Courtesy Photo | (Center) Spc. Courtney Dowdy, chaplain assistant with the 230th Engineer Battalion,...... read more read more
NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria – Service members from the Chaplain Corps of both the Tennessee Army and Tennessee Air National Guard combine to provide religious support to the troops forward deployed for Operation Resolute Castle and for Humanitarian Civic Assistance, August of 2016.
The team, referred to in the U.S. Military as a Religious Support Team or “RST,” was composed of Maj. Mark Smith, Chaplain of the 118th Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard, Staff Sgt. Anthony Maskarina, Chaplain assistant and operations planner, 118th Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard and Spc. Courtney Dowdy, Chaplain assistant from the 230th Engineer Battalion, Tennessee National Guard.
During their time at Novo Selo Training Area, the RST provided religious services twice a week, assisted other units in their projects, offered ethical and moral support to each individual soldier, and strived to achieve high morale within the units throughout the training period.
The 230th Engineer Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard and the 118th Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard are currently two of the many Tennessee National Guard units participating in Operation Resolute Castle, an ongoing joint training operation and security mission with NATO allies and partners showing our commitment to the collective security of NATO and enduring peace and stability in the region.
The RST consist of two roles – the Chaplain, who is a commissioned officer, and the religious support specialist, commonly referred to as the chaplain’s assistant, an enlisted soldier. The Chaplain is responsible for advising commanders on religious and moral matters, guiding soldiers during life challenges, providing religious services among other things. The Religious Support Specialist is responsible for synchronizing religious support in the contemporary operating environment, coordinating the circulation of the RST and assisting in planning religious support operations. Wherever they connect with military members, they offer comfort, support and pastoral care. Religious support teams elevate the resilience of military members and their loved ones in demanding environments.
Working alongside units help build a true connection between the RST and the soldiers and airmen.
“Whether it was a question of faith, or just a need to vent or find an encouraging word, the fact that our staff had sweated together or handled shovels together with the troops made them comfortable,” said Chaplain Smith. “The country is beautiful and the culture is rich. I am grateful for the opportunity to be here as a part of Resolute Castle 2016.”
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2016 09:16 |
| Story ID: | 208280 |
| Location: | NOVO SELO, BG |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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