What does a great Battalion Chaplain look like?

2015-03-06T13:38:15-05:00

In your opinion, what does a great Battalion Chaplain look like? Who was your favorite chaplain and why?

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Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Mar 6 at 2015 1:39 PM

2015-03-06T13:39:31-05:00

He tends to the spiritual needs of everyone in the battalion, including his own.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 6 at 2015 1:47 PM

2015-03-06T13:47:25-05:00

They look like a chameleon....one that can relate (and blrnd in) with everyone in the unit....my BN Chaplain played on the company intramural basketball team (he is in his 40's)...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-03-06T14:02:18-05:00

A good chaplain shows that he's willing to talk to Marines regardless of their religious background. We currently have a chaplain that comes down range almost every week and just walks around asking Marines how they are, how their family is, etc. THAT is what a good chaplain does!

Response by LCDR Jamie Galus made Mar 6 at 2015 5:24 PM

2015-03-06T17:24:17-05:00

Chaps, I have seen a few in my time, both good and bad, but the best were always able to maintain the golden mean of being both a military officer and a man of faith.

But, in my humble opinion, this is what a real Battalion Chaplain looks like. Vince Capodanno has and will always be one of my personal heroes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_R._Capodanno

Vincent R. Capodanno - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Servant of God Vincent Robert Capodanno (February 13, 1929 – September 4, 1967) was a United States Navy Roman Catholic chaplain and a posthumous recipient of America's highest military decoration— the Medal of Honor — for actions during the Vietnam War.

Response by CSM Mark Gerecht made Mar 6 at 2015 6:41 PM

2015-03-06T18:41:59-05:00

The best chaplain I ever served with was a small Jewish chaplain. No matter where we were he was there. He humped with us. Sweated and froze with us. He always found away to see the troops on the ground. This guy was everywhere when we were in the field. In garrison he showed up in the motor pool on the range at sporting events in the field Sometimes he would roll up with hot chocolate or a cold soda just when you needed it the most. Help dig a foxhole or sleep in the mud with you He was always there for us. Just to talk just to inspire
Funny I am not Jewish but any day anywhere I would serve with him. He would minster to Protestants Catholics he did not judge you and only wanted to serve the spiritual needs of his soldiers.
What made him different? He walked the walk. Talked the talk and shared every burden. He was the standard by which I measured every other chaplain. No matter your religious preference or lack of religious belief this chaplain was loved by all of us because he was the real deal. I never remember anyone having a negative comment about him. It's
Been decades and I don't remember his name but he made a big impact on me for that I will always be grateful

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2015 7:36 PM

2015-03-06T19:36:48-05:00

Like this!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2015 8:54 PM

2015-03-06T20:54:15-05:00

The first requirement should be that a Chaplain has a good grasp of the English language. Many Soldiers I served with would refuse to attend a seminar or meet with a Chaplain who they cannot understand.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Mar 6 at 2015 10:05 PM

2015-03-06T22:05:39-05:00

I had problems with Chaplains.
They were supposed to be able to advise outside of their primary religious focus, I kept getting one denomination who would only advise as though I were an adherent of that denomination. Didn't work for me at all and was very frustrating.
OTOH, the Single best Chaplain I ever met was of that same denomination and knew his stuff from any angle of any denomination. Guy did Ruck marches with load, was in the field and available if you had time. If all chaplains were like him I'd never have a bad world to say about any of them.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 10:58 AM

2015-03-07T10:58:06-05:00

The best... My Chaplain in Guantanamo.. Prior service parachute rigger with senior airborne, HALO, and pathfinder wings. Hands down he was the best SOLDIER in the entire battalion. Spent his lunch time in the gym and evenings learning Greek. Sometimes on Sunday there would be 3 of us at service and he gave the simple message of the good news the same as when the room was full. He took care of his family, lived a transparent life, and was always there for any of us. Gave honesty with care and without judgement. All the troops called him Airborne Jesus.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 9 at 2015 12:31 AM

2015-03-09T00:31:09-04:00

Well, I have seen many.... some good, some great, some not so good.

I believe the key to your success as a Battalion and as a Brigade Chaplain is to simply be present, and hence accessible. The more you are around: PT, ranges, in the field, on patrol, etc... the more likely Soldiers will want to speak with you... which is what we need. You can help fix a wide variety of issues early before they are in fact issues, if you are always present forward.

Soldiers will not come to your office, unless it is really serious, or the chain of command sends them; Usually your office is in the HQ or Command Suite...

If you desire is serve Soldiers and families, you need to be out and about all the time, and visiting with them in/at their daily comings and goings.

This will also gain you huge amounts or respect, which will also make others you would not expect, come to you for counsel.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 8:58 AM

2015-03-09T08:58:22-04:00

I haven't met what I envision as the "best Chaplain", yet CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member.
Here is what he'd look like to me:
As dirty as the Soldiers he ministered to.
Ready with a smile, or concern.
Ready to help with answers to the unknowable.
Ready to comfort when crisis strikes.
Full of wisdom to guide my Soldiers and commander with issues concerning morale and morals.
Possesed of initiative to find where his services are needed, not waiting for the issues to find him.
Resolute and firm in his convictions, even when they are different from those around him.
Full of knowledge pertaining to the various programs available to those in need, both military and civilian.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 6:10 AM

2015-03-17T06:10:20-04:00

Over the years I've seen a few great qualities from several chaplains that's should be emulated:
-one chaplain in Afghanistan had a service dog with her. This wasn't a bomb dog or an attack dog, but a quiet and friendly lab that would fly from FOB to FOB to cheer up the soldiers. We would always put the dog in Row 3 and it would lay between the crew seats and keep the backseaters company. We shut down for a couple hours one day to watch this chaplain and dog at work, and you could instantly see people forget that they were in a war zone just by spending a few minutes with this dog. Everyone would relax and share stories with the chaplain who would quietly listen. We were told that chaplains having service dogs was a trial program. I don't know if it was true or not, but I do hope a program like that gets off the ground.
-one chaplain would always make his rounds to the flight crews after missions. He paid special attention to the Medevac crews if he knew they had a rough day. He even went so far as to call himself the "First Up Chaplain."
- this may see part of the job, but it was reassuring to see a chaplain take his job so seriously and to have a command team stand behind him. I was on staff duty one night and a call came in requesting a chaplain. The phone call came from another unit, but they weren't turned away. This was a second world country where cell phone use was iffy to begin with and we couldn't get a hold of him. Turns out he was out to dinner with other senior officers from the command. After reaching him through a member a the command team, he excused himself and made his way back to the base to be there for this soldier that he did not know in his time of need.

On the flip side, I've also witnessed a few chaplains completely tarnish the respect that soldiers have for these officers. One in particular was ESL, with Vietnamese as his first language. His lack of English skills completely took away from a memorial service for a fallen comrade not once, but twice. The ability to be understood goes a long way with chaplains.

Overall, each branch of the Army has its nuances. Finding ways to be there for your soldiers and not being an office chaplain will go a long way. My current chaplain is known for walking through the hangars and kicking people out (to include the command team) if he catches them working late. It's a simple gesture that goes a long way.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Mar 19 at 2015 9:42 PM

2015-03-19T21:42:37-04:00

What does a great Battlion. Chaplain look like? My Dad.....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2015 12:05 PM

2015-03-25T12:05:52-04:00

Without a doubt, Chaplain Olson was the best Chaplain I ever had. Communication with the troops is key, and he was always around to speak with us. I had many Chaplains in my career who I only saw at ceremonies, and some perhaps monthly or less, garrison and deployments. While deployed, I saw Chaplain Olson at LEAST twice a week. In garrison, usually weekly. His teachings he conducted on the airfield while deployed ensured those of us who couldn't (or simply wouldn't) make it to the chapel still had spiritual support.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 12:10 PM

2015-04-23T12:10:28-04:00

At the risk of sounding like broken record, A great battalion Chaplain is one that is there when ever where ever. My current Chaplain is like that, I see him poking around during training more than I see my CO the entire drill. The commitment he has for being there for the guys is... I really can't think of proper word, I mean, he left his fathers funeral early so he could make it to at least part of drill.
Now that I have punched you in the feels I end on a funny note. My first experience with a Chaplain was a BCT, he came in and started talking about what a Chaplain does in this deep southern voice(think stero-type southern baptist preacher). We were horse shoes around him and I didn't catch his name, he turned around and when I saw it I first thought is was a joke his name was CH (CPT) Cross

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 12:10 PM

2015-04-23T12:10:44-04:00

Chaplain Ed Choi

He was my BN Chaplain when we were in Baghdad 2006-2007. During that deployment he was awarded a CAB and a Purple Heart

http://bpnews.net/29307

FRONT LINES: Chaplains impart support, strength to soldiers in combat zone

Military chaplains impart support and strength to soldiers who have witnessed the horrors of war.

Response by SFC Mike Cook made Apr 23 at 2015 8:15 PM

2015-04-23T20:15:35-04:00

The best Bn Chaplain that I ever had the privilege of serving with was first and foremost right there with us. The most approachable person you're likely to meet and could turn ANYTHING into not necessarily a sermon, but a moral lesson. I had the honor of being in the room as he "preached" Dr. Seuss's "Horton Hears a Who!" to a room full of battle hardened Infantrymen and brought it back to a biblical point. I'm willing to bet that the majority of those guys were not normally going to be filling the pews of the Chapel on a regular or even semi-regular basis. But that day; they were on the edge of seats waiting to hear what the chaplain had to say next. And he did not disappoint. He brought them all to church, and taught them one of the lords lessons, and they were glad to hear it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 10:12 PM

2015-04-24T22:12:48-04:00

There's already a lot of good feedback on this post, so I'll keep it brief. Be accessible and share in the hardships. The best Chaplain I had was while I was deployed. His services were inspiring to the point that I looked forward to going to mass. I remember one of his sermons vividly to this day.

The worst Chaplain I've had wasn't accessible or there for the troops. I had a troop of mine who was on suicide watch and in a very dark place overall. He specifically asked to talk to the Chaplain. Our BN Chaplain was at a dinner with the BN staff and refused to even speak with him over the phone. The casual dinner with his boss was more important to him. It was a good day for everyone when he moved on and was replaced by someone else.

Response by SN Bill Spencer made Jun 12 at 2015 7:38 AM

2015-06-12T07:38:52-04:00

Anyone who actually believes scripture, teaches from the Bible, lives it as a model, not just words but actions, and is Christ with skin on. Other than that they are wasting their life pretending to be something they're not and something people don't want or need. Just a straight forward no nonsense answer to the question. I hope that helps.

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made Sep 16 at 2015 1:33 PM

2015-09-16T13:33:01-04:00

Chaplain Steve Hommel google him...nuff said.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Nov 6 at 2015 2:33 PM

2015-11-06T14:33:01-05:00

Able to relate to officers and enlisted comfortably and with good system sense.

Response by SGT Michael Schmiesing made Feb 6 at 2018 7:22 PM

2018-02-06T19:22:37-05:00

I'm a gung ho troop in an BN, when I got a new Chaplain. He asked me how to reach the troops. I said no matter what uniform the troops are in. Before you leave the truck be in that uniform. Work along side the lower ems before you see the officers. Work hard along side the EMs, bullshit first then seek out their needs. Always let BN HQ where you are, let the place your at know where you are going. It was a tall order, but he took my advice. We worked together for two years. He was accepted by all, loved by most. I'd say that he did a really great job adapted to the Army life. I heard years later he retired a Major.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2021 9:29 AM

2021-01-12T09:29:31-05:00

Our Chaplain in Iraq (2005-2006) was awesome. The man must have haunted the TOC because anytime we ever got into anything, from minor detonation to complex attacks, he was already there waiting for us when we got back, checking on us, talking to us. There was no question he loved the men and women he was charged with ministering to.