Rear Adm. Robert F. Burt, Chief of Navy Chaplains gets it right!

This is one Chaplain who gets it right. He talks about PTSD, the different levels and how Chaplains are supposed to take care of their people no matter what faith they claim as there own. So why aren't all the branches of the military doing it?

A man for all faiths
Chief of Navy Chaplains reflects on the challenges of serving God and country
By Tim Wightman, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, November 20, 2008

Rear Adm. Robert F. Burt, Chief of Navy Chaplains, sat down Tuesday with Stars and Stripes at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. The 35-year Navy veteran is visiting bases in mainland Japan and Okinawa. Burt, who will retire in September, discussed the effect the war has on servicemembers and explained the role of chaplains in "facilitating" the worship of different faith groups on military bases.

How do Navy chaplains adapt to deal with faiths outside their own? How well are different faiths represented?

In an institutional environment, I think military chaplaincy leads the world in being able to adapt and reach out and minister to everybody… We facilitate for those who might be of a different faith group than us.

If someone comes to me and needs specific religious guidance, and they’re not of my same faith group or like-faith group, my job becomes a facilitator. I will find someone who can help that individual.

We are trained in chaplain school to be able to identify faith groups that want to, first of all, have a meeting, exercise their faith, grow in their faith.

If chaplains are approached (by someone) to have a meeting, there’s a process, whether it’s Wiccans or whoever it might be. The commanding officer signs off paper work after (the lay leader) has proven that they’re a recognized member of whatever religious organization it might be that they want to represent, and if they’ve got training on how to lead that particular faith group.

And the chaplain makes sure that that faith group has not only a specified facility or area to worship in, but they also have any kind of equipment or literature that they might need. Chaplains recognize that it is the right of everyone in this great nation, in or out of uniform, to express their faith and to choose whatever faith they want to follow. We don’t have to agree with them theologically or philosophically, but we respect their right to choose and we will support them in their efforts.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58909