USARPAC chaplains, chaplain assistants gather at MCBH-Kaneohe for annual training

Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher McCullough | "We commit chaplains and chaplain assistants regularly, and take great benefit from that," said U.S. Army-Pacific Commanding General, Gen. Vincent K. Brooks on May 14, who espoused the importance of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, its chaplains and chaplain assistants. "You are a powerful instrument of national policy ... because it is perhaps one of the best expressions of who we are as Americans, of what it is that we stand for, and that we are able to think across different lines- different cultural lines, linguistic lines, ethnic lines, regional lines to embrace others. It's part of what American stands for. And when we use chaplains and chaplain assistants to do that, we get some incredible outcomes." (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chris McCullough, USARPAC PAO)  

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, UNITED STATES

05.14.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Christopher McCullough 

U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii - Chaplains and chaplain assistants from across the Pacific region gathered together May 14-5 to discuss issues such as moral leadership, care to the caregiver, and religious operations at the Joseph Estabrook Chapel on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The Chaplain Corps of the United States Army provides Chaplaincy Annual Sustainment Training for its chaplains and chaplain's assistants each year.

These annual chaplaincy conferences are held regionally, and provide the Army's chaplains and chaplain's assistants a time for spiritual renewal, continuing education, networking, and fellowship. They also provide the opportunity to maintain a high level of proficiency in their chaplain pastoral care ministry.

"It's the chief chaplain's program where the region provides the opportunity for the chaplains and chaplain assistants to get together and our themes are from the chief's chaplain themes for that year," said U.S. Army-Pacific Command Chaplain, Chaplain (Col.) Michael W. Dugal.

In a time of drawdown, transformation and rebuilding, the CAST theme this year was: "Delivering religious support to the total Army," which includes care to the caregiver. That included the issue of moral leadership and how chaplains and chaplain assistants help the commander to meet the expected moral leadership of our armed forces, Dugal explained.

The two-day training got under way with a visit from U.S. Army Pacific, Commanding General, Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, who espoused the importance of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, its chaplains and chaplain assistants.

"This role, the chaplaincy, is important," said Brooks. "It always has been; I believe it always will be. It has withstood the tests of time and pressure, and cultural change and ideologies, and laws and practices and accommodations, and still it's still there and the essence remains."

During his address Brooks referred back to the earliest days of the chaplain's assistant mission, when on Aug.14, 1900, 14th Infantry Regiment Commander, Col. Aaron S. Daggett, needing troops to scale a 30-foot fortification and lay down suppressive fire during the Boxer Rebellion, in Peking, China, called for volunteers. Without hesitation Calvin Pearl Titus, a U.S. Army Soldier, and the person most responsible for the chaplain's assistant position, stepped forward and said "I'll try, sir." He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

"Such is the nature of the chaplain's assistant," Brooks said. "Whatever you're asked to do ... you'll try; you'll give it your best."

Brooks, Dugal and Sgt. Maj. Horace Lynwood Williams Jr., USARPAC chief chaplain assistant noncommissioned officer, then presented the Army Commendation Medal to USARPAC's top noncommissioned officer and junior enlisted Soldier chaplain's assistants- Staff Sgt. Adams D. Ewing, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, and Pvt. Roderick R. Dixon, 673rd Army Support Element, Installation Management Command-Pacific.

Brooks then closed out his remarks by reminding those present that he wanted them to take advantage of the next few days.

"Get to know each other," he said. "Provide some strength and support. Work through the challenges that are happening to you ... as you truly take care of each other even while you're training and learning."

• Date Taken: 05.14.2015
• Date Posted: 05.21.2015 03:54
• Story ID: 164025
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US
• Hometown: FORT SHAFTER, HI, US
• Hometown: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US