First Army Ministry Teams train MS, UT Army National Guard partners

First Army Unit Ministry Team members recently conducted training for Army National Guard Unit Ministry Teams in Mississippi and Utah.

Religious leaders from First Army's 177th Armored Brigade at Camp Shelby, Mississippi; 189th Infantry Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; 4th Cavalry Brigade at Fort Knox, Kentucky; and First Army Headquarters at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, led training on topics including religious support planning, the Army operations process and changes in Army doctrine.

"The religious support planning and training was extremely helpful in preparing for future training events and upcoming missions," said Chap. (Col.) James Montoya, Utah Joint Force Headquarters Chaplain.

In the Garrison Chapel at Camp Shelby, nearly 40 chaplains and chaplain assistants participated in training focused on deployment readiness and staff integration.

"This is exactly what we need to do," said Chap. (Col.) Ramsey Coutta, Mississippi State Army National Guard Chaplain, "refresh our skills so we can refocus and be ready for our next deployment."

The value of this type of training, according to Master Sgt. John Nygren, Chief Religious Affairs Noncommissioned Officer at First Army Headquarters, is the strengthening of the working relationship between First Army and its partner units.

"This type of training and partnership highlights exactly the mission of First Army," said Chap. (Lt. Col.) Brian Curry, First Army Deputy Command Chaplain. "First Army Unit Ministry Teams partner to train our nation's reserve-component Unit Ministry Teams by observing, coaching and training."