MND-B chaplains focus on Soldiers throughout theater

Photo By Michael Molinaro | Ch (Capt.) John Quinn, 4th Battalion, 4th Aviation brigade, 4th Infantry Division, lights the Easter candle prior to celebrating Catholic Easter vigil mass Saturday at Forward Operating Base Kalsu. Quinn served Catholic Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. during Holy Week.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.24.2006

Story by Spc. Rodney Foliente 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - When thinking about chaplains in the Army, perhaps the first thing that comes to most people's minds are Sunday services at the base churches.

The Multi-National Division " Baghdad chaplains in the division's area of operations however, can be seen traveling throughout the theater as they move from base to base, providing spiritual services for the division's Soldiers and civilians.

It's important to see the chaplains being proactive in getting involved with Soldiers," said Sgt. Aaron Riley, commandant operations assistant noncommissioned officer, 4th Inf. Div.

"First and foremost in their minds is that Soldiers come first," he added

Riley said the chaplains and chaplain assistants, as a whole, go out of their way to help out Soldiers and are very supportive and easy to talk to.

"I think our chaplains and chaplain assistants are doing an excellent job across the battle space for providing for the varied religious needs of our Soldiers," said Lt. Col. Tommy Preston, division chaplain, 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers are expressing their appreciation to the religious support teams for being there for them during the difficulties of deployment.

MND-B has a total of 62 chaplains and 62 chaplain assistants serving throughout a broad area of operations.
"There are chaplains of many faiths, but they fight together on the common ground of serving the Army and its Soldiers to provide for their mental and spiritual needs," said Master Sgt. Carrie Glover, chaplain noncommissioned officer-in-charge, 4th Inf. Div.

"Almost every day, chaplains and chaplain assistants fly or travel by convoy to other forward operating bases," she added. "It takes a great amount of effort and time to coordinate, but a tremendous amount of support flows from Multi-National Corps " Iraq, the Army, other service branches, and MND-B leadership and units."

MND-B often calls upon other Army chaplains, as well as chaplains from the Air Force and Navy, to accommodate the scope of different religions represented in the area of operations, said Sgt. 1st Class Billy Arnold, chaplain plans and operations noncommissioned officer, 4th Inf. Div.

"If there are no chaplains for a particular religion available, MND-B tries to provide someone else, usually a Soldier of that particular faith group, who must be approved by that particular religious order as well as by MNC-I and MND-B," continued Arnold. "This helps regulate the quality of the religious leader."

Col. Frank Ziemkiewicz, a Catholic priest with MNC-I, is spread thin, like most other priests in Iraq right now. He is one of only three priests who cover Camps Liberty, Victory and Slayer. Between Holy Thursday and Easter, the priests handled 18 services in addition to their regular duties as confessors and counselors.

"It is busier this week than normal, but the chaplaincy is able to support Soldiers "
although by no means is the coverage what we"d like," said Ziemkiewicz.

MND-B has three Catholic Chaplains at other locations: two at Camp Taji and one at Camp Rustimiyah.

"Our command is very supportive of giving Soldiers the opportunity of worshipping in their own tradition," said Glover, "which really boosts the morale of the Soldiers. Our job is to accommodate Soldiers" religious practice as they see fit."

The 4th Inf. Div. chaplaincy will find a way to provide assistance to any religion, said Arnold, as he gestured to a shelf with Bibles, Korans and various other books and tracts representing a wide spectrum of religious beliefs.

"A chaplain assistant's personal faith and belief is not the focal point," noted Arnold. "We're prepared to provide assistance to any faith group."

There are weekly religious services offered for most Soldiers. If there is no local chaplain available to lead services, alternate accommodations can usually be made for Soldiers, such as arranging transportation to another area of operation or devoting an area and time for private meditation and study.

"I believe that it is very important for Soldiers to be able to worship in accordance with their own faith," said Staff Sgt. Michael Miles, Fires Brigade chaplain assistant NCO. "It is our job to ensure that we offer a variety of services to all Soldiers."

"Recognizing that the freedom to worship as he or she chooses is an inherent right of U.S. Soldiers," said Maj. Charles Herring of MNC-I on nearby Camp Victory, who is available to coordinate religious services for those Soldiers who practice the Muslim, Buddhist or other faiths.

At the Camp Liberty's Warrior Chapel, there are even weekly services available for Wiccan Soldiers, who worship 'the sacred as inherent in nature, often personified as Mother Earth and Father Sky."

To find out more information on religious services, contact your local chaplain or chain of command.

• Date Taken: 04.24.2006
• Date Posted: 04.24.2006 13:33
• Story ID: 6094
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ