Whats church like in the military?

[Jester983 0]

Just out of curiousity, whats church like in the military. Or is there church in the military?

[m16a2m203 0]

The only place I've seen church in a different light is at MCRD in San Diego. Imagine a church that looks more like an auditorium. The entire place is filled from bow to stern with young recruits who at every given chance will sing every song at the top of their lungs. Quite a moving experience. Reminds me of a pep rally cept instead of a cheerleader you have a priest trying to get the recruits on one side of the room to sing louder than the other.

[Assault (CAN) 1]

Yes there are Chaplain services in the Military, mainly Protestant and Catholic in Canada. They also offer non-denominational services for people who want guidance. They were held once a week on my recruit course.

Chaplains also act as guidance counselors for the military in Canada. Chaplains can overide a C.O.'s orders if they see that an individual is having problems.

For example: A guy on my course needed 3 days off to go home and get married, our Platoon commander wasn't going to give him the Friday off so that he could be home in time ( a six hour drive) He decided to talk to a chaplain about it and badda-bing, badda-boom, he got the time off.

I've never been to a CF church service, so I wouldn't know what they are like.

Tyler

[Jester983 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Assault (CAN) @ Nov. 19 2002,04:02)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yes there are Chaplain services in the Military, mainly Protestant and Catholic in Canada. They also offer non-denominational services for people who want guidance. They were held once a week on my recruit course.

Chaplains also act as guidance counselors for the military in Canada. Chaplains can overide a C.O.'s orders if they see that an individual is having problems.

For example: A guy on my course needed 3 days off to go home and get married, our Platoon commander wasn't going to give him the Friday off so that he could be home in time ( a six hour drive) He decided to talk to a chaplain about it and badda-bing, badda-boom, he got the time off.

I've never been to a CF church service, so I wouldn't know what they are like.

Tyler<span id='postcolor'>

Then let me guess after the guy got back the platoon leader made his life a living hell?

[Assault (CAN) 1]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Then let me guess after the guy got back the platoon leader made his life a living hell?<span id='postcolor'>

Nope.

If a canidate is singled out by an instructor and is treated poorly or unfairly, that canidate can report the instructor to a higher power and the instructor will be warned. This prevents sadistic instructors from making an individuals life a living hell, however, they can make the whole platoon's life a living hell.

Tyler

[SKULLS_Viper 0]

Heres a Military(well more for the Airforce) church here in Colorado.

Neat eh?

[FSPilot 0]

The picture doesn't show up, but I can tell it's of the Air Force Academy chapel. It's VERY impressive to look at. Hope to see it in person one of these days.

I regularly attend army church services (typically not different from air force, those being the only two types I've attended). I can't think of any major differences than military churches and a civilian church.

Of course the chaplain is in the military. I think the chaplain is payed by the military, but the church gets it's funds from tithings/offerings. I'm really not sure though.

[ralphwiggum 6]

AFAIK, every military has chaplain or priest from other religions.

[SKULLS_Viper 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FSPilot @ Nov. 20 2002,01:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The picture doesn't show up, but I can tell it's of the Air Force Academy chapel.  It's VERY impressive to look at.  Hope to see it in person one of these days.

I regularly attend army church services (typically not different from air force, those being the only two types I've attended).  I can't think of any major differences than military churches and a civilian church.

Of course the chaplain is in the military.  I think the chaplain is payed by the military, but the church gets it's funds from tithings/offerings.  I'm really not sure though.<span id='postcolor'>

That picture i posted doesnt show?It seems to work for me though.

Or http://www.geocities.com/afacadet2000/acad.JPG

That might work.I have seen that church, and its really cool.Its just a hours drive from where i live.I live in Denver, and that church is in Colorado Springs.

[Balschoiw 0]

Wherever I went to for missions there were priests. They were rather invisible the whole week but celebrated on sunday. I dont know the right word for that "celebration" in english but I guess you know what I mean. If there was such and you had no immedeate tasks, like convoi or camp securing you were able to take part. I did this once to get some sleep, cause we had 2 hours sleep/guard tasks and that consumed me a lot. Anytime else I have seen the two priest (prot and cath) drinking beer and having a good time. In Yugoslavia situation was not that funny, cause they had to go to mass graves and did some funerals.

[brgnorway 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (FSPilot @ Nov. 20 2002,01:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The picture doesn't show up, but I can tell it's of the Air Force Academy chapel.  It's VERY impressive to look at.  Hope to see it in person one of these days.

I regularly attend army church services (typically not different from air force, those being the only two types I've attended).  I can't think of any major differences than military churches and a civilian church.

Of course the chaplain is in the military.  I think the chaplain is payed by the military, but the church gets it's funds from tithings/offerings.  I'm really not sure though.<span id='postcolor'>

I am just wondering - do many of your fellow soldiers visit the priest or go to mass?

Almost none of the norwegian soldiers do - except those who try almost anything to escape their service  

(Jesus - look at my post count???)

[Guest]

Interesting question. I don't think I have ever seen a chaplain in the Swedish military. Ever. I don't think we have them (not 100% sure though).

In Kosovo, I saw a lot of chaplains of different nationallity though. Most prominent were some representatives from Caritas (Catholic red cross equivalent) who stalked our team for almost two months.

[FSPilot 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (brgnorway @ Nov. 20 2002,08:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I am just wondering - do many of your fellow soldiers visit the priest or go to mass?<span id='postcolor'>

Well, I'm not a soldier, but trust me, my self esteem is through the roof now.  

Most of the people attending church are at the fort for CGSC, Command and General Staff College.  There are about 150 families there every week.

It usually depends on the size of the fort or base, but I'd say attendance is fairly high. Then again I don't have a lot of experience in civilian churches. It's a good way to make friends given the high turnover rate for military churches.

[Othin 0]

In boot camp attendance was really high for the Church, it really did seem to relieve the stress in many of my shipmates. They would come back much more relaxed and positive afterwards (all jokes about sleeping aside).

Out here in the fleet attendance also seems pretty high. This is a huge base in landmass, but small sized in manpower, so it dosen't have a seperate Chaplain for all the different religions (they multi-task ). They have a big protestant style church, and then a smaller building that has rooms for all the different religions. It's really nice actually.

Of course, this is a weird desert town, so we also have a church out in town that's based around the worship of water (no joke)

I don't know about the other branches, but the Navy also has an enlisted religious rating. You can join as an RP (religious programs specialist) who basically work with the Chaplains and assist in all the activities associated with running a church/mosque/temple/etc

[brgnorway 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Othin @ Nov. 20 2002,05:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">In boot camp attendance was really high for the Church, it really did seem to relieve the stress in many of my shipmates.  They would come back much more relaxed and positive afterwards (all jokes about sleeping aside).

Out here in the fleet attendance also seems pretty high.  This is a huge base in landmass, but small sized in manpower,  so it dosen't have a seperate Chaplain for all the different religions (they multi-task ).  They have a big protestant style church, and then a smaller building that has rooms for all the different religions.  It's really nice actually.

Of course, this is a weird desert town, so we also have a church out in town that's based around the worship of water (no joke)

I don't know about the other branches, but the Navy also has an enlisted religious rating.  You can join as an RP (religious programs specialist) who basically work with the Chaplains and assist in all the activities associated with running a church/mosque/temple/etc<span id='postcolor'>

Wow, it looks like your armed forces take religion seriously - wich is good I suppose. I think one would see more soldiers (in Norway) going to mass/priest during times of war. It might give people comfort when experiencing bad things. I also believe that it's easier to talk about certain topics with a priest. One doesn't allways want to bother fellow soldiers and comrades with things that might be difficult to talk about. Maybe the priest also serves as a kind of psycologist or something?

[FSPilot 0]

Priests are great for therapy. My old chaplain said he would crawl across rustic razor blades to help me. Kinda gruesome, but you know he wanted to help me out.

If you're anxious about talking to a priest or even a psychologist, remember that (at least in the U.S.) they're bound by a doctor-patient confidentiality. Unless they believe yours or someone elses life is in danger, they could have their liscense revoked for talking to anybody about what you tell them.

They're there to help. Personally, I'd feel bad if people didn't come to me with their problems and I were a religious figure.

[Othin 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (brgnorway @ Nov. 19 2002,20:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Wow, it looks like your armed forces take religion seriously - wich is good I suppose. I think one would see more soldiers (in Norway) going to mass/priest during times of war. It might give people comfort when experiencing bad things. I also believe that it's easier to talk about certain topics with a priest. One doesn't allways want to bother fellow soldiers and comrades with things that might be difficult to talk about. Maybe the priest also serves as a kind of psycologist or something?<span id='postcolor'>

Absolutely. Chaplains act as an outlet for many sailors (and soldiers, airman, and Marines). They're still in the military (unlike going to a priest out in town) so they know how things work and if you really are being treated unfairly or singled out. Even now, if you have a family emergency, a chaplain will still be involved at some point to help out if he/she can. Also as Assault mentioned, a Chaplain can interdict into your local chain of command to rectify things or bring a situation to light.

[Lazarus_Long 0]

In boot camp I used to love going to the church services. I consider myself an agnostic, but I still looked forward to Sunday. It meant that you got 3 hours of peace and relaxation. No drill instructors screaming at you, just a friendly chaplain reading some biblical verses for you followed by some singing. It was strictly forbidden to sleep, but if you did it properly, you could make it look like you were just deep in prayer.

They would also occasionally invite some local church choir group to come in and perform for us which included women. It was the only evidence for us that the female sex still existed. If you chose not to attend religious services you had to stay in the barracks and mop floors until everyone else got back. Not surprisingly there where no atheists in my company.

In the Navy we had Catholic mass, Protestant (non-denominal) Service and if you were Jewish, they had a Saturday evening service. Everything took place in the same "chapel" which was just a big auditorium. Supposedly they also offered muslim and buddhist services there, but I never actually saw anyone attend them. (You only got to choose one service per week.)

One funny thing I noticed was the standard U.S.Navy crucifix. On the altar in the chapel the cross had Jesus nailed to it on one side for the Catholic mass, then they would turn it around for a plain crucifix with "INRI" iscribed in it for the Protestant service. I kept seeing this dual purpose cross throughout my service.

[FSPilot 0]

The epitome of military efficiency, eh?

[cam0flage 0]

During my service in the Finnish Defence Forces I noticed how close the church is to FDF. There's a church department in the army hq which organizes all the activitity. We had both lutheran and orthodox priests available, in addition to conscript deacons. Even the oath which most soldiers take (there is another version for those who are not members of the church) is vowed in the name of God.

About the activities we had; I remember we had at least 5 times some service by the sea at our garrison area, and even few times in the forest during combat exercises. After all, I think those were pretty relaxing moments. At least you didn't have to crawl in the mud with your assault rifle for a moment

[theavonlady 2]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Lazarus_Long @ Nov. 20 2002,08:33)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">and if you were Jewish, they had a Saturday evening service.<span id='postcolor'>

Are you sure it wasn't Friday evening?

[Sam Samson 0]

normally 70% of churchgoers are women. to have a bunch of guys sing real loud is a great experience.

...hey! have you ever been in a real big service? like with tens of thousands of people in it? (no, not in rome.)

it's awesome.

I think the biggest services on the planet are happening in africa these days. check www.cfan.org