FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- From Infantryman, to tanker, to chaplain assistant. Not your typical military resume for a member of a brigade unit ministry team, but according to Staff Sgt. Howard Robison, his path was predestined.
"I felt called to be a chaplain assistant," said Robison, chaplain assistant for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. "It is a great [military occupational specialty] where you get to help take care of chaplain, but you also get to minister to Soldiers and it is not the usual counseling or preaching. I get to do the pragmatic stuff."
Robison enlisted in the Marine Corps in the early 1990s as an Infantryman where he served for almost five years and in 1999, he joined the National Guard as a tanker. He credits a former first sergeant's observation in motivating him to make the career change.
"While I was in the National Guard, I had a first sergeant come to me and tell me I would make an outstanding chaplain assistant," said Robison. "When we would go out on [training], we didn't have an opportunity to go to church so I was always trying to do a little bible study or something, just trying to organize it, not really trying to run it. His comment encouraged me to look into it. "
After some research, Robison felt compelled to make the change.
"When I looked into it, I was like wow -- that is a great MOS," said Robison. "You get to help people; there is a lot of variety to it. Your job and skill set change based on wherever you are at."
While serving with the National Guard, Robison requested the occupational change and was approved. Although his new position carries a modest title, he soon discovered the scope of his duties were multifaceted.
"I take care of chaplain but also get to minister to Soldiers, and it is not the usual counseling or preaching," said Robison. "I get to do the pragmatic stuff. At times you can directly fix problems. That is a good thing to be able to do."
On Dec. 28, 1909, the Army created the position of chaplain assistant, authorizing eligible Soldiers the opportunity to provide full-time religious support. A chaplain assistant's primary purpose is support for the unit ministry team programs and worship services.
Chaplain assistants are assigned at battalion level and above, alongside chaplains, to form Unit Ministry Teams. The MOS is open to men and women of high moral character who wish to provide religious support for all Soldiers and their Families.
For the past 105 years Army chaplain assistants have been working closely with chaplains to provide religious support for Soldiers and Families across a huge range of military operations.
Included in Robison's duties is helping Soldiers by directing them to the appropriate subject matter experts such as the chaplain, psychologist, appropriate counselors, behavioral health, combat stress team and more.
"We look at what the military and local community services have to offer Soldiers -- trying to make those partnerships," said Robison. "It is not about creating new programs, it is about bringing everyone together to work seamlessly. The chaplain assistant is a good, viable way of doing that. That is our contribution."
Providing Soldiers help or information needed, in a time of crisis, give Robison a sense of pride.
"The best part of my job is being able to provide pragmatic ministry to Soldiers," said Robison. "Soldiers may have a Family problem and may need marriage counseling beyond what we offer -- coordinating that effort to make sure the Soldier gets what they need. Things like that."
Robison noted that chaplain assistants are invaluable assets in the unit because of their ability to, at times, better identify with Soldiers than a chaplain.
"Sometimes Soldiers approach me who don't want to talk to the chaplain, that feel more comfortable talking to me," said Robison. "What I normally end up doing is making referrals. A lot of it is just advocating programs. A good chaplain assistant will know about the programs on the post. A lot of it is being pro-active, which builds into the resiliency."
Robison, who is set to deploy next week, also acknowledges that there are areas in which he feels helpless, as not only a chaplain assistant, but a human being.
"Part of our core competencies is - nurture the living, care for the wounded, and honor the dead," said Robison. "In my tenure as a chaplain assistant, I've done 68 memorials."
"It is always hardest to do it with the Family members present because there is no way of bringing that person back - there is nothing you can do," said Robison. "When you are trained to be able to go into a hostile environment and told - hey we can do this, we can do that - this is the one thing you can't fix. All you can do is just make sure they get the assistance and programs. You can comfort, but that is really about it. That is the worst part of the job."
Although dealing with those areas of his job prove difficult for Robison, he is certain that his career move was the right one. With retirement but a few years away, Robison is working on completing his degree in psychology, with an emphasis on Family, and then plans to work toward a Masters of Social Work.
"I get to help people - that is a good thing to be able to do," said Robison. "I want to keep doing that. I am on my last stretch with the military. This will be my second deployment. I am ready and looking forward to it."
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