by Spc. Mike Alberts
3rd BCT, 25th ID PAO
KIRKUK, Iraq – Why God? For Soldiers struggling with this question or those in need of meaning in their actions, their jobs and their lives while at war resources exist.
The Chaplains of 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, exist to provide not only traditional religious services that Soldiers receive in garrison, but also guidance to cope with circumstances and events unique to war throughout the brigade's area of operation while in Iraq.
According to Chaplain (Maj.) Scott Sterling, brigade chaplain, 3IBCT, the new modular brigade includes specified "unit ministry teams" (UMT). "A UMT is composed of an officer, the chaplain, and an enlisted Soldier, a chaplain's assistant," said Sterling. "We have a brigade UMT and a UMT for each of our six battalions," he said. "Our mission out here is essentially the same as it is in garrison and that is to bring God to Soldiers and Soldiers to God."
Chaplains in the field are equipped to take care of all of a Soldier's religious needs. However, the uniqueness of a Soldier's life at war demands consideration of issues that Soldiers in garrison don't typically encounter.
"Life and death are stark here at war," said Sterling. "Every time you leave the FOB bad things can happen. When those things do happen it can drive you closer to God for comfort and answers or away from God in your grief, anger or fear." For these reasons, a Soldier's spiritual health can be vital to a successful tour in Iraq.
"You can be physically and technically fit but if you don't find some meaning everyday in what you are doing, you are missing out," said Chaplain (Maj.) Howard Fields, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. Fields provides chaplain services at Brooke's burn unit while in garrison. He is currently in country on a specific assignment to assist 25th Infantry Division in complying with Title 10 to care for Jewish Soldiers during the Jewish High Holy days between Sept. 22 and approximately Oct. 2.
"An improvised explosive device is an unnatural event," said Fields. "Developing a spiritual dimension to your life helps to deal with trauma and unnatural situations. Someone who is spiritually fit can grieve and cope in a more healthy way," he said.
One of the brigade chaplains that is helping his Soldiers grieve and cope is Chaplain (Capt.) Charles J. Popov, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3IBCT. Chaplain Popov, who also holds a degree in counseling, lives and works with his Soldiers at Forward Operating Base McHenry, Hawija, Iraq.
"My main mission here is to care for the wounded, nurture the living and honor the dead," said Popov. "A huge piece in that is understanding that people are not just physical, emotional or psychological beings. They also have a spiritual aspect to their lives that affects their morale and their attitude. If the spiritual component is down, that will affect the whole person," he explained.
In addition to traditional chaplain services, Popov conducts critical incident stress debriefings to address the complexity of emotions that Soldiers experience after a traumatic event. Interestingly, however, Popov explained that sometimes just being around his Soldiers is all the comfort they need.
"We call it the 'ministry of presence,'" said Popov. "As a chaplain, you don't necessarily need to say anything. You need to show up and be there. For most people, even those that don't consider themselves spiritual, [a chaplain's] presence adds a dimension of hope," he said.
"We are reminders of a higher power. In moments of loss just our presence can be meaningful."
| Date Taken: |
10.14.2006 |
| Date Posted: |
10.14.2006 09:37 |
| Story ID: |
8021 |
| Location: |
KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: |
504 |
| Downloads: |
232 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, 3rd Brigade Chaplains Bring God to Soldiers and Soldiers to God in Kirkuk Province, by SGT Michael Alberts, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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