Courtesy Photo | Students in Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course Class 21-001 listen during their...... read more read more
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By Mel Slater
Chaplain School Public Affairs
It was a big day at the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School as 98 students in the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course Class 21-001 graduated in the Chaplain School Auditorium on Fort Jackson April 22.
The students completed their eight-week training that culminated in a week-long capstone field exercise. A short video of the students’ capstone experience was shown during the graduation ceremony. These new chaplains will be assigned to active Army, Reserve and National Guard units around the world to provide religious service support to Soldiers, Family members and Army civilians.
The “graduates now depart to join a long line of spiritual and religious care providers for Army Soldiers and Families that extends back to 1775,” said Chaplain School Commandant, Chaplain (Col.) Bryan Walker. “Although different in faith, background, gender and color, they all share a passion for ministry that is rooted in calling and lived out in word and deed. Going to wherever there are boots on the ground, these new members of the regiment will place God and country first while providing for the soul of the Army.”
Fort Jackson Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Milford “Beags” Beagle, Jr. and Mrs. Beagle attended the graduation ceremony. Walker introduced Beagle as the guest speaker for the event.
“Chaplain Walker I want to thank you for this invitation. It took 34 months for me to get this invitation, but that’s OK, that’s alright,” said Beagle.
Beagle’s fellow South Carolinian native, Chap. (Brig. Gen.) William “Bill” Green, deputy chief of chaplains also attended on behalf of the Office of the Army Chief of Chaplains.
“To my brother in arms Bill Green, my homie, we’re both from South Carolina. So good things come out of South Carolina. Always a pleasure to have you back,” Beagle said.
He then turned his attention to the message for the graduating class.
“You are people who matter to all of us and to our Army, and I hope my personal presence today makes a difference. You are chaplains in our U.S. Army,” Beagle said. “As chaplains you’ve got to understand very early what it is you need to get done. You’ve heard the key three things (I know you all know it well) and that’s to nurture the living, care for the wounded and honor the fallen. That’s what you have to get done. That’s what’s important. You know you can do that every single day and that’s what you have to do. That’s what you have to get done.”
He also spoke of another very important role for chaplains in Army units.
“There’ll be a lot of other things you’ll have to do, but that’s what you’ll need to get done. And therefore that is your focus,” Beagle said. “But, if that’s not enough, the other things you have to do is advise commanders and spiritually take care of Families. And that’s hard in and of itself,”
One student, 1st Lt. Ellen Nagle presented Beagle with a gift from the class in appreciation for his attendance and words of wisdom.
The continental congress established the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, on July 29, 1775. Since its inception, more than 25,000 chaplains have served in the armies of the United States during every major conflict, intervention, humanitarian endeavor, and peacekeeping operation in our nation’s history. These men and women represent our nation’s varied churches, cathedrals, temples, and mosques to insure every Soldier’s first amendment right to the free exercise of religion.
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2021 11:05 |
| Story ID: | 395442 |
| Location: | FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 329 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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