The U.S. Army Chaplain - An Unsung Soldier

Photo By Staff Sgt. John Todd | U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Joshua Cannon, of the 15th Engineering Battalion, U.S. Army religious affairs specialist Sgt. Joshua Sharp of the 15th Engineering Battalion, and U.S. Army religious affairs Specialist Sgt. Tylesia Brown of the 4th Battalion, 2nd Cavalry Regiment make their way toward an objective in a simulated training exercise during the Combat Medical Ministry/Emergency Medical Ministry training course at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany Nov. 5. The course is designed to reintroduce basic Soldiering skills to the participants, as well as present additional information that will enhance ministry skills in combat.  

GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY

11.10.2020

Story by Sgt. John Todd 

7th Army Training Command

The U.S. Army Chaplain - An Unsung Soldier

By Sgt. John W. Todd



GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – Last week, 24 U.S. Army chaplains and religious affairs specialists from throughout Europe took a week to get back to the basics.

The chaplains and their religious affairs specialists attended the 7th Army Training Command’s Combat Medical Ministry/Emergency Medical Ministry program held at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Nov. 1-8.


Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Tim Maracle, the deputy course director, said the program is one that not only reenforces skills such as land navigation, but also provides emergency medical training.


This program, the first of its kind in theater, gives further training to ministry personnel in their role during a combat event, and expands their capability.


“We're reintroducing our Soldiers to those basic Soldiering skills so they are not a hindrance to the mission, but an asset,” said Maracle. “We are placing our Soldiers in the position where they can not only minister to those in need, but also advise command teams.”


The program is designed to give each Chaplain and religious affairs specialist team tactical and operational training, as well as an understanding of how ministry fits into the commander’s intent, especially during a combat environment.


“We can show the commander how we are an asset to the mission,” said 7th ATC Chaplain (Maj.) Matthew Reves, one of the cadre/Observer-Coach-Trainers for the event. “The training will not only show our value, but also demonstrate to commanders how we fit into the grand scheme of things.”


The Grafenwoehr program, one of three in the U.S. Army, is slightly different from the parent program located at Brooke Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. There is no logistical nor financial support from any stateside unit.


“This is a unique program,” said Reves. “All support and financing for this training event is strictly from USAREUR.”


The program at Grafenwoehr is also the only CMM/EMM program in the U.S. Army to incorporate medical evacuation helicopter training into the event..


“In the helicopter training, the Soldiers will initially train on a simulator where they will evacuate injured personnel for treatment,” said Maracle. “They will then graduate to an actual helicopter that will fly personnel in, and the participants will have to engage and remove those injured persons from the craft, just like in a real-life scenario.”


The 24 participants were selected from 46 applicants. Upon graduation from the one-week course, each student will receive a specialty skill identifier.


Maracle said the training helps participants navigate obstacles on a land navigation course, and those in their own lives.


“You’re shooting an azimuth in your own life,” said Maracle. “Sometimes you hit an obstacle, and you have to figure out a way to get around it and move on to the next point in your life.”

• Date Taken: 11.10.2020
• Date Posted: 11.12.2020 14:08
• Story ID: 382753
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE