Pacific chaplains meet for professional development course

Photo By Spc. Leigh Campbell | Capt. John H. Lea III, the Force chaplain for U.S. Naval Forces Japan, gives a slideshow presentation at the Camp Foster Chapel Annex March 8.  

CAMP FOSTER, JAPAN

03.16.2007

Story by Lance Cpl. Terence Yancey 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. Terence L. Yancey
III Marine Expeditionary Force PAO

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan, -- Navy chaplains from installations across the Asia-Pacific region gathered on Okinawa for a professional development training course March 7-9 on Camp Foster.

Representatives from Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network taught the course. The network is a nonprofit organization, endorsed by the Navy chaplains, dedicated to helping individuals and organizations "recognize, understand and manage feelings."

"The purpose of the program is to provide ideas, concepts and tools to the chaplains and to facilitate team and individual changes effectively," said Tom Wojick, a senior consultant for Six Seconds.

The training program, which is used by many organizations and individuals worldwide, was specifically tailored to the unique mission of Navy chaplains for the course here, according to Wojick.

"Many chaplains serve in assignments where they are the only chaplain," said Capt. John H. Lea, III, the Force chaplain for U.S. Naval Forces Japan. "As a result, they don't always have someone to talk things through with and get perspective from. This course provides them with useful tools to help them gain added insight and perspective."

During the course, the chaplains spent three days learning the three-step emotional intelligence model - know yourself, choose yourself and give yourself, according to Wojick. They then learned how to apply each of the steps to themselves, their relationships and their organization.

According to the Six Seconds Web site, http://www.6seconds.org, "by teaching chaplains emotional intelligence skills they can share with their constituents, we believe they will help the forces be both more effective and better able to follow their values."

As a final project, the chaplains got into groups and put together presentations targeted toward specific demographics within the military using the Six Seconds techniques.

One group of chaplains put together a presentation geared toward junior enlisted Marines, using humor to put across the Six Seconds techniques.

Another group created a presentation geared toward senior leadership. They discussed how commands affected by or responding to natural disasters can use the Six Seconds methods to deal with the stress while providing support to those who rely on them for comfort.

Afterward they were given feedback from the other chaplains and the Six Seconds consultants.

The Six Seconds team has visited several military installations across the U.S. and overseas to teach Navy chaplains.

• Date Taken: 03.16.2007
• Date Posted: 03.16.2007 10:06
• Story ID: 9466
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, JP