What are the benefits of having Chaplains at the battalion level?

CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:27:24 -0500

There have been many challenges to the necessity of the chaplaincy in recent years. There are some who would like to see chaplains removed from the battalion level. What benefits do you see to maintaining the position of battalion chaplain. Share your thoughts.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 4 at 2015 4:34 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:34:14 -0500

Marine Corps has them at Battalion level. A BN or BLT is still a pretty autonomous unit, and having a chaplain just makes sense.

Speaking only of my own experiences, but 1/1, 2/1, 3/1, and 1/4 (the four battalions that make up 1st Marine Regt) each have their own Chaplain. When we became BLT 3/1 etc, and were attached to 11th, 13th, or 15th MEU we lost the support of 1st Marines, but inherited the MAGTF's support.

If our Chaplains were located at the HHQ, they wouldn't be as involved, or as visible, and they wouldn't be "ours." It would be more like going to base medical medical and catching whatever doctor was in rotation.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 4 at 2015 4:43 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:43:53 -0500

We need Chaplains in the unit! The Chaplain has protected communication and provides an outlet for our service members when they want an outlet, and some advice outside their NCO Support Chanel or Chain of Command....I am very close with my Chaplains, and often get them to make contact with Soldiers when I believe the Soldier will really benefit from the counsel.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Mar 4 at 2015 4:50 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:50:54 -0500

At battalion level, the chaplain has a better chance to personally get to know all of the Soldiers assigned. That helps if he has to provide emotional or spiritual support. Or even if to see if someone is acting strangely.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2015 5:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:07:49 -0500

My fear would be if they took them away at BN level their next step would be to take them away at lower levels as well.. It would start a chain reaction.. Being medical and having served over seas to me Chaplains are a must... We had wonderful BN Chaplains (they weren't with our unit because we were such a small echelon we didn't rate our own Chaplain) that came into the FST every time we had incoming casualties.... They were there to comfort the injured and dying, giving Last Rights to those that needed it, praying with and providing comfort to those that lost a buddy and for us who had to see it all... We had a MASCAL one day at 2 am local time and it was all locals ... The Chaplain showed up as he always did ( I don't think he slept at times)... I commented "we don't need you sir, they are all afghani's" his comment to me " I don't come in just for the patients I come in for you guys as well.." We need them at the BN level because sometimes the lower levels don't always get one.... And regardless of anyone's religious views those that are religious I believe rate Last Rights.... It is the least we can do at that moment for those that have given everything....

Response by CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2015 5:33 PM

CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:33:23 -0500

Thank you Sgt. for sharing. Indeed it would be impossible for a chaplain working at brigade level or higher to care for all of the Soldiers or Marines in that brigade. If this were to ever happen, it would be up to the Soldiers to find the Chalain instead, and would greatly reduce the ability of the chaplain to provide any substantial spiritual care to the Soldiers.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2015 5:38 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:38:23 -0500

I have to say that in my experience Battalion Chaplains help the Chain of command know the morale of a unit. A good Chaplain can help the Soldiers when they don't feel comfortable with with their immidiate supervisors.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 4 at 2015 6:13 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:13:51 -0500

I think removing chaplains from the battalion level as not a good thing but I understand with the shortage and the demand it may be necessary. I really only like one of my battalion chaplains and that was MAJ (CH) Schneider in 1st MI BN in the late 1990's. He did not "push" religion but he would talk to you like a friend. He thought of himself as one of the guys even going with me and my platoon sergeant on Operation Find God aka going to the monastery to drink some beer and bring it home. When he got promoted from CPT to MAJ he did like tradition and bought rounds for us. He was an awesome asset in time of need and we had some of those with a plane crash and suicide within weeks of each other.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2015 10:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 22:18:11 -0500

I believe that they should be kept at the Battalion level for multiple reasons CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member

1) It is easier and faster to have a BN Chaplain for Soldiers.

2) Information flow is better with a BN CH. I mean things like retreat and other events going on.

3) Having a BN CH is a little more personal. When the BN CH sees Soldiers they are more likely to talk and trust that individual.

Those ho would like to see the BN CH removed are looking for easy cuts without actually noticing the benefits.

I could go on and on I am sure but it is a bad idea to remove the Local Chaplain.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2015 11:22 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 23:22:26 -0500

#1 reason is that the chaplain is the the only nonmandated reporter of almost all subjects across the board. With out this much needed umbrella of safety warriors will be very limited on where and who they can go to in order to seek council on sensitive subjects.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2015 4:19 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 04:19:37 -0500

Sir - As a CSM I would be struck down and be condemned to the pits of hell for eternity if I said anything bad about the Chaplain.

With that said, I would really like to see Chaplains get more diverse training before being assigned to a battalion. I personally am not a real religious man but, I respect those that are and support Soldiers of all faiths or no faith. I think the Chaplain could be so much more if they had more behavioral health experience.

Unless the Chaplain is prior military it takes awhile for them to get their bearings. I have seen some Chaplains get flam basted by the battalion commander because they just didn't know any better. Myself, fully understanding that God outranks that LTC could see where the Chaplain was coming from but, that LTC did not (I had a good talk with the LTC and Chaplain separately after).

The Chaplain is such a great resource but a lot of Soldiers don't utilize them because of the religious moniker. They could provide so much more if they were "certified" in some sort of behavioral health counseling sans religion.

Hope that made sense and did not offend you. I have always gotten along great with my Chaplain and hopefully all the praying that they have done for my barbaric ways will pay off.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 5 at 2015 9:11 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 09:11:01 -0500

I know for me personally during OIF-III, having a chaplain at the BN level was very important. My wife and I were in a rough patch at the time, and having the BN Chaplain available on the FOB allowed me to meet with him and talk things out which allowed me to better concentrate on my mission at hand as well as handle the issues I was dealing with at home. I didn't have to wait until a chaplain made a visit to our FOB which would have probably driven me crazier than I already am lol. I think it is important that chaplain be kept at the BN level so that the spiritual needs of the BNs Soldiers can be met more easily.

Response by CW2 Eric Scott made Mar 5 at 2015 2:23 PM

CW2 Eric Scott — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:23:14 -0500

The benefit of having Chaplain at the BN level; how about when dudes get shot he can be there to make sure they get to God. They're aren't many atheists in foxholes.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2015 2:45 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 02:45:10 -0400

CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member Sir, I think that having a Chaplain at the BN level is too valuable to think about removing. These Chaplains have a better understanding of the Soldiers that they are providing support to. They see the operations taking place, they can get out amongst the Soldiers, and they are more readily available to support the Soldiers. There are a few incidents that I can think of that I am certain would have turned out much different and possibly much more tragically had we not had a Chaplain that was not only available, but known to the Soldiers. There is something to be said for chewing the same dirt as your Soldiers.

I am certain LTC Private RallyPoint Member can also provide some great stories of how a solid BN Chaplain can have a tremendous impact.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2015 12:31 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 12:31:36 -0400

When I was deployed, our company was spread out across 3 or 4 locations at a time, never mind all the locations battalion was. The chaplain showed up at our FOB maybe 3 times for a day each. If there hadn't been a battalion chaplain, we certainly never would have seen him. I attended services held by an RA chaplain who was posted on our FOB, but I felt that as it was the chaplain was stretched pretty thin.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Mar 12 at 2015 4:08 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:08:15 -0400

First, God Bless You for what you do. Chaplains are essential in perserving combat strength, especially during times of loss. As line leaders, we often get focused on continuing the mission and are often without the necessary words of encouragement. We are stuffing our own feelings down and that limits our powers of empathy at times. A Chaplain at the Brigade level would have so many members that there would be too many unfamaliar faces. That ever present bond of a close knit family would be lacking. I hope this decision to remove Chaplains at the battalion level is never made. Big mistake.

Response by SPC Bernie Davies made Mar 18 at 2015 11:15 PM

SPC Bernie Davies — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 23:15:37 -0400

During my time in Vietnam I interacted with two chaplains. One was straight army and suck it up and get back in there. The other smiled and just listened to support. Guess which one ranks higher in a SP-4's book.

Now that I know Jesus I know that having a shepherd is a good thing. The shepherd/chaplain watches over his flock and guards them. He is not there to circumvent the army or superior officers, etc. but rather he guards against wolves that would harm his flock. Having someone I can share with and trust means the world. Chaplains don't have all the answers and usually an answer doesn't exist but leaning on a chaplain is great.

Oh, yes, chaplains also get wounded in the fight and need the support of their sheep. so thank you to all the chaplains who read this.