FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Many Soldiers have a skewed vision of what Army chaplain assistants do. With chaplains not carrying weapons, some think their enlisted Soldier assistants are there just for protection. On the other side of the coin, some see chaplain assistants as what Staff Sgt. Keith Johnson Jr. calls "candy boys" -- passing out lollipops and happy thoughts to their fellow Soldiers.
"A lot of times it's the Infantry guys that don't understand the importance of our job," Johnson said.
The 28-year-old chaplain assistant from Louisville, Ky., makes it his mission to clear up these misconceptions when interacting with his fellow Soldiers.
"I let them do the name-calling, then I get out there and I do whatever the Infantry guys do to show them, 'hey anything you can do, I can do,'" Johnson said. "Then you start building those relationships with those Soldiers. Those Soldiers that talked about you -- now you're best friends or someone that [they] always come to you to talk and vent."
Being an enlisted Soldier able to interact with Soldiers in different settings helps Johnson to promote key Army themes like resiliency and suicide prevention.
"You not only understand what the Soldiers are going through, but you went through it as well," he said.
"It puts you at an equal level to be able to provide that religious support or help with resiliency training or suicide training, because you've been there, done that with them so you understand the impact and the importance of it."
Johnson, who joined the Army 10 years ago this month, considers debunking stereotypes about his military occupational specialty a worthy challenge. It is not the only thing the 56M has accomplished in his career. He deployed twice, once to Iraq and then to Afghanistan. During his time in Iraq, Johnson worked with stateside agencies to distribute 300 care packages to single Soldiers at Christmas. It is one of the fondest memories of his career.
"A lot of times, single Soldiers are the ones that are forgotten," he said. "Giving those packages to those Soldiers just brightened their day … It made them feel good.
"It was like I was giving out new Jeeps to everybody. That was the most touching part of my deployment in Iraq. It also allowed me to build stronger bonds with those Soldiers because they saw that someone else outside their Family cared for them."
He has served at Fort Campbell for the past two years as an operations noncommissioned officer in charge. In this position, he coordinates operations for all chapels and chapel facilities on post. Johnson is now in the process of clearing Fort Campbell and moving to Fort Jackson, S.C., where he will become a drill sergeant. He was selected by the Department of the Army for the two-year assignment, where he will lead the Army's newest recruits through basic training.
"… It gives me an opportunity to mold and shape the future Soldiers of our Army," Johnson said.
"These guys are coming to replace me, so it's a fun opportunity. It's going to be long hours, but I'd rather embrace that challenge and do what the Army calls me to do."
Johnson will join two other chaplain assistants currently serving as drill sergeants. Many drill sergeants come from Infantry backgrounds, but Soldiers from all job fields are considered for the prestigious duty. Johnson believes his training as a chaplain assistant will provide a unique perspective.
"I would say it gives me an understanding of both sides of the Army," he said. "Because by me serving in an Infantry battalion, Infantry brigade, I understand how the Infantry mindset works. I also understand how the low-density [military occupational specialties] work, because I'm a low-density MOS. It gives me a half-and-half side."
After his stint as a drill sergeant, Johnson will return to his chaplain assistant duties wherever the Army calls him. It is a job that requires him to support the unit ministry team's programs and worship services, whether in garrison or on deployment. He helps arrange ministry opportunities and serves as the chaplain's right-hand man. This religious support role, first created in 1909, allows him to both coach and mentor Soldiers throughout the Army. December 28 marks the 105th anniversary of military chaplain assistants.
"I love everything about the job," he said. "If I had to do it all over 10 years from now, I would do it again."
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