When people ask Sgt. Jeremy Levens about Iraq, he tries to set the scene for them. He tells them to fill their hands with a clump of dirt, go to the bathroom and blow the dirt on themselves with a hair dryer — they’ll see what it’s like in Iraq, he jokes.

In seriousness, Levens said in a phone interview that he was glad to volunteer to serve his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I deeply love America and everything it represents,” said Levens, whose home, wife and dogs are in Rineyville, though he’s deployed to Camp Victory in Iraq.

READ MORE from The News-Enterprise

The MOS was established by General Orders No. 253, War Department, Washington, D.C., on 28 December 1909, paragraph 1, which read “One enlisted man will be detailed on special duty, by the commanding officer of any organization to which a chaplain is assigned for duty, for the purpose of assisting the chaplain in the performance of his official duties.” That meant that the assistant generally cared for the chaplains’ official property, acted as his clerk, and helped with the educational, religious, and entertainment programs. In 1866, the Army decided that a soldier found competent to teach common school subjects should be detailed to do so under the auspices of a local chaplain who often served as the schoolmaster. In 1909, the military authorized one enlisted person to be assigned to the chaplain to assist him in the performance of his official duties. Although high moral character was required, there were no other prerequisites or generally recognized criteria for performance.

READ MORE from the U.S. Army

Sgt. Jovan Luna and Spc. Thomas Rincon, both of Fort Leavenworth, were named winners of the Combined Arms Center 2009 Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year competition at a ceremony June 5 at the Frontier Conference Center.

A total of 12 NCOs and nine Soldiers from 10 different installations, schools and support activities in CAC participated in the competition June 1-5 at Fort Leavenworth. The physical and mental abilities of each NCO and Soldier were tested in several events including the Army Physical Fitness Test, day and night land navigation, marksmanship, warrior tasks testing, a written essay and oral knowledge assessment board.

READ MORE from The Fort Leavenworth Lamp

NASHVILLE, TN – A usually, quiet and timid chaplain assistant answered the call to duty for the 332nd Medical Brigade and delivered powerful words of inspiration as he filled in for the Brigade chaplain on March 22 at the William F. Lyell Army Reserve Center.

Spc. Samuel Jacob, chaplain assistant, filled Lt. Col. John Schroeder’s chaplain shoes during the March battle assembly for the Brigade and revealed things about himself, his faith, his commitment and his love for the Lord.

Jacob spoke about Jesus rising Lazarus from the dead and the circumstances surrounding that miracle. He talked about faith in the Lord, having patience and the importance of how the Lord works in ways to transform people through his love.

READ MORE from DVIDS

(Editor’s Note: Spc. Jason Boatwright, a soon-to-be noncommissioned officer, describes in his own words the duties of a chaplain assistant and what NCOs bring to that career field)

The role of noncommissioned officers in the chaplain assistant ranks:
“I truly believe they are the backbone of the NCO support channel. A noncommissioned officer’s primary mission in our career field is to train junior Soldiers on what it means to be a chaplain assistant. It is imperative NCOs maintain that supervisory and mentoring role, ensuring junior Soldiers are properly trained and prepared for anything.”

READ MORE from the U.S. Army

By Staff Sgt. James E. Brown Jr
1st Sustainment Brigade, PAO

…..

For Sgt. Charles Hayes, being a chaplain’s assistant is a lot different than working as a shipping and receiving dock team leader back home in West Point, Ky.

In his civilian career, Hayes ships and receives items through courier services, manually loads and unloads semi trucks, and also refurbishes laptops and screen TVs for various businesses and individuals.

Hayes has been working in the shipping and receiving field for 12 years and as a chaplain’s assistant for 11 years. While the two jobs have nothing in common, Hayes revealed he chose his particular MOS to fulfill a more spiritual and personal need.

“I assist the chaplain in setting up religious services, administrative paperwork, and [personal security],” said Hayes. “I became a chaplain’s assistant because I wasn’t sure on my religious background, and I figured that this job would help me find my religious background.”

…..

READ MORE from NewsBlaze