1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers Army’s National Training Center held worship service

Photo By Master Sgt. Thomas Duval | Maj. Herb Franklin, Chaplain for the1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division reads from the book of Psalms from the Bible. Franklin and his chaplains assistant Staff Sgt. David Shaw, conducted the first official worship service at Forward Operating Base Denver located at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., Feb. 13. The 1/25th is currently conducting simulated combat operations at the NTC in preparation for the 1/25th's deployment to Afghanistan later this year.  

FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK, UNITED STATES

02.13.2011

Story by Spc. Thomas Duval  

United States Army Alaska

FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Despite intense around-the-clock operations at the U.S. Army’s National Training Center here, soldiers from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division held their first worship service at Forward Operating Base Denver, Feb. 13.

Earlier this month, the soldiers left the sub-zero temperatures of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and traded them for the blistering temperatures of the Mojave Desert to complete a training rotation at the NTC.

After blessing the service, Maj. Herb Franklin, of the 1-25th, began the service by reading from the book of Psalms.

With training underway, only a few soldiers were able to attend the service. The brigade’s chaplain assistant, Staff Sgt. David Shaw, said success isn’t about numbers, it’s about making a place available for soldiers to worship.

“It’s very important that soldiers are given the opportunity to hear the word of God,” Shaw said.

The service provided many soldiers with a chance to break away from the intense training and the daily grind Soldiers face at the NTC.

Although the different battalions are spread out over the Mojave desert, Shaw said, chaplains across the 1-25th have relayed back that every unit has a place to worship.

Capt. Angie Chipman, acting executive officer for the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, was one of the soldiers who attended the service.

“Some people may disagree but I think this is a great opportunity to be able to worship the Lord.” She said.

Chipman said the service is an opportunity to reflect and “unplug” from the 24-hour training cycle.

Soldiers training here will continue to have the opportunity to worship, as the chapel will hold three services every Sunday until the 1-25th returns home to Fort Wainwright next month.

The NTC provides a realistic combat environment for soldiers throughout the Army preparing for deployment. The 1-25th is preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan later this year.

• Date Taken: 02.13.2011
• Date Posted: 02.16.2011 17:44
• Story ID: 65563
• Location: FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK, US