DVIDS – News – ASC chaplain shares military lifestyle, culture in community training of faith-based organizations

MOLINE, Ailing. – U.S. Military Sustainment Command Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Kevin Niehoff gave two shows at a coaching occasion comprised of local people faith-based organizations Oct. 18 in search of to know the lifetime of army personnel higher in an effort to achieve out and supply assist the place wanted.

About 60 individuals attended the coaching held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the CityView Celebrations at Trimble Pointe in Moline.

Niehoff gave two shows titled “The Position of the Church and Religion-Based mostly Leaders” and “Army Tradition, Deployment, Homecoming.”

“I talked concerning the want in army tradition to know the language. Our use of acronyms and the completely different processes. The completely different sub-cultures inside Military tradition,” defined Niehoff concerning army tradition, “akin to Particular Operations are completely different from logisticians from aviators from line infantry models.”

Relating to deployment and homecoming, Niehoff defined how the army splits it up into three elements and calls it Pre-deployment, Deployment and Submit-deployment. He additionally talked concerning the variations between active-duty Troopers versus the Nationwide Guard and Reserve Troopers.

“Guard and Reserve models would conduct a six-month train-up to deploy and from these I had talked with inside two weeks after redeployment (coming dwelling) they might be again of their civilian job,” he stated.

Niehoff additionally advised attendees that “change” is the one fixed within the Military.

“I mentioned the modifications in deployments from the Nineteen Nineties — a brigade deploying for six months to Bosnia. Within the 2000s — total divisions would deploy. Within the 2010s particular person brigades would deploy out of divisions and the division could be scattered throughout,” he stated.

“I additionally talked about how individuals change over that 12 months (of deployment). Coping with youngsters that 12 months may make a distinction. The distinction within the age of the depart and return,” Niehoff stated. “There’s a distinction between a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old, between a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old. Whereas away all people’s life continues to maneuver on.”

Throughout his second presentation, Niehoff defined the relevance of a chaplain’s position throughout troubled instances and the position of group church buildings.

“When you might have proven up, God has proven up,” he stated of a chaplain, particularly throughout a household disaster. “That’s how individuals see them.”

Niehoff defined that due to the nomadic way of life within the active-duty Military of shifting on common each two years, native non secular organizations and church buildings should attain out to the Soldier and the household early on in a brand new task.

“They’re very involved about their youngsters getting concerned,” he stated, of continuous a faith-based life no matter the place they stay primarily based on a brand new task.

And church buildings can play an enormous position to fill the void when a Soldier deploys. Niehoff cited one instance of the place the partner stated “the church grew to become her household” whereas her husband was away.

“They’re individuals. Be there with them,” he stated. “Attempt to perceive the approach to life.”

Different audio system included:

• “Influence on the Household” – Terry Randolph, Military veteran and army partner.

• “Discovering God on the Battlefield” – retired Military Col. Burl Randolph, previously of U.S. Military Sustainment Command headquarters.

• “Vet Heart Sources” – Joseph Laden, Veteran Outreach Program specialist.

“Service-provider coaching is a part of our strategic plan. We need to educate key members of the faith-based group on army tradition, wounds of battle, and making referrals for companies,” defined Sherri Behr DeVrieze, Neighborhood Well being Program coordinator/ Army Program coordinator, UnityPoint Well being – Trinity.

“We needed them to discover ways to help veterans, army members, and their households of their church buildings or organizations. We needed to offer training, instruments, and sources to raised equip them for these conversations,” DeVrieze stated. “Key stakeholders embrace pastors, parish nurses, church deacons and elders, and different church leaders. Different key faith-based entities have been included as properly, akin to hospital chaplains, Church buildings United, Lutheran Social Companies, and Cornerstone Retreat Heart for First Responders.”

An identical occasion was held in Might on well being care and psychological well being suppliers, she stated. And in 2019, there additionally was a two-day occasion for veterans with 600 in attendance.

“It’s our perception that the extra individuals who perceive the challenges that our veterans and army members and households face, the higher we’re capable of help them when wanted and meet them the place they’re,” DeVrieze stated.