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TAPA, Estonia — Chaplains from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 16th Sustainment Brigade rode a circuit of major Atlantic Resolve-North hubs across the Baltics region in mid-October, providing religious support, assessing the command climate and refreshing service members’ spiritual resiliency at each stop.
The spiritual journey carried the chaplains and their entourage through major Atlantic Resolve sites in Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Estonia.
Maj. Brian Smith, 16th SB chaplain, and Capt. Taiwo Arowosegbe, 39th Transportation Battalion chaplain, took time to reach out to Soldiers as they carried out their daily sustainment missions in the Baltics region.
Knight’s Brigade leaders and Soldiers appreciated the spiritual uplift and camaraderie.
“This shows us we have support and these deployed Soldiers are not out here alone,” said Capt. Charles Walton, Task Force Stillwell commander. “It’s a good thing when you’re away from your family to see welcoming faces.”
“The chaplains’ visit reminds us we’re not alone,” added Sgt. Othello Karnuah, a motor transport operator with the 39th Trans. Bn. “It’s great for them to come talk to us and make sure we’re doing OK.”
The Army chaplaincy is a religiously diverse population reflecting the diversity of the Army; yet each chaplain ministers according to their distinctive faith community tenets. For example, Smith is Baptist and Arowosegbe is Pentecostal.
Each chaplain brings their own faith, training and unique religious perspective to the mission. All chaplains share an unwavering commitment to Soldiers, their mission and their spiritual well-being — vital contributors to resiliency and morale.
“The Soldiers’ morale is lifted when they have someone to talk with and know that we are here to support them,” Arowosegbe said. “Even when we’re not around, the Soldiers need to remember how important spiritual resiliency is, along with emotional and mental.”
During the visit to Adazi, Latvia, the second to last stop in the Atlantic Resolve-North area, the chaplains requested and received permission to use the Adazi military chapel. Arowosegbe used the access to conduct a service for interested Soldiers after lunch.
“I think their visit lifts the Soldiers’ spirits because the Soldiers look forward to seeing the chaplains,” said Staff Sgt. Printin McKenzie, a transportation management coordinator with the 624th Movement Control Team, 39th Trans. Bn. “It was great for the chaplains to join us for dinner, especially since there is never a shortage of potatoes to share.”
Knight’s Brigade Soldiers have been sustaining logistics support since Atlantic Resolve kicked off and will continue to do so for the duration of the exercise; brigade chaplains will likewise provide spiritual sustainment support to Soldiers from Baumholder to the Baltics.
“This trip went really well,” Smith said. “The guys seem really encouraged from our visit. We would like to see a chaplain visit Atlantic Resolve locations every few weeks to check on the Soldiers. It’s a blessing just to be here.”
