Photo By Michael Armstrong | Chaplain, Capt. Richard Hartenberg, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas-- When units deploy they take with them equipment, supplies and personnel needed to accomplish their mission. Before, during and after each mission there is stress, fear and the need to be able to find an outlet to talk and make sense of things to come. During the deployment units bring along their chaplains.
Chaplains are a special type of soldier who provides religious support to the soldiers by nurturing the living, caring for the wounded and honoring the fallen. What most people don’t realize is that there are soldiers and the families left behind who need the same type of care but their chaplain is forward with the deployed troops.
The soldiers and families of 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division’s rear detachment needed a chaplain to call their own.
Army Reserve Chaplain, Capt. Richard Hartenberg arrived to fill that need. In October 2011 Hartenberg, an ordained Assemblies of God Army Chaplain, arrived at Fort Bliss and found a new home with 3IBCT. A pastor for more than 22 years, before entering the military, wanted a change in direction and joined the Reserves. When he heard that 3IBCT needed a chaplain to take care of the soldiers and families of 3IBCT he jumped at the opportunity.
Typically, when Reserve soldiers get the order to mobilize, they prepare themselves for a combat deployment. In some cases soldiers are deployed to units to fill vacancies at home due to deployments.
“I got a call asking me if I was interested in mobilizing for a year,” Hartenberg said. “I called Lt. Col. Michael Klein, the division’s chaplain, and got the ball rolling.”
With the brigade already deployed Hartenberg was up to the challenge of introducing himself to the unit.
“No matter what job you have, the first few days are all about getting to know everybody,” Hartenberg stated. “We call that Ministry of Presence, where you walk around and get to know people. I think as a chaplain it’s important people know what you do and what you provide.”
In a way, Hartenberg is also deployed from his family. Even though they are a couple of states away, instead of half a world away, he does all he can to help spouses and families cope with a deployment.
Whether organizing retreats for single and married soldiers, going to the different units and talking to soldiers or having his office door always open for people to come in and talk, Hartenberg enjoys the time he is spending with 3rd IBCT.
“I love coming to work every day,” he said. “You have new challenges every day. I do the best that I can.”
“It’s been an outstanding experience to work with Chaplain Hartenberg, said Capt. Wayne Gendron, the rear detachment commander for 125th Brigade Support Battalion, 3IBCT, 1AD. “He takes his job seriously and goes above and beyond what the brigade needs from him. He really cares for the soldiers.”
| Date Taken: | 04.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2012 12:56 |
| Story ID: | 89504 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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