Photo By Rob Strain | Chaplain (Maj.) Charles Causey, the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade chaplain, Chap. (Capt.)...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Robert Strain
1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Chaplains from the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Air Cavalry Brigade aim to instill a good moral foundation for Soldiers here through a new outreach program called "Bunker 182."
Although still in its planning stages, Bunker 182 will be a weekly event open to all Soldiers on Camp Taji. The program offers live music, games, videos and other activities that both reinforce the Army values and build a good moral and spiritual foundation for Soldiers, according to Chap. (Capt.) Ben Clark, the chaplain for the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade's 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment.
The name, Bunker 182, refers to two things: a bunker, something every Soldier can relate to as providing protection, and Psalm 18:2, which reads "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Bunker 182 is not a worship service in the traditional sense, but more of a spiritual event aimed primarily at younger Soldiers, said Chap. (Capt.) Michael Fox, the chaplain for the brigade's 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment.
"There's nothing wrong with the way we do church," Fox said about traditional services.
Fox explained that when he looks around at a traditional worship service, whether it is here or at Fort Hood, Texas, he doesn't see a lot of Soldiers between 18 and 25 years old in the congregation.
In order to reach a younger generation of Soldiers, it is important to understand what motivates and influences them, the Brandon, Fla., native said.
Soldiers have a lot of negative influences around them but not a lot of positive ones, said Chap. (Maj.) Charles Causey, the brigade's chaplain, pointing out popular magazines, movies and video games.
The question, Causey said, is how to reach Soldiers who like magazines that objectify women, violent video games and sexually provocative movies.
"We wanted something the common Soldier would be interested in, because they're not interested in getting up on Sunday and going to church," he said.
Causey, a native of Hugo, Minn., said it's not going to be a list of things Soldiers shouldn't do; instead, the program will expose those things for what they really are while providing positive alternatives.
"We want to provide an avenue for Soldiers to have fun, but in a way that's not destructive, a way that enforces the Army values," Causey said.
According to Clark, who hails from Austin, Texas, there will be live music, videos, guest speakers, movie clips and a number of other interactive things for Soldiers to participate in.
"It's not preaching at them, but interacting with them," Fox said.
The chaplains are focused on developing relationships with the Soldiers to find out how things are going for them. That way, the chaplains will be able to help the Soldiers where they may be struggling in their lives, Fox said.
Causey added that although Bunker 182 will have Christian-based themes, they aren't preaching Christianity to the Soldiers.
Bunker 182 is scheduled to be at Camp Taji's Community Event Center and Theater on Sunday nights starting in February.
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 01.16.2007 08:52 |
| Story ID: | 8814 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 281 |
| Downloads: | 128 |
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