MUNICH, Germany— Service members with U.S. Special Operations Command Europe completed a two-day spiritual fitness tour at historic sites tied to World War II and the Holocaust in Munich and Dachau to improve mission readiness and spiritual health, April 23-24, 2026.
The Preservation of the Force and Family program periodically holds events that focus on the holistic performance of five domains: physical performance, psychological health, cognitive function, family support, and spiritual growth. Participants gained perspective on resilience while visiting historically significant locations and having discussions about human values and beliefs.
POTFF is a SOCEUR initiative that provides resources and opportunities that improve readiness for service members and their families and enhance human performance.
Lt. Col. Cody Vest, the command chaplain for U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, opened the tour with remarks that set the tone for reflection and growth during the guided tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and the walking tour of Munich's historic sites. The experience was designed to strengthen the resilience of SOCEUR’s forces for the future.
“Some of the aspects of spirituality are that they have purpose and meaning in their life and that they are ethically and morally grounded,” Vest said. “The idea for this event came when I got here to Germany and started thinking about what is unique about Germany that we can explore and I thought about the concentration camp in Dachau.”
The first stop for the SOCEUR service members was a visit to the memorial site to reflect on history through introspection and personal spiritual growth. The group discussed the strength required to survive in austere environments and how to foster that strength. This exploration of history encouraged the participants to discuss the core values that sustain them in their modern military roles and reflect on their ideas of purpose and meaning.
“I've read Viktor Frankl's book, ‘Man's Search for Meaning’ and I thought this would be a great way for us to go experience some history and then discuss purpose and meaning in life at the concentration camp,” Vest said.
Martina Henrici, a licensed guide at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, led service members through the grounds of the camp and explained the living conditions of former prisoners. The group viewed several monuments, including Hubertus von Pilgrim’s Death March Memorial, which depicts exhausted prisoners in the final days of World War II, and the Statue of the Unknown Prisoner by Fritz Koelle.
The group visited the old crematorium and viewed a memorial marker bearing inscriptions that translate to “Crematorium” and “Remember How We Died Here.” Participants paused there, reflecting quietly before continuing discussions on resilience and moral responsibility.
On the second day, Vest led service members on a historical walking tour through Munich. The tour focused on discussions of ethics and morality while exploring different historical perspectives. The group visited landmarks including St. Peter’s Church and Tower, the statue of Mary in Marienplatz, and the plaque at the Altes Rathaus detailing the start of the 1938 November Pogroms. The route also included stops at the Löwen an der Residenz statues, the Wunden der Erinnerung, or Wounds of Memory wall, Viscardigasse, or Shirker's Alley, and the Siegestor.
“I'm hoping that the service members on this trip will really take some time to think about ‘what is it that I believe, why do I believe it and is it working for me?’” Vest said. “If it's not working for them, I want them to really wrestle with that and think about what they need to change about their beliefs. If it is working for them, I want them to be able to solidify that as part of who they are and how they believe reality works.”
Vest fostered daily discussions about ethics and morality to bridge the gap between historical insights and the perspectives of current service members, transforming opinions into actionable strengths. The aim is for service members to apply those lessons in leadership roles.
SOCEUR provides these POTFF events for service members and families, offering impactful experiences that not only sustain the force but build physical, mental, and spiritual readiness.