Army Chaplaincy » Chaplain Assistants

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Stout

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:27:02 +0000

Christopher Stout had a beautiful singing voice and could belt out the tunes in a church choir or a more casual karaoke setting.

“I believe he could have made it professionally,” said his uncle, James Stout. “But he thought of others rather than thinking of himself.”

That’s why he joined the Army. He was a chaplain’s assistant and hoped to one day become a minister in the Pentecostal church, which he was raised in, James Stout said.

Stout, 34, of Worthville, Ky., was killed July 13 in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to Fort Bragg.

Read more from the Associated Press

New Albany WWII vet receives overdue military medals

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:58:10 +0000

A New Albany veteran is receiving honors for his service during World War II.

Family and friends of Rubin Sher were present Monday as Congressman Baron Hill presented him with the Good Conduct medal, the Presidential Unit Citation for the European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 Silver Service Star, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II.

READ MORE from WHAS11.com

Special Troops Battalion Chaplain’s Assistant Awarded at Prayer Lunch

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:49:53 +0000

The 1-1 Special Troops Battalion of (Ready First) 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, held a prayer luncheon at the Forward Operating Base Warrior, Iraq.

Col. Patricia Sellers, the 1-1 STB commander, declared the prayer luncheon an opportunity to give thanks for all the relationships between 1-1 STB and their Iraqi partners, the civilian employees STB works with daily and other units who help bring peace to the Kirkuk area.

She then introduced the speaker, Col. Bryan Walker, the 3rd Infantry Division chaplain who actually used to be the Ready First Brigade Chaplain in 2002 and 2003.

Col. Walker, chaplain, told the Soldiers, who met for prayer, that encouragement is one of the most important tools we have against depression.

READ MORE from DVIDS

Think the Gate River Run is tough? Try running it in a bullet-proof vest

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:35:35 +0000

Many people say the Gate River Run, a 15-kilometer foot race that spans the intimidating Isaiah David Hart Bridge in downtown Jacksonville, is a formidable run.

Lake Ray IV, an Army Airborne chaplain assistant, is planning to do it in combat gear. Yup, he’s weighting himself down.

Chaplain’s Assistant gives religious support in Afghanistan

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:51:49 +0000

100 Years of Army Chaplain Assistants

admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:13:43 +0000

Before December 1909, volunteers served as chaplain assistants. The Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) was established on December 28, 2009 by general orders no. 253, 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.”

In August 1965, chaplain assistants were designated 71M and in 1974 they doctrinally joined the Chaplain at Battalions and Brigades as the Unit Ministry Team (UMT).

In 2001, the MOS changed to 56M and became a “stand alone” career management field.

READ MORE from Army Live

Chaplain Assistant Trains With PSD

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:41:06 +0000

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Following the command “Dismount!” a group of Soldiers jumped off the ramp of a Stryker and scanned the area for potential threats.

Surrounded by Soldiers whose main job it is to protect the commander, Spc. Jacob Barbe, a chaplain assistant, trains with the personal security detachment in order to learn how to properly protect the chaplain.

READ MORE from DVIDS

Chief of Chaplains, Service Members Celebrate 100 Years Chaplain Assistants

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:03:12 +0000

On Dec. 28, 1909, General Order No. 253 was published, establishing the official military occupational specialty of the chaplain assistant, stating that one enlisted man will serve to assist the chaplain in the performance of his official duties.

One hundred years later, Chief of Chaplains Chap. (Maj. Gen.) Douglas L. Carver and Chief of Chaplains and Regimental Sgt. Maj. Tommy Marrero joined over 100 chaplains and chaplain assistants serving on religious support teams throughout Baghdad on Nov. 25, for a celebratory dinner at Camp Victory’s Joint Visitors Bureau.

“We have come a very long way,” said Marrero, a Cayey, Puerto Rico, native.

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Chaplain Assistant Called Into Service

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:32:48 +0000

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Spc. Michael Raymond, assigned to the 19th Engineer Battalion, has a calling, he returned to the Army to help Soldiers.

After a 12-year hiatus following his first enlistment from 1990 to 1994, Raymond re-entered the Army September 2007 with the chaplain assistant military occupation specialty. He is currently on a 12-month deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

“I felt called back to the service,” said Raymond. “Soldiers are married with families and are completing multiple deployments; specifically I really wanted to help Soldiers with the problems that come from those two areas.”

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Chaplain Assistants Not Just Bodyguards

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:28:26 +0000

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – For the past 100 years Army chaplain assistants have been protecting and teaming up with chaplains to provide religious support for Soldiers and families across the full spectrum of military operations.

“I didn’t know they existed in the Army. The recruiter brought it to my attention,” reminisced Sgt. Esteban Ayala Ramirez, Chaplain Assistant for the 4th Engineer Battalion.

According to Ayala, his recruiter recommended the chaplain assistant military occupation specialty after learning that he enjoyed bible study and church events in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

“He asked me if I wanted to be a chaplain assistant,” said Ayala. “He told me the basics; set up religious services, give administrative support, and protect the chaplain.”

Ayala has been a chaplain assistant for seven years. He joined the Army September 2003 and presently is on his first tour in Afghanistan after two tours in Iraq.

READ MORE from DVIDS