The Chaplain brief started at 9:30am and the last one was given at 2300, that is 11pm. Already, I had my first 19 hour work day. I was so tired, but was still motivated that the cadets, “my flock”, had come. So what does the Chaplain brief the cadets on? Two main things. 1. Every person has a constitutional right to practice their faith or not to be forced to practice one. Therefore, religious support will be given through Chaplain services, religious materials such as Bible or devotionals, rooms for meditation and other things. And 2nd, for counseling needs. Interesting enough a Chaplain has more confidential privilege than your own personal doctor. There is nothing that binds me to share what happens during a counseling session. This provides an avenue to support those who claim not to be very religious to have someone to go to and vent or talk through things. It was a great day to see the cadets when they first arrived, tired from their traveling and the nervous look in their eyes. Each brief ended with the cadets walking past the Religious support table and grabbing a Bible if they wanted or something else, and then a High Five from me. High Fives or a “pound it” are cheap to give but provide a great source of smiles. Being a Chpalain means then one must be sesative to the mood of the those before you.. And how you raise unite morale is a consistent pursuit of creativity and prayer.
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