Most of us know about the devastating psychological effects that war has on soldiers and the aftershock of life at home after being in combat for so many months. This after shock and emotional roller coaster that results from multiple deployments is exceptionally difficult to deal with, not only because of the contrast of extreme stress and stimulation on the battlefield with relatively relaxing and less intense home life complimented by comfy furniture and Direct TV Choice, but also because of the type of mentality soldiers need to adapt in order to cope with the environment they live in for so long overseas.
The physical, psychological and emotional toll of war spreads far beyond armed troops, however. Frequently overlooked, Chaplains also face equally stressful situations and suffered the repercussions of those situations. And while they’re not on the front lines doing battle and actively risking their physical safety, it takes a certain kind of human being to pray with dying men as medics are trying to save them, to comfort troops who have been through traumatic experiences during the line of duty, or seen things that no human being should ever have to see. Military chaplains on active duty build relationships with many soldiers, listening to their deepest concerns and feelings about the horrors of war, knowing full well they may have to be by the sides of these men if they are injured in the line of duty. Many chaplains suffer from a sort of “compassion fatigue,” according to Kansas State University doctoral candidate Vance P. Theodore, who recently completed research on how the impact of war affected 408 chaplains who served 12, 15 and 20 month tours with the US Army over seas.
When comparing chaplains’ tours from Vietnam to today’s war on terror, it is evident that today’s ministers are spread much thinner and under a much greater demand. The average tour for a chaplain serving during the Vietnam war was 6 months, and most only deployed one time. Today, the average tour is 13 months, and more than one third of the 1,600+ active duty chaplains have served multiple tours, and the war is far from over. During reintegration back in the US, many ministers show signs of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. But this depression and anxiety is not only from witnessing atrocities and caring for people who may be lost to them, but because a sort of loss of identity that stems from Theodore’s compassion fatigue. Once their words and actions start feeling insincere, they lose a certain sense of their identity as a caring person who loves and wants to serve a generous God. And that feeling of insincerity can come from the same desensitizing effect that violent video games, cursing, and other cultural phenomena are known for, except in a much different form, making a chaplain’s duty seem much more daunting. For now, we should treat their post-tour care the same as regular troops, to ensure their reintegration into society goes as smooth as possible, and thank them kindly for their sacrificing service.
