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    SC National Guard Chaplain Corps gets new leadership

    South Carolina National Guard chaplain leadership turnover

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Erica Jaros | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., the adjutant general of the South...... read more read more

    COLUMBIA, SC, UNITED STATES

    07.13.2013

    Story by Sgt. Erica Jaros 

    108th Public Affairs Detachment

    COLUMBIA, S.C.— Col. Steven Shugart, outgoing state chaplain, passed the mantle of leadership to Col. Lawrence Dennis, chaplain, during a Changing of the Stole Ceremony at the adjutant general’s office in Columbia, S.C., July 13, 2013. The stole signifies the faithful execution of the spiritual mission of the Chaplain Corps.

    "Chaplain Shugart assembled the finest chaplains and put them on a mission to take care of our soldiers and their families," said Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., the adjutant general for South Carolina. Livingston called Shugart a "warrior's chaplain."

    Shugart served as the state chaplain for over three years. Prior to holding that position, he deployed to Iraq with soldiers from South Carolina. During his time with the Guard, he has helped soldiers and family members weather difficult situations, life changes and the stresses of deployments.

    Shugart said he became a Soldier to be more than what he was. To him, these three years have only felt like a minute. Shugart will be retiring from the Guard later this year.

    "Thank you for letting me serve with you," Shugart said to the soldiers assembled in front of him. "It has been the greatest honor."

    Dennis, who will take over the State Chaplain position, has also deployed with South Carolina troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has a deep understanding of the pressures and stress that soldiers endure.

    Dennis humbly accepted the position of state chaplain, saying that he could never fill Shugart’s shoes.

    "Steve wanted to run to the sound of a soldier's heart," Dennis said. "He's set the bar high and we will keep marching to the Soldier's needs."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.13.2013
    Date Posted: 07.14.2013 17:03
    Story ID: 110182
    Location: COLUMBIA, SC, US

    Web Views: 222
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN