Photo By Lance Cpl. Alexandria Serrano | U.S. Navy Lt. Jamin M. Bailey, the battalion chaplain of 2d Reconnaissance Battalion,...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Navy-Religious Program Specialists and Chaplains form a religious ministry team, which provides a vital component of Marine Corps unit readiness and individual service member care.
RPS and Chaplains provide spiritual support and counseling to service members ensuring they have the tools needed to remain resilient and combat-ready.
“A lot of our job is just building connections, being personable and having a relationship with the Marines and Sailors,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ethan G. Prilliman, a Religious Program Specialist with 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division and a Camby, Indiana native. “We’re the ones that care, we’re the ones that are there to help them get the help that they need.”
To better minister and support their Marines and Sailors in any given operational environment, RPS and Chaplains participated in the Religious Ministry Expeditionary Skills Training held at Camp Lejeune, NC on Oct. 25, 2024.
“The Expeditionary Skills Training was created to provide Chaplains and RPS, within 2d Marine Division and throughout the II Marine Expeditionary Force, opportunities to learn certain training and readiness skill sets,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Ian J. Wakefield, a Religious Program Specialist and the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Division Chaplains Office, 2d MARDIV and a Seattle, Washington native. “They practiced certain skills through classroom and field environments to better support their units and integrate with their Marines and Sailors.”
Wakefield has been an advocate for the expansion of the RMEST and the inclusion of subject matter experts in the integration training.
“This is the first time that we've done an EST at this magnitude,” said Wakefield. “This year we've brought in subject matter experts such as Marines from infantry units, Corpsman to teach tactical combat casualty care and Marines from Communication Company.”
During the exercise, RPS and Chaplains were trained on how to conduct land navigation, radio communication, medical training and other expected tasks, all taught by subject matter experts.
“We went over land navigation, worked on radios, T-CCC, clearing buildings and patrolling,” said Prilliman. “A lot of the classroom work we did was based on our core instructions, whether that be mass casualties, spiritual fitness or how to work a command program.”
The RMEST attempts to prepare RPS and Chaplains for the physical and spiritual demands of combat, while also developing a sense of trust, respect and unity among the members of the ministry teams.
“Yes, my RP can fight fires and can clear rooms just like anyone else, but I wish everyone could see my RP out there doing work that very few others can do,” said Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Pelc, the regimental chaplain of Combat Logistics Regiment 2, and a Schaumberg, Illinois native. “I have so much more respect for them seeing all that they are responsible for and what they've done for me."
Marines are constantly preparing and training to protect our country, therefore, RPS and Chaplains must be prepared to support them spiritually in any environment.
“As RPS and Chaplains, we’re already an expert in our craft, providing spiritual support,” said Pelc. “But we want to be out there with our Marines and Sailors so we have to be as ready as we can be.”
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2024 08:20 |
| Story ID: | 486753 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Providing Faith, Resiliently Religious Program Specialists, Chaplains Train to Increase Readiness., by LCpl Alexandria Serrano, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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