Posts tagged " veterans "

Soul Care: Day of Learning, by Pat Litzinger

August 28th, 2017 Posted by Dave Smith Blog No Comment yet

United Methodist clergy and laity representing 18 different churches from Harbor District in the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church attended the SOUL CARE Day of Learning on August 5th at Harbor UMC in Wilmington, NC. Facilitator and retired U.S. Army Chaplain (Col.) David Smith led the training which was focused on equipping churches to start or expand ministries which reach out to those in the military community (active duty and veterans).

Home to multiple major military installations, North Carolina has one of the highest concentrations of military veterans and active duty personnel in the United States. After Harbor District’s Mission Strategy Team identified “Care and Support to Military Veterans and Active Duty’ as one of the district’s 12 most critical missional needs, the churches of Harbor District (located across a 9 county area of southeastern North Carolina) are interested in what they can do to more effectively reach out to this large demographic.

The August 5th Day of Learning included training from Chaplain Smith on topics such as:

Understanding military culture
Challenges that military members and their families face
Reaching out/building relationships with vets/active duty
Spiritual care needs of vets/active duty
The role that churches can play related to spiritual recovery

A working lunch round table session was also conducted which featured a panel of representatives from multiple local organizations which serve the military community in the Harbor District. Attendees were able to receive helpful information from these organizations including the volunteer opportunities with which their church members can plug into/connect. Panel members also answered questions regarding their organization’s specific mission focus and services.

Following lunch Chaplain Smith highlighted a number of best practices including a SOUL CARE ministry at one of Harbor District’s churches – Faith Harbor United Methodist Church. Arness Krause, Faith Harbor United Methodist Church’s Soul Care ministry coordinator, was on hand to share how the church got started with their SOUL CARE ministry and what it looks like today. She also shared some tips/lessons learned with the group.

Based on post event comments from attendees, they left the training inspired and equipped with helpful information and resources. Follow on work in the district will be led by Harbor District’s Military Community Outreach Advisory Team (MCOAT). MCOAT’s mission is to equip and inspire churches in the Harbor District to share the love of Christ with military veterans and members through outreach, prayer, relationship building and acts of kindness and gratitude.

Tags: mission and ministry to veterans, soul care, veteran care, veterans

Make the Connection

July 27th, 2017 Posted by Dave Smith Multimedia, Organizations No Comment yet

Make the Connection is an online resource designed to connect veterans, their family members and friends, and other supporters with information, resources, and solutions to issues affecting their health, well-being, and everyday lives. Hear honest and candid descriptions from veterans of what life was like for them with PTSD. A variety of veterans-men and women, younger and older-share their emotions, actions, and symptoms; how they learned they had PTSD; and what they did to get on a path to recovery. Many veterans have found strength to reach out and make the connection.

Tags: provide support, PTSD, recovery, spirituality, veterans

Veterans Day – Personal Reflection

November 10th, 2016 Posted by Dave Smith Blog 2 comments

(The purpose of Soul Care Conversation is to create a place to generate dialogue, initiate thoughtful consideration for the challenges our veterans face each day, share ideas of veteran and family well-being and healing, and spark within all of us a call to be engaged with the veteran and caregiver community. Click here to visit the forum and join the conversation!)

Last week I had the privilege to share the Soul Care Initiative with community and faith community leaders of Valdosta, Georgia. We had a wonderful conversation on veteran care. Because of travel, I was unable to engage in our weekly Soul Care Conversation.

This week we honor our Veterans on 11 November. As we recognize our Veterans please allow me to share a personal reflection. I have witnessed uncountable sacrifices made by those who serve and have served.

SAINT MICHAEL’S JUMP BACKGROUND

Americans have an appreciation for the sacrifice of those who serve in the military and the military family. However, most Americans do not know the personal stories behind this sacrifice. Having served 30 years as an Army Chaplain I was privileged to witness the personal sacrifice of so many men and women in uniform. This is just one of those stories.

After the 82nd Airborne Division returned from Iraq in 2004, I received permission and support from the Division Commander to re-initiate the Saint Michael’s Jump Program.

Some background on the significance of Saint Michael to the paratrooper: Paratroopers often turn to Saint Michael for protection during an airborne operation. In fact, we wear special medallions featuring Saint Michael attached to our identification tags, carried as a symbol of faith or for some as a good luck charm. The medallion reads, “Saint Michael, Patron of Paratroopers, Protect Us.”

Saint Michael has been associated with the paratroopers since World War II. Prior to a Saint Michael’s Jump, chaplains share with each paratrooper the connection to Saint Michael. The message is simple, Saint Michael serves God, and paratroopers serve their country.

But, the message is also significant. Each paratrooper has the opportunity to receive spiritual fitness. The chaplains share a modified version of the standard jump commands adapted to help paratroopers follow a simple set of commands that will help them be better troopers and people.

In the aircraft before the doors open and the green light illuminates, I have witnessed paratroopers praying. They pray for a safe exit, a safe jump, and a safe landing. I have seen some paratroopers rub their medallion as they pray. It gives them a sense that God is with them. It is a time for personal reflection and focusing on the mission at hand.

PERSONAL SACRIFICE

Prior to every airborne operation, each jumper must complete sustained training. Every trooper must successfully complete 4 parachute landing falls (PLF) off a three foot high platform, practice a mock aircraft exit, and rehearse numerous safety procedures.

I had 450 paratroopers on one of our first Saint Michael’s jumps after we returned from Iraq. We just completed our sustained training and I released everyone to go home because our time on target was early the next morning.

My primary jump master and I were engaged in conversation for several minutes after the troopers were released and we both noticed that most remained in the training area. In fact, the troopers began to gather around the PLF platform. We were both curious as to why, so we made our way through the gaggle of troopers.

As I got close enough to see, I noticed one jumper on the platform practicing his PLFs. From a distance I began to inspect him to ensure he was in proper uniform; ballistic helmet, jacket, trousers, boot, sneaker. Sneaker? It was then I noticed the titanium rod coming out of the sneaker. He was one of our amputees in the Division who desired to stay on active duty rather than be medically separated.

After he completed his prescribed PLFs successfully I made my way to him. Of course I had to ask, “Who are you and what are you doing here?” It was then that I heard his sacred story.

Specialist George Perez lost his leg in a roadside bomb in Iraq September 2003. While he was in Walter Reed’s amputee patient program, he made up his mind that he desired to remain a Soldier, and more than that, a paratrooper. He told me, “I’m not going to let this little injury stop me from doing what I want to do.”

So, he wanted to prove to a medical review board that he could do just that. In order to do so, he had to run an eight minute mile, pass a physical training test, ruck with a 50 pound back-pack for 12 miles, and jump out of an airplane. So this was his first test on an airborne operation.

An interesting note, at the time, Specialist Perez was 1 of 4 amputees in the 82^nd Airborne Division. They all desired to remain on active duty to serve their country, but also because of their devotion to other paratroopers who remained in the fight.

As we shook hands I said to Specialist Perez, “You are truly my hero. Tomorrow you will have the place of honor as the number one jumper.”

JUMP DAY

So, the next morning we had a drop zone brief, donned our parachutes and loaded the aircraft for what would be one of my most inspiring and significant Saint Michael’s Jumps. I know I was more nervous on this jump, not for myself but Specialist Perez.

As we neared the drop zone, we were given the commands to prepare ourselves for the eventual green light. Specialist Perez was standing in the door waiting for the jump master to tap him saying, “Green light go.”

I noticed something as he was standing in the door, he is a big man. Gravity does not take pity on paratroopers. Just then the green light came on and out the door went Specialist Perez. I followed.

I heard the loud groan after Specialist Perez hit the ground. Immediately after my legs touched the landing zone, I rolled, popped my canopy release and ran to ensure Specialist Perez was okay. As I got close to him I noticed he was lying there, so I yelled, “Specialist Perez, are you okay?” He replied, “No sir, I think I broke my leg.” “Which one?”, I asked. “My artificial one!” I shouted, “Thank you Jesus!”

SIGNIFICANCE OF VETERANS DAY

Specialist Perez survived the roadside bomb blast, but it killed one of his battle buddies. Each day he lives through pain; the memories of that day and the swelling from the previous days training. Yet he desired to remain a paratrooper. Because of his professionalism, dedication to his fellow paratroopers, desire to do something that has meaning and purpose, Specialist Perez continued to serve.

This is indicative of our veterans’ sacrifice. So, on 11 November, or in our places of worship this weekend, show your support, encourage your veterans, and pray for peace.

Thank you for the conversation. Next week we will discuss the fifth and last response the faith community offers as we review, make meaning.

Tags: military families, personal sacrifice, soul care conversation, veterans, veterans day

Transforming Community through the Lens of Soul Care

May 6th, 2016 Posted by Dave Smith Blog No Comment yet

How then do we transform community? We put our neighbor’s interest before our own. We even go as far as laying down our life for our neighbor (John 15:13). This is a radical relationship! Veterans understand connectedness through radical relationships where each day, whether on the battlefield or at home station, they put others first by living out the ethos of duty, honor, respect, and selfless service; not only for country, but for the oppressed, and for their battle buddy.

Tags: Engaging Conflict, honoring relationships, JustPeace, soul care, transforming community, veterans, welcoming conversations

Honoring Relationships

April 7th, 2016 Posted by Dave Smith Blog 1 comment

Critical to hospitality is honoring relationships. By honoring a relationship with a veteran we then can begin to understand our connectedness as God’s children and we can transcend our biases and pre-conceived notions about the person. We then can relate to the person, not the war. By honoring relationship with a veteran, we can become a catalyst for the veteran to find meaning. If we do this, we become people of grace.

Tags: honor, honoring relationships, hospitality, JustPeace Way, relationships, soul care, soul care initiative, veterans

Veterans Day – “Thank you for Your Service”

November 9th, 2015 Posted by Dave Smith Blog No Comment yet

Members of the church can be a great resource. Walking with veterans and their families on healing journeys is means of justice, and what faith communities are about in ministry. As the church lives the liturgy throughout the church year they experience anew the powerful reassurance of God’s grace and presence in the lives of that faith community. As the church lives out these words, they learn to trust others, to bind the wounds of those hurting, and to grow in grace.

Tags: community, soul care conversation, soul care initiative, soul wounds, veteran care, veterans, veterans day

Soul Care Conversation (Military Cultural Competency: Introduction to the Topic)

July 15th, 2015 Posted by Dave Smith Blog No Comment yet

(The purpose of Soul Care Conversations is to create a place to generate dialogue, initiate thoughtful consideration for the challenges our veterans face each day, share ideas of veteran and family well-being and healing, and spark within all of us a call to be engaged with the veteran and caregiver community. Click here to visit the forum and join the conversation!)

Thank you for joining our conversation this week. Last week we highlighted several relevant items about getting to know our warriors, veterans, and their families. We shared about what we know, what we do not know, and what we hear about our veterans. We also identified the three ways we can get to know our warriors, veterans, and their families through an awareness of military culture, an understanding of family dynamics, and acknowledging the context of the wars our country has asked our service men and women to fight.

Military Culture, Family Dynamics, Context of War

I am excited to share in this conversation. As a veteran who served 30 years on active duty, I bring knowledge, experience, and passion to the conversation. As an Army Chaplain, I;

witnessed and experienced many changes in the military culture
counseled service women and men, spouses, and families that experienced challenges in their relationships
served on numerous deployments to include Grenada, Haiti, Iraq, and Afghanistan

A “Joint” Understanding

For our conversation over the next several weeks, we will discuss various aspects about military culture. One could ask, how can we define military culture when the US has three service components: Active, Reserve, and National Guard; and five service branches; Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and the Coast Guard (which is a part of Home Land Security except during a time of war)? Each component and branch are so different. Prior to 1986, the US military was organized along lines of command that reported to their respective service chiefs in the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. However, the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 intended to;

change the way the services interact
eliminate inter-service rivalry that was experienced during the Vietnam War
provide unity of command

Since 1986, the military culture of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard has slowly evolved into to a joint culture. The Goldwater-Nichols Act has made the military a “purple” force, meaning that even though the various services wear their respective uniforms, they organize, train, equip, and fight as one force. The results of the Goldwater-Nichols Act have been;

individual services changed from relatively autonomous war-fighting entities into an integrated force
sweeping changes to the way the US military was organized in peace time and for combat operations

The first test of Goldwater-Nichols was the 1989 invasion of Panama where the US Commander, General Maxwell Thurman, an Army General, exercised full control over the Navy, Marines, Air Force and Army assets without having to negotiate with the individual services.

I experienced joint operations while serving in Afghanistan as the senior US Chaplain from 2011-2012. My boss, General John Allen, was the US Forces and NATO Forces Commander. A US Marine 4-Star General had direct control over all joint (US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard) and combined (Germany, Spain, Italy, Korea, Afghanistan, and other nations) forces in Afghanistan. I served with outstanding Religious Support Teams from the Air Force, Navy, and Army. And yes, the Marines had outstanding chaplains too. You may not know, the Navy Chaplains provide religious support to the Corps and the Coast Guard. Even though we wore different uniforms, we had one intent, to bring God to our warriors and our warriors to God.

The elimination of inter-service rivalry into a joint force doctrine has been slow. Tongue in cheek, my chaplain colleagues from the Navy and Air Force would tell me that the Army still spells “joint,” A-r-m-y!

An Army Point of View

I have to admit, at times this is true.

It seems old habits are difficult to break. Rather than go with the unknown, we go with experience.
We do what we know. How we train is how we fight.
It is difficult, especially while in a complex, ambiguous, uncertain, and volatile environment, to dramatically change one’s point of view and act differently.
And, inter-service rivalry is hard to break (Go Army, beat Navy!)

But, we have made much progress. I enjoyed the numerous experiences of learning from my Navy and Air Force colleagues, experiencing collegiality, and sharing in the friendly bantering of respective service pride. I was honored to have had the opportunity to serve together.

So, as we begin our conversation this week, it is important to note, even though I had numerous joint experiences, I served 30 years in the Army. The lens through which I view the military and military family is “green,” Army green. Largely, my part of the conversation will be framed around my experience as an Army Chaplain. I hope those from the other services will enter the conversation to share from their view point and experience.

So understanding “we do what we know,” if the faith community desires to begin a mission and ministry with our veterans and their families, possibly a good place to start is to get to understand the military and know the people who serve. With this said let us continue our conversation…

Tags: military cultural competency, service members, soul care, soul care conversation, veterans

Reflections of a Combat Veteran Professor

July 11th, 2015 Posted by Dave Smith Blog 3 comments

Student veterans should be supported in identifying faculty allies to mentor them along the way in higher education, to ease the transition from soldier to student and beyond. Faculty members who don’t have combat experience can understand war only in the abstract or by relying on the experience of those who have been to war. I suspect that the reason colleagues have turned to me for advice is their concern that their understanding or theological interpretation of war or the military might be inadequate. They know that there’s something they don’t know, and they care enough…

Tags: cultivate awareness, mentoring, military cultural compentency, peer support, provide support, soul care, veterans, war, warriors

Soul Care Conversation (Getting to Know Those Who Serve)

July 7th, 2015 Posted by Dave Smith Blog No Comment yet

Good Day all! Since our last conversation we all have had the opportunity to celebrate Independence Day. I hope you all had a wonderful and memorable 4th of July. I had the honor to commemorate this special day with the Fort Bragg community in North Carolina. As I walked around the post parade field I observed many of our current warriors in uniform and the pride of each Soldier and his/her family. I noticed the many veterans, some with gray hair or beards, wearing T-shirts that bore emblems of their former units. As I sat on the parade field with thousands of other warriors, veterans, and their families, I was moved with deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by those who sat with me. I began to reflect that most Americans (not on a military installation) who were watching fireworks do not know or understand our warriors or their families and what is required of them. So this week will be the first of numerous conversations on getting to know our service members and their families.

So what do we know about our warriors and veterans? For our conversation today, I will share just a few relevant items in order to pique your interest so that you may become curious enough to read and research for yourself, or better yet ask a veteran about the military and their experience.

What We Know

The military is a unique culture on to itself.
Fewer than 1% of Americans have served or participated in the Post 9/11 wars.
If you add immediate family members, only 5% of the population have a link to a veteran.
The Department of Defense employs about 1.8 million people making it the single largest employer in the United States; with more employees than Exxon, Mobil, Ford, General Motors, and GE combined.
US veterans number 22 million individuals and account for less than 7% of the total population. (The Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] projects that number to decrease and that by 2043 the US will have 14 million veterans for a total percentage of the population at only 3.5%.)
As of March 31, 2014, 970,000 disability claims were registered with the VA for post 9/11 veterans. Common combat injuries include second and third degree burns, broken bones, shrapnel wounds, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, nerve damage, paralysis, loss of sight and hearing, post traumatic stress disorder, and amputations. Also, there have been “non-hostile injuries” and other medical problems to include heat stroke, sexual trauma, suicide attempts, respiratory problems, and vehicle crashes.
The Department of Defense and the VA have made progress in our veteran care under the rubrics of physical, emotional, social, and psychological well-being.
There are 5.5 million (1.1 million Post 9/11) caregivers providing 24/7 care to their wounded loved one. (Survey conducted by the Rand Corporation under the auspices of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the Caregiver Community Program.)

These statistics provide a brief glimpse into the realities of the sacrifices demanded of our warriors and their families. We should have an understanding of who they are and what they have been asked to do because our veterans and their families work and live in our communities.

What We Hear

Much of what we hear about veterans today is related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Politicians, media, and advocacy groups have recently focused on veterans who return from war with difficulties adjusting to civilian life.
Also, it seems that American society has labeled our veterans as either heroes or broken.

None of these considerations bring us close to understanding our veterans and their challenges.

What We Do Not Know

Americans do not understand that most of our veterans are not wounded and many have successfully navigated the transition from warrior to civilian life.
Many veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD contribute importantly and effectively in their communities.
The US will be culturally disconnected from the realities of war because of the decreasing number of veterans.
The number of “soul wounds” due to the trauma and violence of war.

Many warriors have successfully made the transition back into our communities. However, for some the transition has been fraught with obstacles, mistrust, and fear. Jane, a professor at a university, responded to last week’s blog, “In my work with college student-veterans, I find that combat brings many to a faith crisis. They go to Iraq or Afghanistan full of faith but what they experience there causes many to have enormous doubt and questions of theodicy. They need to talk about these issues but there aren’t a lot of people they trust enough — usually only other veterans. It is a real challenge for our clergy, chaplains, and friends-in-faith to be patient, supportive, reliable until we can create safe enough space for the faith questions to emerge.” What Jane experiences in the university may be similar to what others have witnessed in their communities as well.

Recently, the Washington Post described alternative therapies that the VA has explored as part of a treatment regimen to include equine therapy, alpha stimulation, guided imagery, yoga, hypnosis, aqua therapy and even Botox. There is no mention of faith or the spiritual journey toward the healing of the soul. Some of our returning veterans face a deep spiritual crisis, unknown by the casual observer. Sufficient resources have not been committed to help our returning veterans recover from the spiritual trauma of war. So what can the faith community do?

How Can We Get to Know Our Veterans and Their Families

Military cultural competency
Military family dynamics
Context of War

Our conversation during the next several weeks will be an exploration of these topics. Hopefully we will better understand our warriors, the wars they fought, the challenges they faced as they returned home, and their family dynamics. I look forward to our continued conversation…

Tags: military family members, soul care conversation, veterans, warriors

Posts tagged " veterans "

Soul Care: Day of Learning, by Pat Litzinger

Make the Connection

Veterans Day – Personal Reflection

Transforming Community through the Lens of Soul Care

Honoring Relationships

Veterans Day – “Thank you for Your Service”

Soul Care Conversation (Military Cultural Competency: Introduction to the Topic)

Reflections of a Combat Veteran Professor

Soul Care Conversation (Getting to Know Those Who Serve)

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