U.S. Army Africa Chaplains Lead Training in Burundi

U.S. Army Africa Public Affairs
 Print    Share Share  



BUJUMBURA, Burundi - U.S. Army Africa chaplains Colonel Jonathon McGraw and Major Allen Staley traveled to Bujumbura, Burundi in December 2011 to lead a five-day training symposium in partnership with Burundi Ministry of Defense medical providers and chaplains to develop strategies to reduce adverse responses to combat-related stressors and challenges of reintegration with families. Eight of Burundi's 10 Army chaplains along with six of the eight military psychiatrists and 16 army nurses and officials attended the seminar and shared their combat and operational stress experiences with McGraw and Staley. (U.S. Army Africa photo)
BUJUMBURA, Burundi, 
Jan 4, 2012 — Two U.S. Army Africa chaplains traveled to Bujumbura, Burundi in December 2011 to lead a five-day training symposium in partnership with Burundi Ministry of Defense medical providers and chaplains to develop strategies to reduce adverse responses to combat-related stressors.

Soldiers worldwide are familiar with the rigors of conflict and the devastating effects it has on them and their families. Spending months, even years, away from families in dangerous environments can wreak havoc on the morale and readiness of units.

During the first such USARAF-led seminar of its kind conducted in Africa, U.S. Army Africa Command Chaplain (Colonel) Jonathon McGraw said the seminar showed Burundi chaplains and medical personnel how to help their leaders identify signs and symptoms associated with combat stress.

"We walked the participants through Combat and Operational Stress methods used in the U.S. military so that they would have the ability to train the trainers, as well as pull soldiers off the line if they show signs of combat stress," McGraw said. "The chaplains and physicians are excited to work together for a purpose, and for their commanders."

Eight of Burundi's ten Army chaplains along with six of the eight military psychiatrists and 16 army nurses and officials attended the seminar and shared their combat and operational stress experiences with McGraw and U.S. Army Chaplain (Major) Allen Staley.

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Miller, U.S. Embassy Burundi's senior official and defense attache, said the chaplain symposium helped representatives from the five Burundi military regions learn how to identify issues before and after deployment so they could manage stress issues more effectively. "Pulling together this small group of individuals has a huge impact for the (Burundi) military," Miller said. "Those who attended the training now have the capability to take that training and teach military units throughout the country."

By the conclusion of the course, the chaplains and medical professionals were able to recognize and explain signs and symptoms of combat stress and apply this knowledge to help soldiers who are deployed. They also certified and practiced how to train others within their units.

Burundi supports peacekeeping efforts in Somalia as part of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) with five battalions of peacekeepers who rotate annually from Mogadishu, Somalia.

"It is important to assist with the soldiers and their families, [and] to prepare them and to reintegrate them when they return," said Brigadier General Adelin Gacukuzi, chaplain general of Burundi Army. "It will be helpful to share the experience and benefit from the experience of those who have done this job [for] a long time."

Gacukuzi also said a key take away from the symposium is sharing their new-found combat stress education with other partner nations in the region that do not have a chaplaincy core. He said it is part of their duty to share their knowledge with other countries to help with regional peace, security and stability, and help them through the ramifications of decades of war.

McGraw said other militaries have expressed interest in learning how to manage stress within their military ranks. Now that the course is validated in Burundi, USARAF chaplains will use input from this interaction to better the course material for use with other partner militaries.

"This is our first module we can use across Africa wherever the need arises as a low-tech way to train leaders to identify symptoms, regardless of whether or not they are chaplains," McGraw said. "We demonstrated a process that African militaries can adapt to their culture and needs."

Headquartered in Vicenza, Italy, U.S. Army Africa is the Army Service Component Command for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). Dedicated to positive change in Africa, U.S. Army Africa enables full spectrum operations while conducting sustained security engagement with African land forces to promote security, stability, and peace.

On 1/10/2012 2:37:11 PM, Evelyn in Texas said:
Makes me proud to be an American, proud to be a former US Army soldier myself! God bless!

   There is 1 response to this article

Would you like to comment?

U.S. Department of Defense Special Report:\n\nU.S. Africa Command

Search:   


africaGlobeButtonFreshening
AFRICOM Dialogue

Recent Posts by AFRICOM Staff

From LTC Richard Murphy, AFRICOM Humanitarian and Health Activities Branch
on 9/14/2012 9:27:24 AM
"The U.S. Africa Command Disaster Preparedness Program conducted a key leader engagement in Kenya on September 10-11, 2012 with the Commander of the Kenyan Rapid Deployment Capability..."
(Read Full Entry)

From LTC David Knellinger
on 9/10/2012 2:02:03 PM
"The Central Africa Region Environmental Security Symposium, hosted by the United States Africa Command Environmental Security Program and the United Nations Environmental Programme..."
(Read Full Entry)

From Brigadier General Stayce Harris
on 7/19/2012 8:54:32 AM
"The following blog is by Brigadier General Stayce Harris, U.S. Africa Command's mobilization reserve assistant to the commander. Over the past 2 years, I have had the..."
(Read Full Entry)

Hamza in Gabes, Tunisia wrote
on 10/2/2012 11:09:13 AM
"I LOVE US ARMY I DREAM TO BE SOME ONE FROM MARINS ITS JUST DREAM..."
(Read Full Entry)

Pamela in Virginia wrote
on 10/2/2012 10:28:15 AM
"This command much needed not only to ustain African governments ,but to also be an aide to our United States stability and protection. Many hostile in that area ,especially on East..."
(Read Full Entry)

Herman in Pretoria wrote
on 9/23/2012 5:46:33 PM
"Awesome aircraft, thank you for the display! It is most appreciated...."
(Read Full Entry)

Paul in UK wrote
on 8/22/2012 9:16:10 AM
"I was also involved in the communications training at Kisangani and share Michel Beya's comments I'm sure we met. What I saw was a very well trained battalion and hope that..."
(Read Full Entry)

Mark in Fort Leavenworth wrote
on 8/21/2012 10:25:29 PM
"False allegations against Commander USAFRICOM appear to be in fashion. It is shameful that someone felt the need to assassinate the character of the previous commander — one ..."
(Read Full Entry)