[This article was submitted by Stella Naulo]
On PTSD Awareness Day, Army chaplains remind every Soldier that maintaining mental and spiritual health is just as essential as keeping your weapon ready, your gear prepared, and your fellow Soldiers safe. Mental readiness is part of combat readiness, and no one is meant to fight these battles alone.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a real and lasting wound. It can stem from combat, training accidents, assault, the loss of a friend, or any event that leaves a deep mark. Its impact reaches far beyond the moment, affecting focus, sleep, relationships, and trust. It can shake a Soldier’s sense of purpose, identity, and faith.
Chaplains stand alongside Soldiers in every formation, on every field problem, and at every duty station. They are specially trained to walk with you through these struggles, face-to-face, without judgment or consequence. Conversations with a chaplain remain fully confidential. There are no reports, no chain of command involvement, and no risk to your career.
Chaplains serve in many ways: meeting one-on-one in the office, in the motor pool, out in the field, during deployment, or in the barracks late at night. They listen when you need to release stress, guilt, anger, grief, or doubt. When trauma weighs heavy, they help you process what happened and why it matters. When moral injury strikes, they offer spiritual tools to help you make sense of hard choices or haunting memories.
Chaplains do more than listen. They teach spiritual and mental resilience by giving Soldiers the strength to face stress before it becomes overwhelming. Through Building Strong & Ready Teams (BSRT) retreats, chaplains help rebuild marriages and Families strained by deployment or PTSD. They lead grief services when a unit suffers loss and offer guidance for relationship struggles, Family pressures, anger, leadership challenges, and more. When needed, chaplains connect Soldiers with behavioral health experts, medical care, and other resources. They guide Soldiers toward help without stigma or judgment. Often, a quiet and honest conversation with a chaplain becomes the first step towards real healing.
Asking for help is a sign of strength. No Soldier is meant to carry hidden wounds alone. Taking care of your mind and spirit builds resilience, reinforces your squad, and keeps the Army mission-ready.
On PTSD Awareness Day and every day, your unit’s chaplain stands ready to support you. Whether you want to talk, pray, learn, or simply be heard, they are there. You are never alone in this fight.
If you or someone you know needs support:
- Chaplains are available 24/7: Contact your unit or installation chaplain.
- Military OneSource: 1-800-342-9647
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, Press 1
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