Some wonder if the deployments are taking it’s toll on our Soldiers (not to mention the Families that remain behind). Under the strain of repeated deployments, Soldiers experience “stress” from boredom, compassion fatigue or simple exhaustion. And a case in point, in the news is the tragic story of Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, who stands accused of the shooting spree in Southern Afghanistan. Personally, it breaks my heart to read this in the news and I silently grieve for the victims of the Afghan people, for the family of Staff Sgt. Bales, and for Staff Sgt. Bales himself. Perhaps, his story reminds us the necessity for justice but also resiliency. Concerning justice, the jury is still out in judging the actions of Staff Sgt. Bales. But as it pertains to resiliency, there is a real need to understand how resiliency impacts our deploy Soldiers.
As some of you know, I will be deploying for the third time in my Army service. The next deployment will be to Afghanistan. Personally, I don’t mind deploying in service to my country. I suppose it may be a little easier on an account I am not married nor have any children (and no real attachment to this world). Or perhaps, I am ambivalent due to it doesn’t matter where I serve as long as I may serve God and Soldiers (an eternal attachment, I suppose).
The last few weeks, I began contemplating on my role and mission as an Army Chaplain in the next deployed environment. After phone conversations (to Chaplains in Afghanistan to develop on-the-ground situational awareness), email messages (to/from other Chaplains in the Chaplain Corps gleaning their expertise), and receiving the mission in our Battalion Staff meetings, I have a better understanding of my particular role and mission. But more importantly, as I pray to God for wisdom, I am thinking through the parameters of the upcoming mission. Through prayer, I meditated on the biblical story of “Elisha traps blinded Arameans” which displayed not only God’s protection but Elisha’s wisdom about resiliency. This story is about spiritual resiliency through: 1) assurance of God’s protection, 2) receiving God’s wisdom about resiliency, and 3) extending hospitality. Although I don’t have the time to dive into the details of how this story enlightened my understanding of resiliency, I can say that it is my hope that Soldiers’ eyes will see resiliency in a new light.
Would you say a prayer that our Soldiers would become more resilient while deployed?
