by Nathanael Logan, Army Chaplain, ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor
I want to give you a small taste of what biblical soul care looks like in an Army attack battalion. Over the years as an Army chaplain, I’ve observed changes as a whole and, of course, with inner unit culture. Each aspect presents unique challenges to the ministry. I’ll attempt to describe what the labor looks like, share the wonderful fruit, and extend to you and my fellow chaplains and counselors a challenge as you continue the good work of biblical care for the souls of our soldiers.
Having served active duty in the Army for my first enlistment, then as a drill sergeant in the reserves, and now in chaplain ministries since 2009, I’ve witnessed many changes in the Army. Some were caused by political pressure, others based on the battlefield, the end of an era in warfare and the anticipated future fight, and some were cultural.
As you’ve witnessed America change, I’ve watched the Army change, bringing many challenges. For example, in peace time, an aspiring commander is making his name. In war time, rather than being most effective on the battlefield, he’s ensuring that people see him as inclusive. Yes, in peace time he will train his unit for upcoming large-scale combat operations, but his concerns are divided by the concern for political correctness. An example is inclusivity.
What does it mean to be inclusive? You and I know there is nothing more inclusive in this world than the cross of Jesus Christ. Does Scripture not say he died for all? Yet, many commanders do not see this as inclusive but rather exclusive, based on the liberal teachings they’ve received throughout their lives and in their colleges.
As a chaplain, I’ve moved from unit to unit over the course of my career, and every two to three years I minister to a new group of people, each with their own military culture. Most recently, I had the privilege of ministering to an Attack Battalion (BN) in a Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB). Their culture was distinctly different from logisticians, military intelligence, military police, or the drill sergeants I had previously served. Right away, I went to work to build a rapport. The soldiers tagged me with the name Drill Chappy because I was the first chaplain they’d met who had previously been a drill sergeant—an automatic plus-ten cool points with the enlisted, but not with officers.
Regarding the Attack BN I worked with, the culture and mentality among enlisted aviation soldiers differed from that of the aviation officers and vehicle mechanics. An Attack BN has more warrant officers than most units and many of them are pilots, but warrants are needed in maintainer areas as well. Building personal relationships with each of those unique groups was key toward making an impact on the unit and growing a Biblical counseling ministry—a ministry of personal soul care that’s based solely on Scripture alone.
In the military, integrated forms of counseling coexist and primarily use worldly philosophy and methods as reference to understanding people and problems while attaching Bible verses. The problem with integration is that the foundation for knowledge produces a different goal with different results than counseling that’s rooted in Scripture. As the apostle Paul stated in Colossians 2:8, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (NKJV).
Mankind’s philosophies and principles cannot lead soldiers (or anyone) to Jesus and therefore cannot solve their true problems.
Because of the differences in the unit, I poured my time into activities that built relationships and showed a consistent life in Christ. The first way was though religious accommodations, which is sticky one. But if we wish to maintain our religious freedoms, we must allow religious freedom for all. Thus, I ensured that religious freedom was afforded to all people. Often, this meant opening opportunities for good, lengthy conversations. Religious accommodations range from vaccine exemptions to growth of beards and many other subjects. To do my job well, I must ask myself if my soldiers are being given the time, space, and resources that are essential to worship, and what basic needs I can help meet to get the soldiers through this time. Sometimes I simply need to extend a piece of common grace. Other times, God graciously uses me to bring someone to salvation.
Another essential way to build rapport and personal relationships with soldiers is to be personally there with them. We often call this "battlefield circulation." I simply go out, find my soldiers, and greet each as if it’s the first time I’ve seen them in a long time. I don’t go with a topic in mind nor to seek deep conversations. I’m simply myself and available to them. I talk with each and treat each the same as I do every other person.
Some of the lower enlisted are never treated with kindness and respect, so for a former drill sergeant, now chaplain, to treat them the same as higher-ranking individuals really means something to them.
At first, battlefield circulation can feel odd for a soldier. Afterall, what pastor visits a church member’s workplace, and unannounced, and distracts them from their work? As you’ll see, this approach is effective and essential to their jobs.
As compared to battlefield circulation, chapel ministry is a difficult way to reach your soldiers. In the course of repeatedly posting a time and place for chapel, I found that no one would show up. The same soldiers who entrusted me with their personal and faith-based counsel would not attend chapel services, even when the BN commander and I found appropriate time and space for attendance.
I had to get creative to build a successful service.
On a burning hot Sunday morning when summer temperatures were in the triple digits, a group of soldiers were standing at the range in readiness to refuel, rearm, and attend to any needed aircraft repairs as AH-64 Apache helicopter pilots flew overhead and shot targets. I had filled an ice chest with ice and Gatorade and took it out to the group of ten and a DA civilian. I said, "Hey, I was going to go do a chapel service over there at the tent, but seeing as we’re all gathered here, do you mind if I just give you the Word here?" They were more than happy to sit for a few moments and hear a story about Jesus as they enjoyed a cold Gatorade on that hot day. And yes, I found a shaded spot for us, which they needed.
Attendance at chapel services overseas was much different. Soldiers from varying units would attend. On average, I’d have thirty-five to forty soldiers in chapel. Only four or five were attached to my unit. The others were from an Aviation Support Battalion. Again, groups of guys with different cultures. I saw in them a willingness to trust the chapel services, which I didn’t see in the Attack Battalion.
Biblical soul care in the counseling room for an Attack BN of a CAB is different in small ways. As you can imagine, those soldiers deal with the same problems other people wrestle with. Drugs, domestic violence, suicide, parenting, marriage, and money are all common issues, and the Attack BN is no exception. The days of combat are now over and we see less combat patches in the force than we once saw. The combat patch shows that soldier served in a combat zone at one time. It’s worn on their right shoulder, just under the American flag patch. As I walk through the ranks today, I see more and more soldiers without a combat patch. They’ve never experienced combat, so the issues that walk into my office are less about PTSD and other combat related stress. If a PTSD comes in, it’s more likely related to abuse or sexual assault.
Army-wise, aviation is a small group of people. What happens in Texas, Alaska, or Kentucky will have a great impact on the unit in Kansas. For example, there was an AH-64 crash that killed several pilots and crew members last year (2023). I had pilots come to see me as they struggled with grief, having lost close friends. Any loss of life in Army aviation sends a ripple effect throughout the Army Aviation Corp as a whole. Chaplains must be ready because an accident can happen at any time, whether in peace time or combat.
God has blessed and continues to bless the labor.
I’ll share a case I believe exemplifies each aspect of ministry labor and how God used those to reach one soldier in particular. Then I’ll share the fruit I was able to document and permitted to share. But keep this in mind: there is seen and unseen fruit in each ministry.
Even when we don’t know and can’t see what’s happening, God is moving in people’s lives through the faithfulness of His people.
I learned that lesson ten years after my first enlistment. A soldier contacted me to ask forgiveness and tell me the impact I’d had on his life by how I lived as a Christian. I reiterate, God is moving even when we don’t see it.
In the summer of 2022, a Commander’s Critical Incident Report (CCIR) came to my desk. The report stated that the soldier was experiencing suicidal and homicidal ideations and was going to be removed from his company to keep him away from his commander, the target of Corporal’s homicidal thoughts. Right away, I knew there were two people, at minimum, that I needed to sit down and talk with. I needed to hear from the commander and the soldier. The Corporal was worshiping Thor and Oden, claiming Norse paganism.
Of course, with my office being distinctly religious, I cannot force a soldier to speak to me. What I can do is keep my eye out for him and make sure I say hello and make my time available to him. In other words, I would intentionally run into him.
As I was walking to his work location, I saw him heading to the parking lot about a block or two from his work hanger. I made sure to pass him and I stopped to talk with him. He was on his way to an appointment, so I didn’t hold him up too long. He knew I must have known about his situation because he began to talk a little about what was going on.
A few weeks later we went to the field. The weather was triple-digits hot. Again, I set up an area for the soldiers to have iced Gatorade in a tent with open sides, providing air flow and shade. The field exercise is what we call a TOC-EX—where BN staff practice setting up their tents and equipment and practice their roles and functions. They also practice moving in a timely and tactical manner from one location to another.
The exercise location chosen by the company commander was a gravel parking lot. The sun was beating down on the rocks and the heat radiated from them all the more. The soldiers were suffering from the harsh effects, so the Gatorade was in high demand. Nonetheless, five of our soldiers went to the hospital with heat-related injuries, including my assistant.
Late in the evening, I ran into the Corporal and this time he opened up more about his feelings and his plans for the future. A soldier talking about his plans is a very good sign, especially for those who’ve had suicidal and homicidal ideations. This was not a formal counseling session; it was battlefield circulation that produced informal counseling and trust building.
A month later, another CCIR came to my desk for the same soldier. He had been arrested for suspected child abuse and forcibly removed from his home. He was currently staying in a spare room in the barracks reserved as a "cool off room." When soldiers are involved in any kind of domestic violence, they’re required to stay in the barracks for three nights, not as a punishment but to separate them from the family and give the soldier time to mentally cool off and calm down. The Corporal had been informed that he would not be allowed any contact with his family during the investigation.
Shortly after I received the CCIR, the Commander informed me that the soldier wanted to see me for formal counseling. A win! When the soldier sat down in my office, one of the first things he said was, "God is spanking me right now. I’m saved but I’ve been engaged in idolatry. I’ve been worshiping pagan gods. I have their pagan tattoos and I married an unsaved woman. I’ve been living like a pagan and now God is spanking me."
Immediately, I recognized that his wife needed to be in counseling with him and the soldier also needed individual counseling. The courts were charging them both with child abuse and both agreed to meet with me weekly for parental counseling and the Corporal weekly for individual counseling.
At our parenting meeting, I listened to the two of them talk about the case. I had already gained many of the details from the CCIR, but their demeanor made clear to me that they were a little apprehensive to share details. Even with my confidentiality as a chaplain, they were never fully comfortable sharing. Some things are just hard for people to say.
During the entry gate process, I asked his wife what it means to be a Christian. She agreed to read a few passages of Scripture I directed her to and she explained to me what each meant. I perceived that she fully understood the verses and I asked if she had ever received salvation. She said no and I asked if she wanted salvation. "Yes," she said. That day in my office, she received Christ as her Savior.
After the first three sessions, I received an email from the prosecuting attorney in the soldier’s case, stating that the judge was willing to drop charges against the Corporal if he completed nine weeks of counseling with me and to my satisfaction. Praise the Lord!
Needless to say, the couple was eager to learn and grow through that hard time.
The family then joined a Baptist church in the city, located adjacent to our Army post, and the couple was faithful in meaningful membership. I spent time teaching the Corporal what godly repentance and sorrow looks like, our goal as believers to live pleasing to God, and what spiritual disciplines look like. We used a Y chart to help gather additional data and to show a practical way we can make stay rooted in spiritual growth. The couple was motivated to accomplish all the homework given, which included Scripture reading and other reading materials I gave them.
After nine weeks, the prosecutor called me and asked specific questions. I provided the court with a Memorandum for Record (MFR) detailing the lessons they learned and my satisfaction with their growth. No confidential information or advisement was given to the court. I only shared information that allowed the judge and district attorney to make their decision.
The court dropped all charges.
In April of this year, my soldiers and I went to the Army National Training Center in California for twenty-nine days. Upon returning to Fort Riley, the Corporal entered my office with good news. His son had asked him, "How can I get saved?" That day, Jesus saved the little boy’s soul! The Corporal’s son and wife were both baptized together in their local church. What amazing grace!
As part of a concluding challenge to you, let’s consider for a moment the total fruit we know of in the Attack BN.
In Poland, God saved four soldiers due to the ministry through my office.
I was privileged to baptize seven soldiers in a wooden box I’d built.
Upon returning to Ft. Riley from Poland, the Lord saved two soldiers and a spouse in my office, and one child at their home.
Both spouse and child were baptized in their local church.
The Corporal and his family faithfully attends their local church and is now inquiring about Bible colleges to attend.
The soldier wishes to find more ways to serve God with his life.
Upon reviewing those moments of salvation, I realized that the biggest reason I see salvations in my office is because of the opportunities I provide for the soldiers. While many of my soldiers would call themselves Christians, some have realized their need for salvation upon hearing the gospel. This happened by way of the opportunities I presented through personal connections, genuine care and availability of my time, and through counseling, gospel services, and impromptu gatherings.
I challenge you to ensure that you’re giving others various opportunities to take the next step with Christ, whatever that is. Do not pass those by. Do not accept unsaved as a reason to switch to secular counsel or counsel that's void of Scripture.
Extend opportunities and let God do the rest.
I encouraged soldiers to read God’s Word for themselves and I also gave them opportunities to read the Word, and God saved them. Such opportunities only happened through the daily labor of battlefield circulation, religious accommodation, chapel services, and biblical counseling, all founded and built solely on God’s Word. That is biblical soul care in the context of an Attack BN.
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