The water looks calm and clear. A hand wraps around the metal railing of the step ladder. A foot dips down to test the temperature before committing to full emersion. A smiling face awaits the person preparing to enter the pool of water.

Soldiers stomp their boots on the marble floor, raise their voices and make some noise.

The role of the U. S. Army chaplain assistant can be traced back to the American Civil War. Officially, the military occupational specialty now identified as 56M began in 1909 when the Chief of Staff of the Army authorized that each chaplain have one enlisted Soldier assigned to him as an aid. One hundred years later, chaplain assistants still fill a crucial need by supporting their assigned chaplain in a broad range of areas, from secretarial work to physical protection.

Remote Forward Operating Base Baylough lies nestled beneath the mountains. During an evening in late May, the Soldiers attending a small service held by a visiting chaplain heard an explosion and felt the small, recreational building shaking. Believing they were under attack, the troops ran out of the service, wielding their weapons and ready to fight.

"As a civilian pastor I can't go to your office to check up on you, but as an Army chaplain, everywhere you go, that's where I am," said Maj. Michael J. King, chaplain, 17th Fires Brigade, from Vine Grove, Ky.

A famous quote, from English poet John Donne, says, "No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of a continent, a part of a main."

What do K-9 training, pouring cement and changing high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle brakes have in common here?

There are many volunteers and caring individuals aboard the air station who bring smiles to the faces of many people. Navy Lt. Adrienne Townsend, the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron chaplain, is one of those people.

For many chaplains, providing spiritual and mental support for Soldiers is a calling.

As Lt. Cmdr. Scott Callaham reflects on the opportunities God has given him as a North American Mission Board-endorsed chaplain, one that stands out is when he baptized men by immersion for the first time in the 101-year history of the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel.

Construction is nearly complete on the chaplain's program tent to provide service members a comfortable environment for small-group worship services and other chaplain sponsored events on Contingency Operating Base Basra.

Gen. Douglas Carver, chief of chaplains for the U.S. Army, thanked Southern Baptists for the 1,300 SBC military chaplains who minister to some 3 million American troops in service around the world.

The U.S. military vows to protect and uphold the constitution's freedoms and rights, including religion, of individuals at home and abroad.

Active and reserve Army chaplains are playing a critical and strategic role in Iraq, a chaplain serving with Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq said this week.

As the Army's role in Iraq is changing, the importance of peaceful communication and liaison with the Iraqi people is paramount. But as long as there is conflict in Iraq, Soldiers must still train for combat. A special exercise at Fort Polk's Joint Readiness Training Center is teaching Soldiers to strike that careful balance.

Attendees at the second annual Golden Coyote Prayer Breakfast filled their breakfast cups with hope and strength at the Camp Rapid Chapel on June 8.

It wasn't by chance that Chaplain (Capt.) Kent Coffey arrived at the Combat Stress Center on Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq, just moments after a U.S. soldier opened fire, killing five soldiers and wounding three others May 11.

Reinforcements are something every unit loves to have - more soldiers help to win the fight and save lives at the same time.

The 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) command chaplain hosted a conference with the group's subordinate Religious Ministry Teams aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, April 17-18.

The 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) command chaplain hosted a conference with the group's subordinate Religious Ministry Teams aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, April 17-18.

The Bible states "Iron sharpens Iron" and in a war zone it rings true. However, that iron can cut and the Chaplain Corps and their assistants are often the ones who heal those wounds.

Four weeks ago, I boarded a plane for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to the land of desert sheikhs, Aladdin's lamp and Ali Baba. A land where the desert sands hold the history of its ancient peoples. A land so ancient it is considered the cradle of civilization. The birthplace of Abraham. The land where Nebuchadnezzar held Israel captive. I was headed to Iraq. My mission: to embed with Southern Baptist chaplains serving in the U.S. military.

There's strong and then there's Army strong. Nowhere is that more evident than on the front lines of war. My experience embedding with the chaplains of the XVIII Airborne Corps solidified my belief that we have the best of the best serving overseas.

Wednesday, April 8 has been proclaimed as a day of prayer and fasting for the U.S. Army's 200,000 deployed soldiers and their families by the Army's chief of chaplains.

A usually, quiet and timid chaplain assistant answered the call to duty for the 332nd Medical Brigade and delivered powerful words of inspiration as he filled in for the Brigade chaplain on March 22 at the William F. Lyell Army Reserve Center.

The Army National Guard's top chaplain, Brig. Gen Bryan Hult, visited New York National Guard headquarters on March 28 to meet with Lt. Col. Eric Olsen, New York National Guard state chaplain.

The United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., sent one of its own, a Catholic priest, to the front lines to minister to the border-watching Long Knife Brigade.

As we wrap up our third month in country, we have officially passed the first quarter mark of the deployment.  One of my job as the battalion chaplain is to assess morale throughout the unit and report trends and/or concerns to the commander.  Fortunately, there are no concerns to report amongst the Warhorse family.  We are still focused on our mission, dedicated to each other, and thankful for all the love and support we receive from home.&

Soldiers with the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, deployed to Iraq, were able to enjoy a break from the day-to-day stresses of being in a deployed environment while attending a chaplain’s retreat at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and Kuwait City.

Two U.S. Army chaplains are building much more than the faith of their Soldiers on the remote base here.

The chaplain and his assistant for the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group has a one of a kind job. The Airmen they serve perform their duties in combat zones outside the wire, so they do too.

The following article was submitted by Chaplain (CPT) Will Alley, who is the Chaplain for the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.  This battalion has been deployed to Mosul, Iraq since December 12, 2008.

The Army's Life Support Area is an ant hive of activity, serving as the transition point for thousands of U.S. service members moving into and out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

In an article from the Professional Journal of the U.S. Army Chaplaincy, Dr. John W. Brinsfield wrote, “Since 1775, commanders have looked to their chaplains as ethical leaders to reinforce Soldiers’ spiritual strength, commitment, cohesion, morale, and moral discipline. The roles chaplains assumed were legion [numerous]: as pastors, preachers, professors, advisors to the commander, participants with their Soldiers in combat, defense counsels, senior leaders, administrators and st