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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – The Division Chaplain Section, in partnership with the Casualty Assistance Center and the Clergy Crisis Contingency Team, executed an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) with all Chaplains supporting Next of Kin (NOK) Notification duties on Fort Campbell, Ky., May 12, 2025. The exercise assessed the readiness of all personnel should a catastrophic event happen during training events or deployments.
The exercise started at 3 a.m. when the Chaplains received a phone call telling them to report to the Casualty Assistance Center dressed in their Army Service Uniforms, ready to make notifications. Afterwards, they moved to Liberty Chapel, where they were given a casualty brief. The key element of this training was that none of the personnel involved were informed that it was a drill.
Tonya Johnson, the Casualty Assistance Center Chief, went over various details of the Next of Kin notification process, including transportation, what to do if the Next of Kin answers the responding personnel remotely through a doorbell camera or are not home when they arrive, and answered questions from the Chaplains.
Once the casualty brief was complete the Chaplains were informed that they had been participating in an exercise by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Ronny Fisher, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Chaplain. Chaplain (Maj.) Rob Jackson, the Family Life Chaplain, also conducted a post-exercise brief about the emotional and spiritual impact the exercise had on the Chaplains.
“My mind and heart immediately went to the last time I had to do notifications,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Edward Welch, battalion chaplain for 626th Logistic Support Battalion, 101st Division Support Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
The Chaplains spoke about managing the emotional impact of conducting Next of Kin Notification, and how they can manage that emotion in the moment and afterwards.
“I’ve got two or three Chaplain friends that I know I can call at any time,” Fisher said. “Just as they know they can call me any time they need.”
Also participating in the EDRE were several civilian chaplains who are part of the Clergy Crisis Contingency Team, who have partnered with Fort Campbell’s Chaplains to provide assistance with Next of Kin Notifications in the event of a catastrophic accident.
“We are attached and working with Fort Campbell for the EDRE that we had today so that we can work with notification when it is so large that the Fort Campbell headcount cannot handle it,” retired command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Alfred said. “Right now, we are putting together an SOP that walks right alongside Army regulation so that we will be able to meet the goal that the Army requires based on notification.”
| Date Taken: | 05.12.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2025 18:05 |
| Story ID: | 497752 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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