Have Bible Will Travel (the 2SCR Chaplains Corps)

Photo By Sgt. Gerald Wilson | Amen: Father Mario Rosario gives holy communion to a 2SCR Trooper stationed at Combat Outpoust Atghar . (Photo by: Sgt. Jerry Wilson)  

QALAT, AFGHANISTAN

01.05.2011

Story by Sgt. Gerald Wilson 

2d Cavalry Regiment

ZABUL, Afghanistan - The spiritual welfare of each Trooper of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment rest squarely on the shoulders of the Regimental Chaplain’s Corps. During their current deployment to Afghanistan, there are six chaplains to service over 4,000 Dragoons stretched over an area of operation the size of Texas.

“There is one chaplain for each Squadron,” explains 2SCR’s Regimental Chaplain Maj. Leau. “Take 2nd Squadron for example. He has more than nine locations that are attached to Forward Operating Base Apache and all the outside FOBS he has to cover.”

The Chaplain’s Corps has been around since 1775. Following the creation of the infantry as a branch of the Army, the Continental Congress acting on orders from Gen. George Washington, established the Chaplains Corps making it the second oldest branch in the U.S. Army. It was Washington’s concern for the morale and moral character of his soldiers that prompted the belief that the military needed paid religious leaders to care for spiritual needs. Since then wherever there are soldiers deployed, there has been a chaplain in their midst helping them.

Many Army chaplains spend a large part of their deployments traveling from outpost to outpost offering religious services and counseling to the soldiers in the field. One such traveler is Capt. Mario Rosario, a Catholic priest from the 96st ASB 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. In addition to supporting the soldiers of his unit, Father Rosario spends much of his time providing for the needs of the Catholic Troopers of 2SCR.

“There are Catholic soldiers all over,” Rosario said. “Even if there is just one or two on a COP they need to be provided with religious support.” Rosario spends about 20 days a month traveling throughout RC-South providing services wherever needed. He credits his commander who values religious support and understands the need to travel. The dedication to serving our military service members has become ingrained in the chaplain’s job description.

For many of our Dragoon men of the cloth, being a chaplain is more than just a job; it is a calling to nurture their fellow soldiers. That was one call that took Capt. Doug Hogsten, Chaplain for FIRES Squadron, 2SCR, more than 22 years to answer.

“I was enlisted for 3 years,” Hogsten said, “from 1984 to 1987, I was a mortar man.”

“My company commander told me he was going to get me to reenlist,” he explained. “I told him that when the bush by my barracks window burned and was not consumed, and the voice of God came out of it and told me to reenlist. Then, we would talk.”

Little did Hogsten know that in 2006, he would feel that pull back to the military and join the Chaplain Corps.

For more than 234 years, chaplains have been caring for soldiers. From Valley Forge to Afghanistan, they have provided counseling and spiritual nourishment for our military service members faced with the rigorous demands of deployments. When the death of a Soldier occurs, they comfort and they provide special religious services giving soldiers a little taste of home during the holidays. Whether they are preaching from the pulpit on Sunday morning or providing a sympathetic ear to a soldier in need, military chaplains have been and continue to be an important part of the U.S military.

• Date Taken: 01.05.2011
• Date Posted: 01.05.2011 23:44
• Story ID: 63068
• Location: QALAT, AF