DAEGU, South Korea -- 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and 2nd Operational Command's Unit Ministry Teams trained aboard the Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan with Navy Religious Support Teams. Oct. 20.
While aboard the carrier, teams received instruction on unique ways Naval Chaplains execute religious support with particular attention to providing support to Marines. While there are notable differences in mythologies of providing religious support, there are also many similarities.
"At the end of the day it is all about taking care of people. Whether you use Deck Plate Ministry or Ministry of Presence, you have to be with your Soldiers and Sailors", one chaplain said.
Although sometimes isolated during their rotational floats, Sailors just like Soldiers, are still afforded the opportunity to practice in their distinctive faith groups. Although Navy RSTs offer a different team structure than Army UMTs, they still cover and complete missions in support of Title X requirements.
From an Army perspective, one of the more interesting aspects of shipboard religious support was the efficient use of space. In the chapel, every square inch of space was used to hold ecumenical supplies and valuable seating. At the end of the training, all of the UMTs and RSTs felt that the event enhanced interoperability and es spirit de corps.
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