DVIDS – News – Army Guard Chaplains: Addressing Soldier Mental Health for Readiness

Author: Sergeant Daisy Broker
National Guard Bureau

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Army National Guard chaplains and their supporting unit ministry teams from across the U.S. gathered at the Army National Guard Professional Education Center, Camp Robinson, Arkansas, May 6-9, 2024, to refine strategies and tools to enhance Soldiers’ emotional and mental health.

The training event not only focused on strategies to enhance Soldiers’ mental and psychological wellness, but also addressed the importance of equipping National Guard chaplains with the tools they need to support Soldiers in these areas.

“Your role as a chaplain is not only important, it’s vital,” said Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major John T. Raines, who attended the event. “The Army National Guard wants you to make a significant contribution to increasing the readiness of our unit.”

The event also explored Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) practices for soldiers preparing for the “road to war,” a common phrase used to describe unit readiness.

“There’s really no such thing as sleep, health, mental health or spiritual health. There’s only health, right? Because each area impacts the others,” said Capt. David L. Woodward, a chaplain assigned to the Army National Guard. “What the chaplain corps can bring to spiritual and spiritual health is the soul of the individual, regardless of faith or lack of faith.”

To help Soldiers cope with the challenges of their mission, UMT has developed a variety of spiritual initiatives, including providing religious services, offering one-on-one counseling, organizing spiritual retreats and facilitating group discussions on faith and spirituality. Chaplains design these activities to address the unique spiritual needs of each Soldier and promote a sense of community and support within the unit.

“Military chaplains are the natural choice to nurture the spirituality of our soldiers,” Woodward said. “They are the guardians of the First Amendment, ensuring that every soldier has the right to religious freedom.”

Woodward calls cultivating spirituality “soul work.”

“I’ve supported Muslim soldiers, atheist soldiers, agnostic soldiers, Wiccan soldiers, Christian soldiers,” Woodward said. “Even if you don’t believe in God, I’m your chaplain. No matter what religion a soldier practices, there will be a time and a place for each soldier to practice their faith.”

To influence a soldier’s readiness, Woodward said he asks soldiers a series of questions: “What principles does your higher power operate on? How can I bring that into your life to help you reach your full potential or approach your potential and succeed?”

“Spirituality helps us to be mentally healthy,” Woodward says. “Spirituality helps us to recognize who we are in relationship to a higher power, vertically, and to the people around us, horizontally. Once we know who we are, our mental health is within our control.”
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