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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.

Want to know what a day in the life of a chaplain is like? Chaplain Sparks will answer any questions you have about ministry as a battalion chaplain.

Join the discussion by typing your question in the chat box, or send your questions by email to contact@armychaplaincy.com

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Want to know what a day in the life of a chaplain is like? Chaplain Sparks will answer any questions you have about ministry as a battalion chaplain.

Join the discussion on 11 April by visiting ArmyChaplaincy.com. A live video and audio stream of Chaplain Sparks will be provided. You may interact by typing your questions in the chat box on the day of the event or by sending your questions in advance by email to contact@armychaplaincy.com

I confess.

I’m a candy chaplain.

Jolly Ranchers are my signature, though I have been known to use other brands. Chocolate is a crowd favorite, but Jolly Ranchers are what they’ve come to expect.

I requested that my unit supply me with 100 pounds of Jolly Ranchers before we deployed. Army bureaucracy didn’t make it happen in time–so I bought them myself and packed them in the CONEX.

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.]