Photo By Capt. Stephen Short | Maj. Chuck B. Rizer front right, 172nd Infantry Brigade chaplain, gets into the action...... read more read more
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq — Reinforcements are something every unit loves to have; more Soldiers to help win the fight and save lives at the same time. The duty of being a Soldier can be very difficult at times and no matter how many extra Soldiers arrive to the battlefield, the burden sometimes just does not seem to lift.
Those warriors who have experienced deployments away from friends and family might know how heavy that burden can feel. One of the reinforcements all branches of service have come to count on in time of need is the chaplain.
Maj. Chuck B. Rizer, 172nd Infantry Brigade Chaplain, believes all faiths and even Agnostics or Atheists can receive help from a chaplain.
The Army expects chaplains to observe the distinctive doctrines of their faith while also honoring the right of others to observe their own faith in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations.
"I've had Catholics come to me and say, 'I want to be a better Catholic'," said Rizer, a resident of Chicago. "I've had Christians, non-Christians and even Atheists come to me and say they want to have a better relationship with their spouse."
The Army is a diverse environment with Rabbis, Ministers, Imams and Priests who serve Soldiers with conviction and commitment.
Rizer spends much of his time counseling Soldiers on marital issues and finds there are certain principles that apply to all people and faiths.
"I often tell people that if you want your spouse or significant other to stay with you then you need to be going somewhere," said Rizer. "You can see the enthusiasm in their eyes when they have a plan and others are attracted to that."
Some Soldiers need help dealing with anger. Rizer has seen that getting sleep and basic needs are some of the simple solutions he is able to help people find in dealing with anger.
"If a child doesn't get their sleep, food or other basic needs, then of course they get angry," said Rizer. "We are more mature than that, but we need to have some of our basic needs met or we become cranky or angry."
Rizer said he believes diet, exercise and just talking it out or venting to him is a good way to get over anger issues.
"If you take one straw off a camel's back, it may be just enough to keep him moving," stated Rizer. "It is the little things that you change, which can be all the difference in starting a chain of good things happening."
Capt. Richard O. Nevard Jr., 9th Engineer Battalion Chaplain, sees the chaplain as being out with the Soldiers where they are and doing what they are doing.
"I go out where they are and I see the results of what we have worked on, and I even see the results happen here while the session is going on in the office," said Nevard, a New Smyrna Beach, Fla. native.
The brigade dedicated the Chaplain's Coffee House on Apr. 23 to all Soldiers, which gives them a place for Soldiers to come and relax. The coffee house has a connecting hallway that runs right by the chaplain's office, which makes it easy for Soldiers to stop by anytime and ask to talk. Nevard's office attaches to the coffee house and has a uniquely decorated area for sitting down and talking.
"There's not an hour that goes by that a Soldier is not coming by and knocking on the door to ask if you have a minute," stated Nevard. "I am like, 'come on in and let's talk',"
Chaplains are also responsible for caring for the Soldiers' families and may often find themselves serving the spiritual needs of Sailors, Marines, or Airmen.
"I have talked with spouses back home," said Nevard. "They email me or I call them because I already have that connection with them since I've done the marriage retreats back in the rear."
Chaplains can be new to deployment as well. Capt. Frank Halka, 172nd Support Battalion Chaplain, spent six years in garrisons serving as a Catholic priest and saw a different perspective of deployments by counseling those family members not deployed.
"You see what families go through in the rear and you are better able to help the Soldier here in Iraq because you can relate to both environments," said Halka.
Chaplains are available anytime to help, whether deployed or back home in garrison.
"I see myself being useful to the Soldiers when I'm there to listen to them and hear what they are going through," concluded Halka. "That is part of the healing process."
| Date Taken: | 05.18.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2009 11:37 |
| Story ID: | 33751 |
| Location: | ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 634 |
| Downloads: | 602 |
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