Army Chaplaincy » Army News

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ review seeks broadest input

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:33:22 +0000

The Defense Department’s review on the potential impact of repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military will solicit input from troops of every service and rank — as well as their families — through surveys, focus groups and social media tools, the team heading up the review told Congress today.

Jeh C. Johnson, the Pentagon’s general counsel; Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe; and Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, told the House Armed Services Committee today they seek to get the widest range of viewpoints from both within and outside the Defense Department as they conduct the review concerning potential repeal of the law commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates ordered the 10-month review in February to solicit views about a repeal, as well as the potential impact if Congress directs it. He issued guidelines and parameters for the review yesterday, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that any change in the law is implemented in a way that minimizes disruptions in military operations.

Toward that end, the working group will focus its work on assessing any impact a repeal would have on readiness, recruiting, retention, family readiness and unit cohesion, Johnson said.

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Positive changes are afoot in war

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:38:24 +0000

Since returning home from Afghanistan as part of a small contracting team from the Alabama Army National Guard some three months ago, I have been asked upon occasion: “Whatever became of the shoes?”

For those unfamiliar with the story, “the shoes” refer to those collected in an unprecedented outpouring of charity by the Tennessee Valley this past summer and fall, coordinated and led by The Huntsville Times and Redstone Arsenal, all in response to an article I wrote regarding my chance encounter with three young camel herders and their plea for shoes.

On that particular hot day in Afghanistan, my fellow major and I were lucky enough to be able to purchase three pairs that fit the Afghan boys perfectly. The joy they demonstrated at receiving such an item gave us much to think about, then and since, on how each individual can make a positive difference in another’s life.

Chaplains keep wary eye on Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell repeal

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:59:19 +0000

As Congress and the Pentagon grapple with a proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military, some chaplains — especially evangelicals — worry the change will infringe on their religious beliefs.

”It’s morally wrong,” said the Rev. Billy Baugham, executive director of the International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers, saying his group believes the Bible condemns homosexuality.

”The implication of that is that the military is going to force military personnel — both Christians and non-Christians — to accept that value.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, with the backing of the White House and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon will spend a year studying the ramifications of repealing the Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy, which has been in place since 1993.

READ MORE from NewsOK.com

Fort Bragg soldiers distribute donated goods in Afghanistan

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:22:42 +0000

Sgt. Crystal D. Starks won’t ever forget the two words spoken by the little Afghan girl.

Starks, a chaplain’s assistant with Fort Bragg’s 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), was handing out notebooks and pencils and crayons at the hospital on Bagram Air Field. The girl, probably 4 years old, approached her and said “thank you.” In English.

It was a quick moment, but with a larger impact.

Married Couples Serve Together In 82nd Airborne

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:25:14 +0000

PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI – A lot people still have the conception that the United States military is still “this man’s Army” but female soldiers are just as much a part of today’s armed forces as their male counterparts.

In addition, I was pleasantly surprised to meet two married couples who met in the military and married and are now serving together and deployed together in Haiti.

Both couples are assigned to the 407th Brigade Support Battalion in the Airborne Division from Fort Bragg as part of the relief mission in Port au Prince in Haiti.

The battalion was deployed after the earthquake and helps coordinate the deliver of supplies from the airport to other units and the Haitian people.

Soldiers Head to Florida Synagogue for Chaplaincy Conference

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:23:26 +0000

Camouflage-covered prayer books?

To a Jewish soldier stationed far from home, such items are scarce and valuable commodities, as welcome as discovering a like-minded soldier to share a Shabbat evening dinner. An entire weekend dedicated to their spiritual wellbeing can be even rarer.

According to organizers, those facts are what make this weekend’s annual Military Shabbaton and Training Conference at The Shul in Bal Harbour, Fla., so important. Hosted by the Aleph Institute, a Chabad-Lubavitch organization whose Enduring Traditions Chaplaincy Program helps Jewish men and women in the U.S. armed forces maintain their religious connection, the Feb. 11-14 event will bring together more than 300 service personnel, lay leaders and congregants for presentations by military leaders.

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Obama’s Call to Abolish ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Seen As Politically Risky

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:05:42 +0000

President Barack Obama’s call to scrap the “Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell” rule barring homosexuals from military service will be difficult, both politically and legally, a military advocacy group said on Wednesday.

Obama announced his desire to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military during his first State of the Union address Wednesday night.

“This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are,” Obama said.

READ MORE from CNSNews.com

“Raiders” deliver hope, goods to Springs homeless

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:07:27 +0000

FORT CARSON, Colo.—Reaching to adjust the straps on his rucksack, the Soldier’s attention is drawn to the tree line. A single, small tent rests between the trees and beside it, the white smoke of a camp fire drifts up and around the weathered hands of a homeless man. Looking to the Soldier the homeless man quickly grabs something from his tent.

As the man unfolds the object he has retrieved, 13 red and white stripes and 50 bright stars are visible. He carefully hangs the U.S. flag from a tree branch next to his tent, then stands back and snaps a sharp salute to the Soldier, who returns the salute and continues his foot march.

Nearly 300 Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division marched in “Operation: Happy Christmas” to bring camping supplies and warm weather gear to the homeless of Colorado Springs Dec. 18.

The idea for the operation originated with the 1st BCT Chaplain Maj. Charlie Lee, said Staff Sgt. Darrell Cortez, chaplain assistant, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

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Report Details Army Failures on Hasan

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:50:50 +0000

A Pentagon review panel urged the military to consider penalizing several officers for failing to adequately supervise Maj. Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, last fall.

The review also concluded that the military didn’t devote sufficient attention to the problem of soldiers who adopt radical religious or political views. The military’s defenses are aimed at threats from external enemies, such as foreign intelligence services, the review said.

“It is clear that as a department, we have not done enough to adapt to the evolving domestic internal-security threat to American troops and military facilities that has emerged over the past decade,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters Friday. “In this area, as in so many others, this department is burdened by 20th century processes and attitudes, mostly rooted in the Cold War.”

Army working to prevent sexual assault

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:42:24 +0000

The Army has improved its response to the needs of sexual assault victims, a recent task force study shows, but recommends more can be done to address sexual assault prevention and response.

Members of Winn Army Community Hospital’s Sexual Assault Response Team, Fort Stewart’s Criminal Investigation Department agents, victim advocates and military legal counselors agree improvements should continue to be made.

Team members say they at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field have made advances by training soldiers in sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention and by networking with their civilian law enforcement and social services counterparts.