COMMAND CHAPLAIN

RELIGIOUS SUPPORT FOR ARMY RESERVE FAMILIES

 

 

 

 

Army Reserve Aviation Command Chaplain on Maintaining Relationships
Army Reserve Aviation Command Chaplain (Col.) Douglas W. Hedrick talks about the importance of maintaining relationships. "Love is rooted in actions. Feelings come and go based on circumstances. But loving someone is a daily choice."
Chaplain Col. Hedrick speaks on gratitude
CH Col Doug Hedrick, Command Chaplain of the Army Reserve Aviation Command, shares the importance of gratitude and a healthy perspective on life.
Faith in the Field with Brig. Gen. Harewood
U.S. Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Andrew Harewood, Deputy Chief of Chaplains from Washington, D.C., gives a speech during Combat Support Training Exercise (CSTX) 91-21-01 June 11, 2021, at Fort Hunter Liggett, California.

Our office is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that our nation's Soldiers and their Families in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) are spiritually strong. 

We do this by overseeing the religious support mission of the commander as expressed in the USAR Commander's Master Religious Plan and directed by the Office of the Chief of Chaplains.We accomplish this through the faithful efforts of over 250 Unit Ministry Teams (Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants) dispersed throughout our forces in the United States and overseas. The Army Chaplaincy's motto, "for God and country, "reflects the nature of our dual mission and roles as both ministers and citizens.

Our office is committed to caring for our Army Reserve Family by promoting its spiritual growth and well-being through the ministry of a fully engaged and caring, called, committed, and trained team of chaplains and chaplain assistants.

During these challenging times we encourage you to use our Unit Ministry Teams in order to assist you in bringing balance and fitness to you life.

Also, we invite you to join us in this ministry to our Soldiers and Families by caring, loving, listening, and praying for one another.

After all, we are an Army Family!

MISSION:

Provide strategic and inspirational leadership that best reflects the qualities and traditions of the Citizen-Warrior ethos and accurately reflects the U.S. Army's intent as we facilitate our Unit Ministry Teams in providing relevant, unifying and enabling religious support to our US Army Reserve Family.

VISION:

Supporting and serving a U.S. Army Reserve Family that is spiritually and morally strong.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BUILD YOUR SPIRITUAL FITNESS
 

  1. READ SPIRITUAL BOOKS: These could be sacred texts such as the Bible, Koran, or Torah. This reading could be as varied as Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, or Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People by Rabbi Kushner.  Seek out other forms spiritual media such as podcasts, movies etc.
     
  2. PRAY: Communicating with God, or a “higher power” includes sharing your life and listening for guidance.
     
  3. CONTEMPLATION and REFLECTION: Take time review your own experience, make meaning of those experiences. Contemplate spiritual ideas think over them for greater understanding. Consider where you encounter themes and elements of spirituality in your life.
     
  4. SPEND TIME IN NATURE: Enhance your connection with the natural world. Experience beauty or “wildness” as presented in nature. Watch a sunrise or a sunset.
     
  5. YOGA, TAI-CHI, WALKING: Enhance your connection with your body.  Intentional breathing, stretching and practicing mindful presence.  
     
  6. JOURNAL: Recording your private ideas, concerns, and thoughts.
     
  7. GRATITUDE: Being aware and expressing thankfulness for the good you have experienced or encountered in your life.
     
  8. VOLUNTEER/ACTS OF SERVICE: Sharing your gifts, talents, and time with others builds your spirituality.
     
  9. PRACTICE SILENCE: Take a few moments to turn off electronic devices and sit quietly. This can help settle the mind, or give you an opportunity to address the “racing thoughts” you might experience.
     
  10. BUILD COMMUNITY: Humans need people.  Build a community of support. Family and friends are the foundations of our community. Also consider the other communities you are part of. Churches, teams, hobby groups can all support you socially and provide needed meaning and support.

Many of these practices can be combined for even greater effect!
Keep a gratitude journal.   
Perform community service and reflect on your experience.
Take an outdoor yoga class.
Join a book club for spiritual reading.
Take a “Prayer Walk.”

Help is available when you need it most. Army Emergency Relief (AER) is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to active and retired Soldiers and their dependents when there’s a legitimate need. AER funds are quickly distributed to Soldiers and dependents to overcome financial hardships.
 
The Army Reserve Family Program is dedicated to education, training, awareness, outreach, information, referral, and follow-up. The ARFP website is your one-stop shop to get connected with Army Reserve family support information and resources.
 
Building Strong and Ready Teams
Building Strong and Ready Teams (BSRT) is the Army’s premier moral and ethical, relationship enhancement training program, enabling commanders and Unit Ministry Teams to enhance Soldier and Family spiritual readiness through an integrated and approved command religious support plan. BSRT is a program with adjustable formats, relevant curricula and engaging training material. BSRT will expand relationship skill building to include organizational relationships of all types: friendships, community partnerships as well as marriage and family relationships. BSRT is an integrated part of Holistic Health and Fitness, building spiritual readiness through tailored training designed to meet unit specific needs.
 
Harnesses the skill, expertise and generosity of volunteer mental health professionals across the country to serve Soldiers in need. You can find a provider online at https://giveanhour.org/accesstocare/. 
 
Hospital and Family Life USAR Chaplains: 
U.S. Army Reserve Command has a list of Chaplain's who have the 7R (Hospital) and/or 7K (Family Life) Skill Identifier. If you (the Chaplain) would like to consult with such a Chaplain for guidance and assistance in this regard, please contact your Command Chaplain.
 
Military One Source 24/7 Assistance: 1-800-342-9647 
Military One Source from the Department of Defense is your 24/7 gateway to trusted information, resources and confidential help. When MilLife happens, it’s your “first line of support” — giving service members and military families tools to stay well and thrive. \Military One Source provides a single gateway to responsive Family Crisis Assistance, available 24/7, 365 days a year for all USAR Soldiers. It provides a unit and community based solution to connect people to people. By pinpointing Families-in-need and local community resources, the AR can quickly connect the Soldier Family and resources thus providing installation-commensurate services in the geographic location of the crisis.


National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)

The Battle Buddy App:
The USAR Battle Buddy application for smart phones, a free download for both iPhone and Android platforms, is an under-utilized resource in the fight against Soldier Suicide. It serves as a quick reference on several helpful topics, to include Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Emotional Trauma, Financial Crisis, and Suicidal Ideations. The app will dial the Fort Family Suicide Hotline with the press of a button. It also will walk a Battle Buddy through the Ask/Care/Escort (ACE) protocol and provides valuable information.
 
If you have a USAR Soldier who is unemployed or underemployed, contact your nearest Private-Public Partnership Office (P3O): https://www.usar.army.mil/P3/LocalSupport/
 
Veterans Crisis Line: For Crisis Response (24/7) 1-800-273-8255 (press 1) or TEXT 838255
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that’s available to anyone, even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. The caring, qualified responders at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances.

U.S. Army Reserve Psychological Health Program (PHP): has services for commanders, Soldiers and their Families.
4710 Knox Street
Fort Bragg, North Carolina 
28310-5000  

**In case of an emergency during after office hours, please contact the US Army Reserve Command's Operation Center at 910-570-9750/9751.

May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding us from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening us to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making our path easy,
But by making us sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from us,
But by taking fear from our heart;
Not by granting us unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping our face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making our life always pleasant,
But by showing us when people and their causes need us most,
and by making us anxious to be there to help.
God's love, peace, hope and joy to us for the year ahead.

- Author Unknown; Adapted by Debra Mooney