If the idea of chaplains getting together to discuss their interests makes you think of genteel spiritual conversations, consider the topic discussed at the August bimonthly teleconference of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) Chaplain Working Group — combat and killing in relation to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and spiritual distress.

The Chaplain Working Group routinely delves into spiritual and behavioral conflicts arising from deployment. It’s the nature of their calling that chaplains grapple with difficult issues, and the nature of war that military chaplains must address constructs that deeply challenge common beliefs. One such example is that spiritual health, behavioral health and the use of deadly force are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

	U.S. Navy Cmdr. Raymond Houk, left, a chaplain, talks with the Rev. Juan Garcia, right, a Catholic priest with the Republic of Colombia Navy, during a tour aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathen E. Davis)

The soldiers were pinned down, taking heavy fire and casualties from what they determined was a lone gunner behind a protective wall. Finally, one soldier broke from the group, made his way to the wall and in a fervent burst of gunfire took the sniper out — it was an 11-year-old boy.

Later, that scene in the soldier’s head kept him from sleeping, played on his spiritual beliefs and made him question his moral compass. He felt unworthy of his religion, unworthy of his family. He knew he needed to talk to someone. He went to see a chaplain.

“Chaplains are often the first line of defense for service members wrestling with issues of moral and spiritual concerns,” said chaplain and Navy Cmdr. Raymond Houk, who related the sniper story. Houk is assigned to Pastoral Care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and works at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence.

	Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steve Dundas, chaplain, reflects on his post-traumatic stress disorder and offers hope and inspiration in this new Real Warriors Campaign video. (Video courtesy of Real Warriors Campaign)

“You can’t go back to what you were … you have to adapt to what you are.”

     —Lt. Cmdr. Steve Dundas
U.S. Navy chaplain

With 30 years in the military, the last 12 with the Navy, Lt. Cmdr. Steve Dundas thought he was sufficiently familiar with and steeled against the impacts of war. A deployment to Anbar province, Iraq, where he supported service members stationed in remote areas, changed his mind: literally.

As a trauma department chaplain, Dundas had seen death. He had studied post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and ministered to Marines diagnosed with it. But on this mission, he experienced the full impact of what Marines were exposed to—sights, sounds, smells and sheer exhaustion; traveling through some of the most hostile and inhospitable areas in Iraq; and coming under attack, the constant awareness that chaplains were a favorite target of al Qaeda.

Soldiers say a prayer at Forward Operating Base Liberty, Iraq, before a mission. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Charles W. Gill)

Everyone experiences stress at times. But when you’re part of the military community, daily events can sometimes be difficult to manage when complicated by the stress of war and long periods of separation from family and friends. Undoubtedly, service members and their families face increased demands: physically, mentally and spiritually. So what can help get you through those challenging times, whether at home or deployed? It could be your spirituality.

“When we think of the overall health and well-being of service members, we normally think of physical fitness,” said Dr. Jeffrey Rhodes, DCoE senior management consultant for performance enhancement and retired Navy chaplain. “However, the armed forces have put emphasis on a more holistic view of what we think of when we’re talking about the health of service members, which includes the mind, body and spirit.”