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CAMP HANSEN, Japan - As the morning sun rose and reveille
sounded, the Marines started their day by getting out of
their dirt-floor beds with rifles in hand. Next to them,
however, was one person who was not a Marine but was wearing
a camouflage uniform and worked, ate and slept just as they
did. The sun caught the golden cross on his lapel as the
greetings of “good morning Chaps” started.
Similar to medical corpsmen, Navy chaplains accompany
Marines in any clime and place. The chaplains of the 31st
Marine Expeditionary Unit do just that - they maintain a
constant presence whether the Marines are training, in combat
or in garrison.
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Navy LT. Charles S. Mallie,
a chaplain with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion,
4th Marines, 31st MEU, and a native of Surf City,
N.J., holds a religious service in the field during
Exercise Koolendong '13 here, Sept. 9, 2013. The
31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness
for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously
forward-deployed MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by
Lance Cpl. Tyler Dietrich)
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“A good chaplain inserts himself with the Marines
and is not afraid to walk with them,” said Navy LT.
Charles S. Mallie, a chaplain with Battalion Landing Team
2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st MEU, and a native of Surf
City, N.J. “Pain shared is pain divided. Having a
chaplain in the field halves the pain shared whether it
is mentally, physically or spiritually.”
Since
the founding of the Marine Corps in 1775, the United States
Navy Chaplain Corps has maintained a thick and rich history
alongside Marines during both war and peace.
However, it was not until 1862 when Chaplain C. S. Stewart
was assigned to Marine Barracks, New York Naval Yard, that
chaplains were officially attached to Marine units. Chaplain
Stewart set the example for all future chaplains and started
a long history of standing “shoulder-to-shoulder”
with their Marines.
The role of the “green
side” chaplain expanded further when Chaplain B. R.
Patrick became the first to deploy with a Marine unit when
he went to Nicaragua in 1914.
From this point on,
sharing the burden of a deployment became standard for chaplains
alongside Marines.
Depending on the chaplain's
faith background, they are the minister, priest, rabbi,
spiritual guide or non-denominational counselor for Marines.
Regardless of the official title, they are affectionately
called “Chaps” and provide a steadying presence
during good times and bad.
“Marines and Sailors
have a right to express their religious beliefs,”
said Commander Nick Hamilton, the command chaplain for the
31st MEU, and a native of Lakeview, Ore. “We protect
those beliefs by providing religious services from our faith
backgrounds, facilitating religious practices for people
of other religions, extending pastoral care to everyone
and advising the command on religious, spiritual and moral
issues.”
Because the 31st MEU maintains a busy
deployment schedule throughout the Asia-Pacific region,
the troops frequently alternate between a field environment,
ship life and being back in garrison. Regardless of where
the unit is, the chaplain is always right beside them.
While on deployment, the Marines work closely with host
nations' militaries in a number of locations. During
Exercise Talisman Saber 2013, the Australian chaplains and
31st MEU chaplains met and discussed the two nations'
military chaplain interoperability and how to provide religious
services and spiritual counsel to every unit.
“What
I've found really great is the encouragement from
someone from the other side of the world and how we are
able to support each other in the important role of chaplaincy,”
said Australian Army Lt. Col. Kyle Rutley, chaplain for
the Australian Army's 3rd Division. “The differences
between us are negligible.”
The chaplains conduct
worship services in a variety of locations, perform religious
rites and ceremonies and counsel individuals who seek guidance.
Additionally, they oversee religious education programs,
visit hospitalized personnel, train lay leaders, promote
attendance at religious services and advise leaders at all
levels regarding morale, ethics and spiritual well-being.
While exchange programs and international deployments
allow for chaplains to expand their horizons of influence,
they will always maintain the one thing that transcends
beyond religious preferences: listening.
No matter
what happens in the constantly changing global environment,
Marines can always rely on the trusty “Chaps”
to be nearby, willing to shoulder any burden with them.
The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps force in readiness
in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously
forward deployed MEU.
By USMC Lance Cpl. Tyler Dietrich
Provided through
DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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