Photo By Cpl. Katherine Solano | Navy Lt. Cmdr. Stephen M. Coates (left), a chaplain with Regional Command Southwest,...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Chaplains provide an irreplaceable service to forward-deployed Marines and sailors. They bring religious services and resources to them through counseling, visits and pastoral care. For service members who do not have regular access to such services, Regional Command Southwest chaplains launched a new version of an old program, Holy Helos, April 3.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Stephen M. Coates, a chaplain with RC(SW), said the program began with helicopters carrying chaplains and religious personnel from ship to ship at sea.
Using that basic concept, a similar program is being designed here to support ground troops.
“The leadership of [2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 2nd Marine Logistics Group] and their command chaplains are working cooperatively together to augment the good work of the battalion chaplains,” explained Coates, a Springfield, Ill., native.
The first Holy Helo efforts went to Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan to visit the Marines and sailors stationed there.
During his trip, Coates was able to visit with service members individually, providing further support and religious service to bolster the work of their battalion chaplain.
One of the Marines Coates interacted with during his visit was Sgt. Steven Caron, a section chief, squad leader, and peak commander with 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment.
Caron attested to the importance of a program such as Holy Helos.
“It gives Marines a chance to get involved spiritually,” said Caron, a Coventry, Conn., native. “They get to actually practice their religion with a chaplain. They don’t have to do it by themselves all the time.
“I think it should continue,” Caron added. “It keeps Marines’ morale up, keeps them motivated, keeps them thinking about other things than what they’re doing out here.”
Coates looks forward to working with the battalion chaplains in the future to provide them with the air support, manpower, and any other resources they may need to further promote their religious outreach efforts.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.06.2011 08:36 |
| Story ID: | 68341 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 435 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Chaplains bring religious program to far reaches of Afghanistan, by Cpl Katherine Solano, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
