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Chaplain Pursuit of “Buffered Selves”: Shepherding the Tough in Spirit

What follows is one battalion chaplain’s reflection on pastoral dynamics operative in “Tough in Spirit” (TIS) events and how those dynamics aim to facilitate spiritual readiness (SR) in a time when many people no longer conceptualize a need for God. In this paper, I offer three elements of the TIS formula: struggle, content, and process.

U.S. Army officer Colonel Kloepper, is positioned against a background that features the U.S. Army star logo on the left and a poster on the right displaying the words 'H2F Holistic Health and Fitness,' which is part of the Soldier Readiness System. The poster highlights aspects like mental, physical, sleep, and nutritional readiness. The officer is looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
A formation of small autonomous drones flies against the backdrop of an unknown city skyline and the setting sun.
Read Time: < 15 mins

Sacred Speech in Future Armed Conflict

Multidomain operations introduces further complexity with combined arms employment of space and cyberspace capabilities. Does this mean that the mode of sermon delivery will change? Possibly. However, we contend that chaplains cannot rely on leveraging these emerging technologies to deliver religious support. Instead, we focus on what we know will be constant: the human dimension. We argue that, in future operations, chaplains need to be prepared to use sacred speech that is simple and adaptable for tactical purposes, while still addressing the complexities of the human dimension of war. In this paper, we explore the complexities of the future battlefield and offer a model that navigates these complexities.

By Chaplain (Major) Brandon Denning and Chaplain (Major) Daniel Werho

A chapel full of Soldiers kneel in prayer during an Ash Wednesday Service. They have ash crosses on their foreheads.
Read Time: < 16 mins

Representing the Moral Warrior: The Just War Tradition, Military Chaplains, and Moral Leadership

The warrior operates in extreme zones. The more removed a situation like combat gets from everyday life, the less applicable the guidelines get. This is why we must rely so much on character rather than rules when discussing and experiencing extreme situations like war . . . When we meet the next test, we can meet it only with the character we have at the time.

By Daniel M. Bell Jr.

Three rows of U.S. Army Soldiers pose for a graduation photo underneath arch that read U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School.
Read Time: < 15 mins

Leading in Gaps: Intentional Leadership During Times of Military Assignment Transitions

Chaplain transitions can lead to gaps in pastoral care. Chaplains may become absorbed in the fast-paced operational environment and form subjective views about their unit’s culture, leadership, and command climate. In this article on best practices for integrating into a new unit, we present a phased approach to starting a new assignment.

By Chaplain (Major) Peter Robinson and Chaplain (Captain) Marcus A. Marroquin

A group of U.S. Army soldiers in uniform participate in a Jewish prayer service, wearing kippahs and tallitot, while holding prayer books. A table in the foreground is adorned with religious items, including a menorah and a Star of David.
Read Time: < 15 mins

Legal Religion: Judicial Discourse and the Historical Underpinnings of the First Amendment

The First Amendment of the American Constitution protects only those practices that are religious in nature; however it nowhere defines what makes a practice religious. That question is left up to the courts. American religious practice is intimately connected with religion in definition. In this article, I contend that how legal agencies define religion largely determines how individuals governed by those agencies practice religion.

By Chaplain (Major) Patrick G. Stefan