COMANDO DE INGENIEROS DE LA FUERZ ARMADA, El Salvador - Beyond the Horizon 2015 needs many assets to be supported. Just like the construction projects need a solid foundation to build on, the service members need a solid foundation to work from. Some of the assets providing that foundation are chaplain and legal services.
BTH15 is a joint humanitarian and civic engineering exercise sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and the government of El Salvador to show support for the country of El Salvador.
The legal services provided to service members include wills, powers of attorney, family law, general legal consultation and general guidance to the command.
Spc. Terri Tafoya, a paralegal with the 128th Legal Operations Detachment out of Mustang, Oklahoma and hailing from El Paso, Texas said, “We take care of the soldier and the family needs of the soldier while they are away from home in the event of an accident or injury.”
Maj. Randy Clark, a judge advocate general with Team 1, 128th Legal Operations Detachment out of El Paso, Texas and hailing from Las Cruces, New Mexico, said, “It reduces the stress of being away from home.”
A lot of times it gives the service member an outlet to discuss problems and allows them to be sorted through according to Clark.
“It’s the little things at home that turn into big things in your head when you’re away,” said Clark.
Clark said he has consulted with one soldier over a creditor issue, a power of attorney for another and helped two other soldiers with some home station issues.
Along with legal services, the chaplain services also help service members who are far from home. The chaplain services include the more common roles of religious services and bible studies; to the lesser known rolls of counselor to the troops and the commander.
Maj. Robert Sunman, a chaplain with the 111th Chaplain Detachment out of Minneapolis, Minnesotam and hailing from Durham, North Carolina said they uphold the First Amendment right for religious freedom.
“We give the soldier a way to worship,” said Sunman. “Religion is a good anchor point, like a spiritual foundation for the soul.”
Pfc. Justin Womble, a chaplain assistant with the 111th Chaplain Detachment and hailing from Sioux Falls, South Dakota added, “It lets people know that there are others that care about what they do.”
Womble continued, “We are all in this together.”
Sunman said that fortunately, most of his work here has been positive. He said he visited with a few sick soldiers and visited with the soldiers at the different project sites to give them encouragement.
Being far from home, many for the first time, is one problem service members have to deal with.
“What complicates the situation is the inability to communicate,” said Clark.
Sunman re-emphasized Clark's point by saying soldiers leave home with pending issues and are unable to follow up or have closure with them which affects their job.
“Family issues weighs on a soldier trying to do their job,” said Sunman.
Clark also adds that not being able to text, email or use Facebook is a new experience for many of the troops.
“I am grateful that I am able to put on this uniform one last time and help the soldiers and airmen out and meet new people,” said Clark.
“This is a great part of the military that the civilian world doesn’t hear a lot about,” said Sunman, referring to the mission in El Salvador.
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2015 23:06 |
| Story ID: | 165549 |
| Location: | SV |
| Hometown: | DURHAM, NC, US |
| Hometown: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Hometown: | LAS CRUCES, NM, US |
| Hometown: | MINNEAPOLIS, MN, US |
| Hometown: | MUSTANG, OK, US |
| Hometown: | SIOUX FALLS, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 39 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A foundation to build the foundation, by SSG Jeff Daniel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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