Military chaplains evolve with changing religious landscape

From strategic to sensitive, the military chaplaincy prepares its clergy to advise commanders and provide spiritual counsel in time of contingency operations.

As the Command Chaplain for the U.S. European Command, I oversee several chaplaincy programs designed to educate, integrate, and build partnerships with Ministry of Defense chaplains in the European Command Area of Responsibility.

International Military Chiefs of Chaplains (IMCCC) 2010 delegates in front of the Centro Superior de Estudios de la Defensa Nacional (CESEDEN).

This past February, 125 chaplains from 40 countries gathered in Madrid for the annual International Military Chief of Chaplain’s Conference. The conference theme was: “The Religious Fact and Armed Forces: Liberty and Diversity.” Intellectuals from Spain’s Ministry of Defense and civilian academia lectured on topics from Religion, Civil Society and Culture to the Military Chaplain and International Humanitarian Rights. The conference was closed with an inspirational message on the relationship between the operational commander and his chaplain by Brigadier General Joe E. Ramirez, Jr., U.S. European Command Deputy Director for Plans and Policy.

Yet to come: Operational commanders have a variety of unique missions, as do their chaplains. However, one thing we all have in common is the need to respect one another’s religious beliefs. The NATO/Partnership for Peace Chaplains Operation Course, designed to train ordained military clergy how to complement and support one another on the battlefield, was built from a need expressed by members of the 2001 International Chief of Chaplains Conference.

The objective of this program is to educate NATO and Partner military Chaplains on issues affecting their ability to perform cooperative ministry and religious advisory duties in a combined joint theatre of operations. This will include an examination of ethics and reconciliatory techniques to enable Chaplains to support the commander and the mission.

I am having discussions with Ukranian Chaplains.

The five day training offers 12 lecture style topics that provides an insight into the Chaplains’ role as an advisor to the Command and will teach techniques required when working with Non-Government Organizations and in Peace Support Operations. ‘Chaplains in a Muslim Country’ and ‘Laws of Land Warfare’ are new additions to this year’s curriculum. CAPT James R. Sharrett, USNR, Deputy Command Chaplain, U.S. European Command is the liaison and course manager at the NATO School, located in Oberammergau, Germany.

NATO School information about this event has been distributed to all EUCOM partner military chiefs of chaplains. Registration is in process for the May 17-21, 2010 course. The history of the NATO chaplain course can be traced back to the 2001 International Chief of Chaplains Conference.

These annual conferences offer excellent opportunities to build on existing relationships with traditional allies as well as establishing new friendships with other partner nations in order to build their capacity for chaplaincies that can be voices for good governance, human rights, justice, and religious freedom.

Chaplain (Colonel) Brian Van Sickle, USAF
U.S. European Command Chaplain