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When my husband was working training very new sailors, there were instances where chaplains were involved in counseling situations (the case of a sailor whose infant had died while he was at boot camp comes to mind).
When my husband was working training very new sailors, there were instances where chaplains were involved in counseling situations (the case of a sailor whose infant had died while he was at boot camp comes to mind).
I was active duty in the navy for 10 years, I don't recall ever seeing a chaplain. I don't mean seeing one personally, I mean EVER seeing one. (but then I never saw an aircraft carrier either )
What would be a situation where one would be in contact with a chaplain? Seriously asking.
You're directing an extraction from a combat zone with massive casualties including serious wounds to yourself. On the way to and at the trauma area you go in and out of consciousness. At some point during a brief moment of being lucid someone is there smiling and just talking to you. You have no idea where you are, what they are saying or who they are; just that something about this person's presence and words make you feel peaceful. As you are recouping awaiting your transfer to a full military facility, you see that same face wherever someone is in serious shape being brought in for emergency medical care, and that person is doing nothing but trying to comfort and bring some hope to the injured person. That's when many of us are seen by the Chaplains even though we never knew it.
to my experience the services were rather generic, maybe ecumenical. A protestant service, RC, Buddist, Islam, whatever. So go if you want to go, or go for counseling or bible study if you want to.
Usually a chaplain was assigned to a unit for personal support purposes and I believe those interactions were not denominational, more morale and listening. Know that the commanders relied upon the chaplains as personal sounding boards but to assess the climate of the command. A second opinion I guess.
I would hate to see military chaplains done away with, they fulfill a great mission, and I can't see chaplains not having some sort of denominational pedigree or else what is the purpose?
You're directing an extraction from a combat zone with massive casualties including serious wounds to yourself. On the way to and at the trauma area you go in and out of consciousness. At some point during a brief moment of being lucid someone is there smiling and just talking to you. You have no idea where you are, what they are saying or who they are; just that something about this person's presence and words make you feel peaceful. As you are recouping awaiting your transfer to a full military facility, you see that same face wherever someone is in serious shape being brought in for emergency medical care, and that person is doing nothing but trying to comfort and bring some hope to the injured person. That's when many of us are seen by the Chaplains even though we never knew it.
Thanks for the answer. So Chaplains are attached to field medical units? I was a submariner so my military experience is very narrow. (Our overseas base was simply a ship moored in a loch in Scotland.)
Chaplains are assigned to hospitals. They are also assigned to battalions. IIRC, each battalion (be it infantry, artillery, engineer, military police, etc.) has a chaplain and a chaplain's assistant slot. Chaplains go where the soldiers go. Proportionally, a fair number of them have been killed in action over the years (100 were killed in WWII), and quite a few of them have been wounded and/or decorated for bravery (invariably risking their lives to aid wounded soldiers). A handful of chaplains have even been awarded the Medal of Honor.
to my experience the services were rather generic, maybe ecumenical. A protestant service, RC, Buddist, Islam, whatever. So go if you want to go, or go for counseling or bible study if you want to.
Usually a chaplain was assigned to a unit for personal support purposes and I believe those interactions were not denominational, more morale and listening. Know that the commanders relied upon the chaplains as personal sounding boards but to assess the climate of the command. A second opinion I guess.
I would hate to see military chaplains done away with, they fulfill a great mission, and I can't see chaplains not having some sort of denominational pedigree or else what is the purpose?
Thanks for your answer too. Not that it matters, but I'm pretty indifferent to the idea of chaplains. No doubt based on my military experience. But if they are a positive influence I suppose they serve a purpose.
Chaplains are assigned to hospitals. They are also assigned to battalions. IIRC, each battalion (be it infantry, artillery, engineer, military police, etc.) has a chaplain and a chaplain's assistant slot. Chaplains go where the soldiers go. Proportionally, a fair number of them have been killed in action over the years (100 were killed in WWII), and quite a few of them have been wounded and/or decorated for bravery (invariably risking their lives to aid wounded soldiers). A handful of chaplains have even been awarded the Medal of Honor.
Thank you too for the information. As an aside, I still marvel at the power of the internet to provide first-hand information. The downside is that everyday I have long-held assumptions proved false.
Sincerely, thanks for the info and articles. It was interesting. I was about to shut my computer off for the weekend but then caught your post. Glad I did. ( I have made a deal with my wife/family that we go "no-internet" Thursday evening through Monday morning.) Have a nice weekend.
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