About: Daniel Sparks

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    http://danielsparks.com
    Profile
    Daniel Sparks is the editor of ArmyChaplaincy.com and an Anglican priest. He served as an Army chaplain with the 2nd Infantry Division and 43rd Sustainment Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado and 36th Engineer Brigade at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. He deployed to Iraq (2006-2008) and Afghanistan (2010-2011).

    Posts by Daniel Sparks:

    • Chaplain publishes academic paper on religion and national security

      14 Feb 2011 in News & Commentary

      Chaplain (COL) Jonathan E. Shaw has written an academic paper entitled “The Role of Religion in National Security Policy Since 9/11.” The paper was published as part of the Carlisle Papers series by the Strategic Studies Institute of the United States Army War College. Within the document, Chaplain Shaw … addresses the role of religion [...]

    • For God and Country: Ronald Reagan, the U.S. Army Chaplain of World War II

      11 Feb 2011 in News & Commentary

      This year marks the 100th birthday of Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981-1989. C-SPAN has released a video clip featuring footage from World War II in which Mr. Reagan portrayed a U.S. Army chaplain. C-SPAN states: Ronald Reagan was cast in a series of military training films during World War II that [...]

    • ArmyChaplaincy.com site RSS/Atom feed to change

      21 Dec 2010 in Resources

      If you presently subscribe by a feed reader to article updates from ArmyChaplaincy.com, you may be affected by a change in the site’s feed location. Later today, the site feed will be changed. This may require you to update your feed reader with the new feed address. If you need to update your feed reader, [...]

    • Where can I train as a chaplain candidate?

      21 Dec 2010 in Chaplain Candidates
      This article is part 3 of 3 in the series Chaplain Candidate FAQ.

      As a chaplain candidate, where can I complete training practicums? Each year, chaplain candidates are allowed to participate in training practicums at Army installations around the United States. There are also limited opportunities to train in Europe. These practicums are generally 30-45 days long. During the training, candidates work side-by-side with an active duty Army [...]

    • Am I deployable as a chaplain candidate?

      16 Nov 2010 in Chaplain Candidates
      This article is part 2 of 3 in the series Chaplain Candidate FAQ.

      Do chaplain candidates deploy? No. Chaplain candidates are in a training status. As such, they are nondeployable. Because chaplain candidates have not yet met the requirements to serve as chaplains, they would be unable to provide any ministerial function while deployed. If you are a candidate and want to deploy, make your first priority fulfilling [...]

    • Do I get paid as a chaplain candidate?

      03 Apr 2010 in Chaplain Candidates
      This article is part 1 of 3 in the series Chaplain Candidate FAQ.

      As a chaplain candidate, will the Army pay me while I’m in seminary? The short answer is “no”. Chaplain candidates belong to either USAR or USARNG. No Reserve or Guard Soldiers are paid except when they train. USARNG chaplain candidates are paid when they drill, attend CHBOLC, or participate in candidate training practicums. USAR candidates [...]

    • Care packages: suggested items to send deployed Soldiers

      24 Mar 2010 in Resources

      During my previous deployment to Iraq, I received more mail than anyone else in my squadron. Individuals, churches, and organizations sent care packages, cards, and letters. Some of these items were religious in nature, but most were toiletries and snacks. I used them to minister to my Soldiers (and occasionally to bless the Iraqi interpreters). [...]

    • A combat-tested portable field altar arrangement, Part 1

      23 Mar 2010 in Resources

      As I head off to my second deployment—this time to Afghanistan—I anticipate many field services. I try to take services to my Soldiers wherever they are, and my standard at forward outposts is an abbreviated service of Holy Communion. After a great deal of trial and error during field training exercises and during my last [...]

    • Homosexual conduct undermines security and military discipline

      28 Jan 2010 in Ethics

      Our military faces the threat of compromised security, increased friction in personal and professional relationships, and poor discipline. This threat looms not from the figure of an enemy in a foreign nation, but its shadow is cast by some of our country’s own citizens. This threat comes from the possible legal authorization and permissiveness of [...]

    • Jolly Ranchers deployed

      16 Jan 2010 in Resources
      This article is part 2 of 2 in the series Confessions of a Candy Chaplain.

      When my unit left for Iraq in October 2006, I brought along 100 pounds of Jolly Ranchers. They survived the trip with no problems. These Jolly Ranchers lasted throughout the deployment as I obtained hundreds of pounds of other candy to supplement my supply during the deployment.