One of the important responsibilities of a military chaplain is honoring the dead. As the photo above shows, chaplains have a meaningful place in memorializing fallen comrades. Chaplains officiate at memorial ceremonies, memorial services, and funerals. Coverage includes active duty, reserve, and retired personnel. Chaplains may be called on to perform services for civilian employees of the military or for local civilians who had some important association to the military in the past.
Soldiers don’t often have time to grieve in the same ways that civilians do. If a unit is in combat, the soldiers can’t stop to grieve the loss of a friend’s life. Even when not in combat, the military operates at such a high speed and with such demanding responsibilities that some of the normal civilian methods of dealing with loss of loved ones are not possible.
However, any good commander knows that his soldiers will be greatly affected by the death of a co-worker–and the commander will call on his chaplain to help out. The chaplain provides invaluable information to the commander regarding the morale of the unit following a death (or other event). Invariably, commanders will hold memorial ceremonies (required attendance) for the dead. Memorial services or funerals (voluntary attendance for both) are held as opportunity allows. The chaplain hold primary responsibility for these events.
On the battlefield, the chaplain aids the wounded and honors the dead. He will generally be located at the field aid station, checking on the condition of the wounded and ministering comfort to the dying. The chaplain may pray with dying soldiers, take messages from them for their families, read Scripture to them, or minister last rites.
Chaplains are called on to memorialize fallen soldiers when the bodies are transported home from the battlefield. Based on the number of chaplains in this photo, I suspect that this is a memorial for several fallen soldiers.Chaplains comfort the grieving. They counsel those dealing with loss. They travel with the notification officer when informing family members of a loved one’s death; they assist the family indefinitely from the time notice is given.
[These photographs are from the Department of Defense and have been publicly released within the last few months.]
Sir,
I am in the process of applying to the chaplain candidacy program. My packet just went before the board this past sunday (from what my recruiter has told me). I understand that you are currently serving out country in Iraq….hooah. When you have a spare moment in the middle of you already busy life, would you mind providing me with any advice that you may have?
I will pray for you.
In Christ Alone!
John Cook
John, I recommend you see my series on the Army Chaplain Candidate program. It is yet to be completed, but it will get you a bit down the road toward understanding how the candidate program works. I intend to complete the series after I return from this deployment, and I will also add to the “What Chaplains Do” series.