Spartan chaplain enables outreach

Photo By Sgt. Joshua Laidacker | Maj. William Tripp, chaplain of 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stands outside the brigade's tactical operations center on Fort Polk, La., Aug. 23, 2015. Tripp is enabling his battalion chaplains to better serve soldiers during Joint Readiness Training Center rotation 15-10 through coaching and mentoring. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Laidacker, 2nd IBCT, 3ID, Public Affairs.)  

FT. POLK, LA, UNITED STATES

08.23.2015

Story by Sgt. Joshua Laidacker 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT POLK, La. – "It's the spirit of the soldier that sees them through in the battle," said Maj. William Tripp. "Time and again, we have seen in history where the spiritual fitness, the emotional fitness, and the espirit de corp; the things that chaplains should be enhancing, encouraging and causing to grow; make a difference."

Tripp became chaplain of 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, five weeks ago and is enabling 2nd IBCT’s battalion chaplains to reach their soldiers during the brigade's rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

"I think we're all looking forward to this exercise and getting to work with him in an environment like this," said Capt. Caleb McCary, chaplain of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment. "I know Chaplain Tripp will make sure we have the resources and the coordination that we need to take care of our soldiers."

McCary said the chaplains of 2nd IBCT, or Spartan Brigade, were discussing their plans for a Sunday service, the first of the JRTC rotation.

"We could have all done our own service, but it was a unique opportunity and he recognized that," McCary said of Tripp.

McCary credited Tripp with the idea to perform a joint service with each chaplain having a part, but Tripp gave credit to the battalion chaplains.

"It's very rare for a group of chaplains like this to be able get together to have a joint worship service," said McCary. "It was very unique in terms of all the chaplains we had involved."

Tripp planned originally to be a part of the service, but was pulled away to discuss religious considerations in the notional Republic of Atropia, in which the Spartans will be operating during its JRTC rotation. Tripp is aware he may not be directly involved in each event around the brigade during the training exercise.

"About the first thing I told them was: My job is to enable your job. I am here to support you, coach you and mentor you," Tripp said. "The experiences I have, because I have been where they are, may save them some heartache and time."

"He's pretty new to the brigade and we're still getting to know him as well," McCary said. "There's definitely a wealth of knowledge that probably most of us haven't been exposed to."

Tripp said he imparts his experience through informal gatherings at coffee houses and sometimes formal means, such as documenting his plan to reach out to soldiers. McCary said Tripp passes on his knowledge on a wide range of topics such as counseling, mission analysis, extended learning and methods to reach soldiers.

"You have to earn the right to talk to these people," Tripp said. "I don't jump out of military airplanes because I like jumping out of them. I jump because there's a 19 year old that's sitting in the bench across from me that's scared to death. I jump so I can be with him."

Tripp's theory on soldier outreach and how to build a connection with them was mirrored in the words of McCary.

"We go where our soldiers are," McCary said in reference to often austere deployments and field exercises. "To share in that mutual pain and mutual suffering gives us an open door to take care of their spiritual needs."

Tripp is blunt when it comes to the chaplain position and its importance in ensuring the constitutional right of each soldier’s freedom of religion.

"Our core competencies are: nurture the living, care for the wounded and honor the dead," Tripp said. "If you're not prepared to do this, find another profession."

Tripp, who has been a chaplain since January 2012, said he has counseled approximately 9,000 people during his career. He also said the good he is able to accomplish as a chaplain motivates him to continue his work, adding he is planning several events to support the soldiers of Spartan Brigade in the future.

Tripp concluded by admitting, "I have the best job in the Army. I can't imagine doing anything else."

• Date Taken: 08.23.2015
• Date Posted: 08.25.2015 09:32
• Story ID: 174155
• Location: FT. POLK, LA, US