Photo By Staff Sgt. Brian Calhoun | The South Carolina National Guard held a changing of the stole ceremony at the...... read more read more
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – U.S. Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jim Davidson was named the South Carolina National Guard (SCNG) State Chaplain, during a Changing of the Stole Ceremony July 9, 2022. Davidson was selected for the position due to his achievements, accomplishments, and dedication to the Chaplain Corps of the U.S. Army by the leadership of the South Carolina Army National Guard.
“By far, the highlight of my service with the SCNG has been this selection as the next State Chaplain,” Davidson said. “This is an amazing honor, and I am humbled by the trust and confidence the leadership sees in my ability to lead the Chaplain Corps.”
The Chaplain Corps of the U.S. Army is older than the Declaration of Independence itself, dating back to 1775, when the first Chaplains were authorized for service in the American Revolutionary War. Since then, Army chaplains have seen service in every military conflict in our nation’s history, from the War of 1812 to the Global War on Terror. All told, nearly 30,000 Soldiers have served their country, and their communities as Army chaplains – men and women who don the uniform to provide spiritual comfort and religious support to their fellow countrymen in times of both war and peace.
For Davidson, it was the events of 9/11 that prompted him to join the Army. As it did for so many of his countrymen, that day left an indelible mark on Davidson, who knew he wanted to “do something” in response.
“When I first contacted a recruiter about joining the National Guard, I had no intent to be a chaplain,” said Davidson. “Like many Americans at that time, I just wanted to go and serve my country. But when they found out about my history in the ministry, they sort of directed me towards the chaplaincy.”
So, in January 2003, less than 18 months after foreign terrorists killed thousands of Americans on September 11, 2001, Davidson raised his right hand and swore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, becoming “Chaplain Jim Davidson”.
Nearly 20 years later, Davidson has accumulated a long list of accomplishments in the Army National Guard, having served in both the North Carolina and the Virginia National Guards before transitioning into the SCNG in 2017. Davidson has mobilized twice as well. First, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, from October 2003 to January 2005, and second, in support of Operation Spartan Shield from October 2016 to July 2017.
Throughout his experiences serving in uniform, Davidson has always put Soldiers, and Soldier families first by ministering to their spiritual and emotional needs.
“It’s important to establish those relationships with Soldiers, especially since you only see some of them during drill weekends,” said Davidson. “You have to make yourself available, and be someone Soldiers feel comfortable in contacting, and opening up to you with their problems and concerns. If you are not interconnected with your Soldiers, you have no idea what they are doing or going through.”
During the past five years, Davidson has honorably and faithfully served the Soldiers of the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Anderson, South Carolina, and the Regional Training Institute at McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina.
As a civilian, Davidson has been a committed leader within the ministry as well, leading the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Indian Land, South Carolina, as its senior pastor for the past four years, and helping it navigate the population boom that their Charlotte-metro-area community has been experiencing in recent years.
“We’ve seen a huge growth in our community over the past few years,” said Davidson. “It’s been very good for us because, for a long time, we were a small community and most of those attending our church had been there for a long time. Now, we have a more diverse group of people coming in, which has helped us to be more open and welcoming. The entire community has learned to be very intentional about outreach to everyone. I’ve really enjoyed seeing that, and it’s been very good for our church.”
Whether in or out of uniform, and whether leading the South Carolina Army National Guard as its next State Chaplain or his home church as its Senior Pastor, Davidson’s passion and calling remain true to the motto of the Chaplain Corps – to serve and lead “For God and Country.”
| Date Taken: | 08.26.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2022 11:10 |
| Story ID: | 428113 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 235 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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