Photo By Sgt. DeUndra Brown | Maj. Antoine D. Barlow, brigade chaplain, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
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Military and Ministry
FORT HOOD, Texas – A phrase often used in the military is “boots on the ground”. One of those boots is the chaplain.
Maj. Antoine D. Barlow, brigade chaplain, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard, explains his mission as a chaplain during the Multi-echelon Integrated Brigade Training (MiBT) exercise June 12, 2016, at Fort Hood, Texas. A MiBT is a multicomponent, multi-echelon training event that sustains readiness of reserve and active component forces in accordance to the U.S Army’s total force policy.
“My mission is to minister to Soldiers across the battlefield, to make sure they are continuously resilient and make sure they are able to stay in the fight.”
The MiBT is an exercise that Soldiers can enhance their skills and abilities to produce effectively on the battlefield.
Chaplain Barlow was asked if he contributed to the effectiveness of the Soldiers. “Definitely! We are frequently going around the battlefield. The Chaplain isn’t just someone that sits in the office; that’s a person that has to be out so we are up early and out, just ministering, meeting, and talking to soldiers. All day and every single day!”
How does he talk to all these Soldiers, all the time? He doesn’t do it alone.
“I have several arms that I get to work through, as a brigade chaplain. Those other arms are the six battalions that are out there. I have a chaplain at each one of those battalions. I have a religious affairs specialist, 56M, at each one of those battalions. So two individuals at each battalion form what’s known as a unit ministry team. Through them, I’m not only able to touch Soldiers, even down to the lowest level in the companies and squads, but I’m able to really minister to the guys that are there. By taking the commanders guidance here, Col. Van’s guidance, and disseminating it down to the battalion chaplains, who then carry out the religious services mission for that command officer. ”
Barlow emphasized how his team works together to make the ministry in the military work for the Soldiers.
“It’s a unit system that allows us as a unit ministry team to minister to a brigade. Seven people ministering to over 3000 is phenomenal and there is not one Soldier in any Battalion that you can go to and say do you know your chaplains and they not have favorable remarks, about not only their chaplain but a chaplain that they’ve had some kind of interaction with the day. So that makes me feel good. For the most part we are really able to motivate Soldiers and speak to spirit within them, that Warrior Spirit.”
He didn’t start off as a chaplain in the Army.
“I started in the military in 1992 as a junior in high school. I was a 77F, a fuel handle. I went to officer school in 2001 where I became an engineer officer. 2011 is when I transitioned to chaplain. I came to the brigade in 2011 and have been chaplain ever since that time. Who would’ve thought back in 1992 when I was Private Barlow, that a few decades later I would be a major in the same National Guard, in which I was in, being fussed at for not shaving.“
Chaplain Barlow wants to show his appreciation to the National Guard for molding him.
“20 years! It’s had its ups it’s had its down. Along the way, I have had a great military leadership, throughout the chain, squad leader level, and platoon leader level. That’s been the key to me sticking around this long. So I feel indebted to those that have trained me. So I want to give back to this National Guard.”
Chaplain Barlow reflects, as a leader and what his counterparts should always keep in mind while dealing with Soldiers.
“The military is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Let me say it this way, the military has been the best job I’ve ever had. When I came in, the Army was patient with me, and the leadership that I had was patient. A lot of times I see a lot of impatience when kids come in. Their just kids, and now a days its kind of difficult to see commanders and first sergeants ready to really put the handle down, so to speak, on a young Soldier who makes a mistake, or may miss a formation, or who may be late for formation. They are not really understanding that sometimes that Soldier’s growing and if you stand by them and walk with them for a little while, they’ll turn out to be a pretty good Soldier, and be able to be a benefit to our country.”
Chaplain Barlow wants his legacy to carry over to all Soldiers, no matter their rank.
“Its been good and I pray that my legacy walking along side those commanders and reminding them, remember those “Joes”, remember those guys and gals, their just kids. You got to stand-alone side of them, be patient with them, train and retrain. Teach them to crawl, walk, and run and then we’ll get the pay off on them a little bit later.”
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.14.2016 09:48 |
| Story ID: | 200966 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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