Photo By Staff Sgt. Crystal Jenkins | Dr. Lisa Miller, Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College at Columbia...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – US Army Alaska Chaplain’s hosted “Strong Warrior, Strong Spirit” spiritual readiness pilot training May 17-20 on both Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
The purpose of the program is to advance the Army’s spiritual readiness by connecting behavioral health, other care providers, unit-level chaplaincy and leadership with the science, skills and tools to better connect with first-term soldiers.
“Epidemiological evidence shows over the past two decades an increase in rates of inner suffering; addictions, depression and suicide,” said Dr. Lisa Miller, Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College at Columbia University. “At the same time, as a country we face decreased rates of personal spirituality and family faith observance. The two trends go hand in hand creating the perfect storm for fragility in adolescents and young adults.”
“Strong Warrior, Strong Spirit” was developed by the Chief of Chaplains Initiatives Group, in coordination with Miller, in response to the Army’s contemporary challenges of combatting suicide, sexual assault, risky behavior, and poor decision making skills.
This disparity between spirituality and good decisions being made has even come to attention of the Army’s Chaplain Corps.
“The science of spirituality makes it clear; the spiritual core of a human being is an extremely critical component of outcome of a life worth living,” said Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Thomas L. Solhjem, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains. “Yet it’s something our society, both military and civil, have pushed away from. So now we have a generation or generations of people with a void in their development.”
To bridge this gap the Chaplain Corp is introducing a proactive approach of educating, preparing, investing and equipping Soldiers with definitive steps in answering the statement “what is a Life Worth Living” for themselves and how to build and cultivate cohesive units.
“The first step is to educate people,” Solhjem continued. “Fortunately, as we were writing our definitions and building the [Field Manual 7-22 Holistic Health and Fitness] the science came along side it and validated the verbiage… Step two is to train, develop and resource. It’s putting the same level of rigger into the spiritual, which has been largely ignored and compartmentalized.”
Spiritual readiness is the fourth domain of five in the latest published FM 7-22 and states that spiritual readiness development involves improving one’s spiritual posture to sustaining oneself through all aspects of life.
The improvement process is generally self-directed and informed by religious, philosophical, or human values forming the basis for character, disposition, decision-making and integrity.
Over the course of the pilot, religious affairs specialists and chaplains were given the information and tools on how to assess, develop and give Soldiers a tangible plan for their continued growth so that they can continue to develop themselves.
Failure for the US Army to get Soldiers to cross that divide could have serious impacts.
“We have to recognize that there is a grave impact for not bridging this religious/spiritual gap,” said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Seth George, guest speaker for the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Spiritual Readiness “Strong Warrior, Strong Spirit” pilot program. “We must be intentional about spiritual connection by providing interest, invitation, and investment through validity and spiritual practice options.”
According to some, individuality has been emphasized and celebrated, but during the program the teams were asked to see if what their Soldiers are aimed at would lead them to a “Life Worth Living.”
“In a culture where we say, you do you and I’ll do me, I would invite you to ask yourself to define what in your life is worth wanting” said Dr. Angela Gorrell, reverend and Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Baylor University and guest speaker for the pilot program. “I would ask yourselves and the Soldiers your working with, what are your unmet expectations or what are you aimed toward? Is it even worth wanting? Are you thinking about what discipline is needed to work towards that life worth living? It’s not actually necessary to find your purpose, it’s about living purposefully.”
Other discussions during the program included
• Intentionally choosing truth-seeking conversation amongst peers and conveying that their life matters, and everything you do matters.
• Tell stories and listen to others’ stories.
• Having respectful dialogue across enduring lines of difference.
• Individually being able to articulate life’s meaning & purpose.
• Teaching for transformation – knowing that your space teaches, and your teaching teaches.
Throughout the sessions five definitive skills taught included the Spiritual Readiness Assessment, Development, Deep Dive, Stabilization and Advertisement.
“The next phase of the pilot is to institutionalize it, when we get to that point, we will look at all systems and institutions across the Army and the proper integration that needs to be realized,” said Solhjem. “What we’re doing is building a bridge to keep the catastrophic from happening. Everybody has a chasm; everyone has a hole. Spiritual readiness enables the soldier to succeed when life gives them hardship.”
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2021 20:09 |
| Story ID: | 397901 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 253 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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