The 21st Theater Sustainment Command Chaplains hosted the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary Fun Run ’23 to celebrate and honor the 248th birthday of the Chaplain Corps, July 26, on Vogelweh Military Complex.
The Chaplain Corps was founded in 1775 before the United States declared independence as the Continental Army was being formed. Compared to our country, the Chaplain Corps is older than the United States and played a part in building resiliency.
“The chaplains are where the rubber meets the road when it comes to building resiliency in our force,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ronald Regin, commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command. “Any way I can support the Chaplain Corps, I am going to lean in.”
In every war America has been involved in, the Chaplain Corps has been there helping Soldiers in many different ways.
“It’s really talking to the Soldiers, getting out into my companies, and seeing how people are doing like we are doing even here at the run,” said U.S. Army Spc. Preston White, religious affairs specialist for the 16th Special Troops Battalion. “I know it sounds like every chaplain does this, but giving out care packages and seeing people happy and making them feel important and needed to complete our mission in Team21 is why I love being a chaplain assistant.”
Today, the Army has roughly 1,300 active-duty Chaplains and 1,200 in its Reserve components who represent five major faith groups – Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist – and more than 120 denominations, which gives Soldiers of all religions that choice of Chaplain to talk to.
“The chaplain corps has been around since 1775 providing religious support and, more recently, spiritual fitness and supportive help,” said U.S. Army Col. Robert Allman, command chaplain of the 21st TSC. “We love Soldiers and their families. And we want to be there wherever the Soldiers are. And if that means in the motor pool, deployed, in the office, wherever they are, we’re there for them. And we’re honored to serve them.“