Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Smelley | GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Army Capt. Eric Bey, the 525th Military Police Battalion...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Chaplains have been in the United States military since its beginning. George Washington wanted religious leaders and men who could help troops cope with difficult times during conflict. The chaplains became very important links between the commander and the troops. After more than 200 years, chaplains are still a key link in providing assistance to troops.
"We provide for or facilitate the free exercise of religion and accommodate the religious practices of military personnel, their families and other authorized personnel. In addition to facilitating the religious requirements of personnel of all faith groups and providing the religious requirements of their own faith group, chaplains care for all service members and advise the command," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Lee Hellwig, Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion chaplain.
Chaplains offer other services beyond providing religious practices, by helping to counsel Service members.
"Counseling is about 90 percent of what we do. Through relationships, you earn peoples' confidence and trust. They realize that you can help them and we try our best to do so," said Army Capt. Eric Bey, chaplain for the 525th Military Police Battalion.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Zina Shannon, a supply clerk with Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion has seen the benefits of having the chaplains working with JTF Service members.
"Since I've been here they have been keeping me faithful, prayerful and thankful in my mind. Keeping me focused on in my life, said Shannon."
"In caring for all, chaplains deliver specific institutional care and counseling which attend to personal and relational needs outside of a faith group-specific context. Some examples of care include visiting Service members in the camps, crisis prevention and response and counseling for professional, personal and relationship concerns," said Hellwig.
Military service requires extraordinary sacrifices of those who serve and their families. Chaplains strive to make themselves available and present, day or night.
"I don't have any set hours for my days at work. I'm supposed to make myself available to the Service members any time. Most people would be surprised how many calls I get around two or three in the morning. My job requires me to be there religiously or non-religiously, or to just be a friend for the troops," said Bey.
Even though being a chaplain is a strenuous job with a non-stop schedule, it is a rewarding job.
"When you're explaining something to someone, it could be religious or non-religious, but when you're helping someone out and you see the burden lift off their shoulders, something they couldn't foresee when they came in here and the world's on their shoulders. That's the best thing about this job," said Bey.
Shannon, who participates in a weekly Bible study with Chaplain Bey shared that the support she has received from the chaplains has helped while away from family, friends and loved ones.
"They [chaplains] have helped me to see that God has us (her and her family) covered," she said and explained how she learned about the chaplain's services. "They were advertising, I visited and then I stayed. It is food for the soul."
"The most beneficial part of the job is being able to share in some way in the life of others. Having the only position in the Navy where a member can come and be assured that all communication, without limit, with the chaplain is confidential," said Hellwig.
Wherever the service members may be, chaplains are right alongside them. Whether it's the tents in the desert of Iraq, an aircraft carrier or submarine in the middle of the sea, or just at the barracks back on bases stateside, chaplains are there to help.
For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.
| Date Taken: | 10.30.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.12.2009 15:01 |
| Story ID: | 41483 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 310 |
| Downloads: | 163 |
This work, JTF Guantanamo Chaplains Support Service Members, by PO2 Justin Smelley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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