What Do They Really Do?

A Look inside Military Chaplaincy

by Chaplain Colonel Bruce Fredrickson with Patty Thomson and Michelle Westlund

Military chaplaincy is a unique ministry that requires a specific call. Having served in the United States Marine Corps for four years of active duty after graduating from high school, the military has always come naturally for me. After being discharged from the Marines and beginning college, I knew something was missing-it was my military connection. I joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and served the next eight years as an Infantry Officer with the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Photo of Bruce Fredrickson
"My 'pastoral calling' came
from God.. my 'pastoral
competence' came from
Bethel Seminar."
–Chaplain Colonel
Bruce Fredrickson
(above left)Meanwhile, I was earning my Master of Divinity degree from Bethel Seminary. Bethel provided a very solid foundation to give me the skill-set to pursue military chaplaincy. My “pastoral calling” came from God…my “pastoral competence” came from Bethel Seminary. I knew that Infantry was no longer my calling-it was the Chaplain Branch. I completed my degree, was ordained, and transferred to the Chaplain Corps in 1990.

Military chaplains must meet rigorous requirements. They must be ordained, endorsed by their denomination, meet height and weight requirements, complete 90 graduate credit hours of theological study, receive secret clearance, and do all of these things prior to their 40th birthday. Army chaplains like me have a three-fold mission:

1) Nurture the living. Chaplains conduct religious services, provide pastoral care and counseling, deal with family life issues, enhance unit morale, and encourage activities that enhance mission readiness by keeping soldiers spiritually fit.

2) Care for the wounded. Chaplains provide desperately needed spiritual care on and off the battlefield.

3) Honor the dead. It is vitally important to family members back home as well as unit members that we honor our fallen comrades. Chaplains take this very seriously. In our Task Force, we have conducted nearly 100 memorial ceremonies, each one attended by the commanding general. The ceremonies are one of the most rewarding and fulfilling missions I have participated in despite their sensitive nature.

In the military, the days are long without ever getting a day off. There is always a daily requirement to do something or be somewhere. I honestly do not mind because staying busy keeps the days from being too long. I remind myself and others: “Don’t count your days...make your days count.”

We establish what is referred to as a “battle rhythm,” a daily/weekly schedule that needs to remain flexible. Our motto is “Mission First…People Always.” Soldiers understand the importance of mission accomplishment. Even though it may be dangerous and one may be homesick or lonely, the mission must be completed. This can be difficult for civilians to understand at times, but that’s the way we view it.

Chaplains help soldiers keep this in perspective. By listening to their concerns, we help them cope with the issues they face. Often, they don’t expect us to respond; they just want us to listen and care about them. The best ministry I have participated in is one-to-one ministry with soldiers in their work environment. They don’t make appointments to see the chaplain at his office; they respond best to the ministry we bring to them in the field. We earn their respect and they respond through building levels of trust.

I see the military chaplaincy as a wonderful extension of my comprehensive ministry. To be a chaplain, one must appreciate and enjoy the military lifestyle. Although not easy, the lifestyle has always come fairly easily for me. I guess it’s part of my call. And where God calls, He equips. •

Bruce Fredrickson recently returned from a year-long tour of duty in Iraq. He was part of a ministry team numbering more than 100 who served the 22,000 soldiers of the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division Task Force. He is pastor of New Harvest Assembly of God Church in Withee, Wisconsin, and a staff chaplain at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. A 1989 Bethel Seminary graduate, Chaplain Colonel Fredrickson is married to Ann, “a capable and wonderful Proverbs 31 woman who has done a remarkable job of keeping the ‘home fires’ burning.” The “home fires” also include son Clark, 15, and daughter Jill, 12.