‘Every Chaplain Corps Member a Recruiter’ initiative leads to grassroots innovation

By Paul StampsNovember 15, 2022

‘Every Chaplain Corps Member a Recruiter’ initiative leads to grassroots innovation
Chaplain (Capt.) Daniel Hurd, deputy division chaplain for the 100th Training Division (Leader Development) and lead pastor of Faith Family Church in Oak Grove, Ky., receives a Certificate of Appreciation from Lt. Col. Jesse Pena, deputy commanding officer of 101st Division Sustainment Brigade. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

OAK GROVE, Ky. – How do the Active Component and Reserve Component work together, practically? An answer may lie within five minutes from Fort Campbell.

On Aug. 8, 1st Lt. Patrick Caley began his Career Skills Program internship with Faith Family Church in Oak Grove, Kentucky. By Oct. 21, he had completed an 11-week hybrid pastor-chaplain training internship with the end goal of becoming an Army chaplain.

“We put Patrick on a steady diet of reading, reading reports, managing projects, and even quite a few humbling tasks such as scrubbing the floors,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Daniel Hurd, deputy division chaplain for the 100th Training Division (Leader Development) and lead pastor of FFC. “Patrick ensured that our facilities were professional in appearance, while at the same time he moved past appearances as he considered his calling to the chaplaincy.”

‘Every Chaplain Corps Member a Recruiter’ initiative leads to grassroots innovation
1st Lt. Patrick Caley completed an 11-week hybrid pastor-chaplain training internship at Faith Family Church with the goal of becoming an Army chaplain. (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Patrick Caley) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st Lt. Patrick Caley completed an 11-week hybrid pastor-chaplain training internship at Faith Family Church with the goal of becoming an Army chaplain.
1st Lt. Patrick Caley completed an 11-week hybrid pastor-chaplain training internship at Faith Family Church with the goal of becoming an Army chaplain. (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Patrick Caley) VIEW ORIGINAL

During his internship, Caley was challenged to reflect on both his upcoming seminary studies, and his future work as a chaplain in the U.S. Army. He was exposed to essential chaplain doctrine ranging from AR 165-1, FM 1-05, and chaplain-specific Army Technical Publications. Caley's studies included over 10 books on ministry and requisite book reports. A capstone project included the creation of a Chaplain Memorial Ceremony Template.

At first, Caley had his doubts about completing this capstone assignment: “I did not think I could do this,” he said. “It is far from perfect, but it's something.” Caley was trained and evaluated on the structure, style, and content of a chaplain’s memorial ceremony message.

“From critically thinking through the intersection of his future ministry and chaplaincy identity, to extracting relevant meaning from data on common things like humidity issues in our building, all the way to creating a template for arguably the most critical of ceremonies within the United States Military, I’m proud of what Patrick accomplished given the brevity of his time here,” Hurd said.

“I greatly appreciated the opportunity to intern at FFC,” Caley responded. “I have achieved and learned everything I was hoping for, and more.”

But it wasn’t just Caley who accomplished this mission. It was the combined efforts of FFC’s Staff, the leadership of the 100th Training Division (LD) at Fort Knox, and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade which made this possible.

“My team at the 100th Training Division provided me with the essential mentorship and resources required to give Patrick Caley a high impact experience,” Hurd said. “And, if it wasn’t for the 101st Sustainment Brigade’s leadership, 1st Lt. Caley would not have been afforded this opportunity.”

‘Every Chaplain Corps Member a Recruiter’ initiative leads to grassroots innovation
Chaplain (Capt.) Daniel Hurd is the deputy division chaplain for the 100th Training Division (Leader Development) and lead pastor of Faith Family Church in Oak Grove, Ky. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
‘Every Chaplain Corps Member a Recruiter’ initiative leads to grassroots innovation
Chaplain (Capt.) Daniel Hurd, deputy division chaplain for the 100th Training Division (Leader Development) and lead pastor of Faith Family Church in Oak Grove, Ky., receives a Certificate of Appreciation from Lt. Col. Jesse Pena, deputy commanding officer of 101st Division Sustainment Brigade. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
‘Every Chaplain Corps Member a Recruiter’ initiative leads to grassroots innovation
Chaplain (Capt.) Daniel Hurd, deputy division chaplain for the 100th Training Division (Leader Development) and lead pastor of Faith Family Church in Oak Grove, Ky., receives a Certificate of Appreciation for “Outstanding mentorship and support to Task Force Campbell and the future of the Chaplain Corps.” (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

After Caley's internship, Chaplain Hurd met with Lt. Col. Pena, provisional brigade commander of the 101st Sustainment Brigade, who presented Hurd with a Certificate of Appreciation for “Outstanding mentorship and support to Task Force Campbell and the future of the Chaplain Corps.”

It was clear to Hurd, who has experience as a chaplain in both the Active Component and Reserve Component, that Caley will excel as a professional religious staff officer and thrive as a chaplain of character.

“I’m excited that there continues to be many opportunities to recruit the next generation of chaplains and religious affairs specialists, and for the Active and Reserve Components to work together,” said Hurd in his closing remarks. “Each battle assembly in the Army Reserve, I get the opportunity to join with the team at the 100th so that we can encourage each other and reach that next higher step in training Soldiers. I love that I get to do this as an Army chaplain. It’s why I love being a chaplain and why I love the Chaplain Corps.”