Family Life Chaplains Training Center prepares chaplains, helps Soldiers

Photo By Sgt. Jordan Johnson | Staff Sgt. Terrace McNair, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Family Life Chaplains Training Center, Fort Hood and Bessemer, Ala. native, coordinates events for the FLCTC at his desk, Oct. 2. The FLCTC employs a combination of enlisted soldiers, officers and civilians. McNair and the rest of the staff at the FLCTC offer a number of different services, including marriage counseling, classes and ways to reduce stress.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

10.02.2012

Story by Sgt. Jordan Johnson 

13th Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HOOD, Texas - For soldiers, much of their day in garrison revolves around training. Outside of the duty day, those same service members balance the stressors of work with meeting the needs of family and friends. Here at Fort Hood, the Family Life Chaplains Training Center is combining training with helping soldiers.

“Our primary mission is to train Army chaplains in marriage and family counseling,” said Chap. [Lt. Col.] Mark Knox, director of the FLCTC and Lewistown, Mont. native. “They [chaplains] go to school and get an additional degree over at Texas A&M in Counseling Psychology. And then we provide them with a setting where they get lots of experience in counseling their soldiers and their family members.”

Not only are the chaplains gaining real-life experience, but they are saving lives in the process, Knox said. With deployments, training exercises, and time spent in the field, service members oftentimes are separated from their loved ones.

“We’re helping couples get reconnected and deal with issues that have come after separation,” stated Knox. “That’s one of the big things that make a difference when pertaining to suicide prevention; helping [soldiers] get reconnected with their loved ones.”

Part of helping soldiers reconnect with their families is offering an inviting environment, stated Knox.

“It is important for people to understand our confidentiality,” the chaplain stated. “The confidentiality we have here is a sacred thing. We are a safe place for people to come to talk and deal with whatever is going on with their life.”

In efforts to create a safe, welcoming environment, employees at the training center wear civilian clothes. Knox said their attire helps create a rank-free setting for counseling and especially helps when dealing with family members.

“There is sometimes emotional baggage that comes with the uniform,” the Montana native stated. “They may be angry towards their spouse or someone else that wears the uniform, or may even have hard feelings towards the military in some way. Civilian clothes help to neutralize the setting and put us more in the middle than being identified as being on the side of the service member. It helps with the counseling.”

Not only do counselees get to talk with counselors in civilian clothes, but they also get to talk to people who have been in their shoes. The majority of Knox’ career was spent in special operations and infantry, he said. Also, members of his staff have similar experience.

“I’m also a prior 11 Bravo [Infantryman],” said Spc. Brandon Miller, noncommissioned officer in charge, FLCTC and Cullman, Ala. native. “I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum. It’s very beneficial because I can understand and relate to the soldier that comes here with issues with their unit.”

With all the knowledge and experience the staff at the FLCTC provide, soldiers and their families have an avenue to turn down when life presents road blocks. Being able to help soldiers daily is the most fulfilling experience of his career, Knox said.

“I’ve been in the Army for about 22 years. In terms of job satisfaction, this is probably at the very top,” Knox stated. “There is something incredibly rewarding when you see a couple that’s on the verge of separation or divorce, and they work things out; they manage not only to stay together, but end up having a good life together.”

Knox’s feelings regarding helping people is a sentiment shared by others, Miller said.

“I agree with Chaplain Knox,” stated Miller. “I’ve done a lot of jobs as a Chaplain’s assistant, and this has been the most rewarding. It is, seeing someone that comes in that doesn’t know if they can face tomorrow, and then all of a sudden their life totally changes. It is very rewarding.”

In the Army, the word “chaplain” is associated with religion. However, Knox said everyone is welcomed inside the training center.

“We are here to help soldiers and respect them for who they are, and what they believe,” explained Knox. “We’re not imposing our beliefs on anyone else. As chaplains, we’re people of faith. That’s a part of who we are. We provide really quality, caring, professional counseling to anybody. We’re here to help.”

• Date Taken: 10.02.2012
• Date Posted: 10.02.2012 16:24
• Story ID: 95606
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US