Here to Serve: ASA-Dix Gains a Chaplain

Photo By Valerie Tandoi | Maj. Michael Pope, a new chaplain at Army Support Activity-Dix, works hard preparing for a counseling session, March 11.  

FORT DIX, NJ, UNITED STATES

03.12.2010

Story by Valerie Tandoi 

USASA, Fort Dix

ARMY SUPPORT ACTIVITY-DIX, JOINT BASE MCGUIRE, DIX, LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Stress and anxiety from deployment, vigorous training and being away from loved ones for extended periods takes a toll on Soldiers and their families. During times of need, it can be beneficial for military members to have someone they can turn to.
This is where the military chaplain steps in.

Maj. Michael Pope, originally from Atlanta, and a recent transplant from St. Louis, is one of the newest members of the Army Support Activity-Dix ministry family. He arrived at Dix the week of March 7.

Pope comes from an extensive religious and military background. Pope served in the Marines starting in 1969 where he eventually earned the rank of staff sergeant. While enlisted, he did a tour in Vietnam and then took a break from military life in 1978 to pursue a college education and ministry. He then went on to be ordained as a Southern Baptist pastor in 1985 and started a career as an Army chaplain in 1997. In 2003, he deployed to Iraq with the Army. He was assigned as the 724th Military Police Battalion chaplain in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Pope looks forward to providing ministry to the ASA-Dix community. He will run programs every few weeks on Wednesday nights that will be available to service members and their families.

"The most rewarding part of my job is ministering to the Soldiers. I will be providing divorce ministries, couple ministries and hopefully, singles ministries," shared Pope.

Becoming a chaplain is no easy feat. All candidates are required to have a master's degree in religious studies as well as experience working as a member of clergy and an endorsement by a religious institution. Pope finds being a chaplain so rewarding, that he thinks every member of clergy who qualifies should consider this occupation at some point. If someone is thinking about becoming a chaplain it's important to pray and to talk to experienced chaplains, said Pope.

"I was a pastor for many years, but nothing compares to being a chaplain for me. The broadness of what you get to experience is so much more. If you're a chaplain you get to deal with people from all different faiths," said Pope.

Chaplains also play a role in the casualty notification program. Upon the death of a service member, the chaplain will accompany the casualty notification officer to the home of the next of kin. The officer is there to deliver the news; the chaplain is there for counseling, prayer and emotional support.

"Chaplains are usually on a rotation schedule for being on call to work with the casualty notification Soldiers. It's a very difficult thing for any chaplain, or any officer for that matter, to have to go out and do this job," Pope said.

The duties of a chaplain do not end stateside. Chaplains deploy with units to Iraq and Afghanistan. Chaplains are escorted by chaplains' assistants while in a hostile war environment. The assistant helps the chaplain with all of his or her duties as well as bears arms to protect the chaplain. Chaplains are not allowed to carry a weapon. They are non-combatants and are there to do a spiritual job.

Chaplains can sometimes be called the conscience of the battalion, said Pope.
"We give spiritual counsel to the men and women at war. We minister to the Soldiers, provide religious services, offer grief counseling, advise the commander on the stresses and help to keep Soldiers' morale up," explained Pope.

Even though Pope loves his job, like any occupation it does come with its challenges. One hard part of the profession is counseling the husbands, wives and kids who may have a spouse or a parent overseas on a hardship tour.

"It's important to remember that deployment also puts stress on the loved ones left at home. We need to be able to minister to those individuals and help them. I truly have seen the impact it has on these people," stated Pope.

Pope has years of experience to share with this post. He is excited to meet new people at ASA-Dix and encourages Soldiers and families to come out and attend religious services and seek counseling. Pope welcomes people from all faiths as well as those with no religious affiliation.

"My motto is here to serve," he said. "My door is always open for people to come and talk to me."

• Date Taken: 03.12.2010
• Date Posted: 03.16.2010 16:06
• Story ID: 46764
• Location: FORT DIX, NJ, US