Fort Huachuca, Arizona--Fort Huachuca chaplains and chaplain assistants hosted a 241st Chaplains Corps birthday celebration luncheon for members of the Fort Huachuca community in the Main Post Chapel's activity room July 29.
About 75 people attended the event to honor the founding of the U.S. Army Chaplains Corps and break bread together.
Pfc. Ciaira McCloud, chaplain assistant, Main Post Chapel, U.S. Army Garrison, opened the celebration with a brief history of the Chaplains Corps which has served in all wars in which the United States has fought beginning with the Revolutionary War. Historically, Army chaplains have spent time with the Soldiers in the field helping them with both personal and spiritual issues, letting Soldiers talk while they listened and advised when needed.
"For as long as there have been Soldiers in America, there have been chaplains," said McCloud. The Continental Congress created the Chaplains Corps as an integral part of the Army in 1775 ensuring that Soldiers would always have spiritual, moral and ethical guidance near at hand. U.S. Amy chaplains are supported by assigned Soldiers, also known as chaplain assistants, for 56 months.
Enlisted Soldiers have fulfilled the duty of chaplain assistants. They received a full time designated [military occupational specialty] in 1974," she explained.
"Since then, the chaplains and chaplain assistants have formed together the highly professional unit ministry team concept. Currently, chaplains and chaplain assistants serve at all levels and accompany Soldiers into deployment and training exercises, safeguarding the free exercise of religion in the pluralistic setting, and passionately providing religious and spiritual care.
"This year, the Army Chaplains Corps celebrates its 241st year legacy, where we focus on our core competencies of the Chapel Corps by nurturing the living, caring for the wounded and honoring the fallen," McCloud said.
"Due to the nature of their profession, many chaplains serve out of the limelight. But throughout history, some have performed above and beyond the call of duty. As a matter of fact, nine chaplains have received Medals of Honor over the years, [including] Chaplain Assistant Cpl. Calvin Titus [who] received the Medal of Honor for his bravery and selfless service in [China during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900].
"Today chaplains and chaplain assistants represent numerous faith groups. While providing soul care to all, we do it regardless of religion," McCloud stated.
Fort Huachuca Garrison Chaplain (Col.) Kevin Weston gave the invocation before lunch and briefly described closing the religious gap while giving back to the Fort Huachuca community and the chapel programs open to all. He acknowledged the Judge Advocate General Corps which shares the same birthday as the Chaplains Corps. Weston then described the chaplains' and assistants' roles.
"The Chaplains Corps and all chaplain assistants -- we really do a lot of things behind the scenes. We really look and listen to the commanders' vision and intent … we execute accordingly for the purpose of building morale and the impact of morale in building ready-made Family and Soldier readiness for the purpose of their units," Weston stated.
Following lunch, Chaplain Assistant Pfc. Clara Mansour, the youngest Soldier present, and Chaplain (Maj.) David Arredondo, the oldest member at the event, both members of the 98th Signal Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, cut the cake commemorating the founding of the Chaplains Corps.
Arredondo, a seasoned chaplain, explained the role of a military spiritual leader.
"We try to counsel Soldiers and help them and try to refer them to the right resources. Many times they just want to talk to a chaplain for a religious or other support need available to them," Arredondo said.
Mansour, the youngest Soldier present, explained why she became a chaplain assistant and Reserve Soldier in the Chaplains Corps.
"I'm a devout Catholic, very religious, and think I'm good with people. I like to be by their side and counsel them. We definitely have freedom of expression where religion is concerned. I chose the religious way of helping others and being available to them when they need to talk or seek guidance," she said.
While Army chaplains and chaplain assistants may be members of a specific faith, they minister to people of any religious background as well as those who do not consider themselves religious. Chaplains present at the July 29 event agreed that military members will always need spiritual guidance and Army chaplains will always be there to assist.
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