaplains administered to Roman soldiers. In fact, the word chaplain is derived from cappa, the Latin word for cloak.
“Chaplains are combat multipliers by connecting Soldiers with a larger, more meaningful vision than self-sustainment,” said Chaplain Bradley Walgren . “We are constant reminders of the divine graces found in loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.”
The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps is one of the oldest and smallest branches of the Army. The Chaplain Corps dates back to 29 July 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized one chaplain for each regiment of the Continental Army, with pay equaling that of a captain. In addition to chaplains serving in Continental regiments, many militia regiments counted chaplains among their ranks.
Since the War for Independence, chaplains have served in every American war. Over that period, the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps has evolved, with the addition of Roman Catholic chaplains in the Mexican War, and Jewish and African American chaplains during the Civil War. The position of chaplain assistant was created to support the work of chaplains.
In January 1979, the Army commissioned its first female chaplain. Today, some 1,300 active duty Army chaplains and 1,200 in the reserve components, represent five major faiths groups (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist.)
“The Arizona Army National Guard currently has 11 chaplains and 2 candidates studying to become chaplains, and three full time chaplains,” Walgren said.
While their duties are primarily focused on spiritual and moral issues, many chaplains have also demonstrated tremendous bravery. Stories abound of chaplains administering the last rites to fallen soldiers, oblivious to the fire around them, or dashing out into the open to rescue the wounded without regard to their own lives. Five chaplains earned the Medal of Honor for their bravery, the most recent award made posthumously to Chaplain (MAJ) Charles J. Watters in November 1969. Dozens of others have made the ultimate sacrifice, living up to the Chaplain Corps motto, Pro Deo Et Patria (For God and Country).
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.09.2016 18:25 |
| Story ID: | 203505 |
| Location: | GILBERT, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 133 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Soldiers Supported by the Chaplain Corps, by SGT Elizabeth Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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