Marines TV

U.S. Navy Chaplain, LTJG Netetia Walker, explains her role as a Chaplain at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Aug. 24, 2017. Walker is one of several Chaplains with the Recruit Training Regiment that offers worship services for different religions, and helps the recruits and Marines mentally and spiritually. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Lance Cpl. Debra Rookus, Lance Cpl. Jordan P. Canney, and Cpl. Scott P. Smolinski)

U.S. and Philippine service members play with children during a community relations event in support of Balikatan 2017 at Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga, May 13, 2017. The community relations event was held to build a relationship with the local populous. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. David Adams) Interview 1: Interview 2: Maj. Arvin Gundran Director of Civil Military Operations 600th Air Base Wing, Armed Forces of the Philippines Interview 2: Maj. Joel Vergara Chaplain Australian Defence Force Interview 3: Senior Airman Holly Yancey Air Transportation Specialist 36th Mobility Response Squadron

Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Myers, chaplain for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit slated to deploy later this year, shares his personal thoughts on the most important aspect of his job after 36 years of service to God, Corps and country. Story and video by Lance Cpl. Jacob Pruitt MARINE AIR-GROUND TASK FORCE TRAINING CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Service members pledge their lives to the service of others; while some serve their country for a few years proudly and then move on as civilians, some devote their entire lives, others pay in blood and go home physically or emotionally wounded, while some give their lives. Chaplains are service members who work to take care of those who are called to serve, it’s their job to reinforce the spiritual mettle of those who spend long months away from home and deal with the daily stress that comes with holding a spot with the world’s crisis response force. Lt. Cmdr. James Myers, a Pennsville, N. J., native, devoted his life to the service of God, Corps and his country, and has always worked toward supporting and taking care of others. Throughout his 36 years of service, Myers never stopped being a leader to his congregation or to the Marines under his guidance. He’s currently serving as the chaplain of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and continues to lead and teach those around him. “When I was a cadet at the Citadel, I got to see the different branches of service,” said Myers. “My father was in the Navy and my uncle was a pilot, but I didn’t know which branch of service I wanted to be a part of until I met with all the different branches.” Myers could have followed the example set by his father and joined the Navy, or let his love of aviation move him toward the Air force, but unexpectedly Myers felt compelled to join the United States Marine Corps. “I noticed something different about the Marines,” said Myers. “Marines are a different breed, and I was really impressed with the way the officers and staff non-commissioned officers cared for those under them; actually taking the time to understand them, getting to know them personally, and with that, building the bond that separated them from the others.” Myers set his mind on being a pilot after deciding on joining the Marines. Myers graduated and became a Marine aviator after getting the opportunity to go to flight school. “I loved every minute of my time being a pilot,” said Myers. “Sometimes it was hard to believe I was being paid to do the things I was doing.” During his time as a pilot from 1981 until 1987, Myers was passionate about taking care of Marines. After leaving the Marine Corps, he remained passionate about taking care of others and felt called to serve in a different manner. This time from behind a pulpit, he worked as a pastor for 12 years influencing and bettering the lives of those around him. “In 2008, my wife introduced me to a Navy article about the need for chaplains,” said Myers. “I prayed about it, and thought it through and ended up calling the recruiter. He said there was a place for a guy like me. So in 2008, I came back into the service with the Chaplain Corps.” Myers got a chance to see the world and experience a whole new side of the military while working on multiple deployment rotations. “I always loved getting to be a part of something like this,” said Myers. “The MEU is as good a snapshot of the military as you can ask for. It allows Marines and Sailors to see almost all of our core components working together in unison, and it can be a real learning and growing experience for all those involved. I couldn’t be happier being a part of it.” Myers always goes above and beyond his call of service. With men and women like him watching over the Marines and Sailors with the 15th MEU, our service members will not only be physically and mentally ready for the upcoming deployment, but spiritually ready and resilient to take on any and all challenges they may face.

U.S. Navy Chaplain Lt. Aroon Seeda and Marines with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Unit, hand out school supplies and teach English to students at the Ban Phan Sa Nguan School in Korat Province Feb. 15, 2017 as part of Cobra Gold 2017. Seeda, a Thailand native, is the only Buddhist Chaplain in the Navy and is part of the Navy Operational Support Unit. CG17 maintains a consistent focus on Humanitarian Civic Action (HCA), community engagement, and medical activities conducted during the exercise to support the needs and humanitarian interests of civilian populations around the region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Ally Beiswanger) English translation: I personally had a great experience about 30 years ago. At that time, I was a Buddhist novice. When I was walking for food, the U.S. Marines gave me an MRE. They followed me to a temple and helped me do my homework. As a part of this [community relations] event, I hope I can make these children have the same memorable experience that I had. When I come back to Thailand, it’s an opportunity to fulfill my dream to serve my country. I’m glad that I’m a part of Cobra Gold and that I can help this school. The work I do as a chaplain is rewarding because I can serve the U.S., Thailand and Buddhism at the same time.

U.S. Navy Chaplain Lt. Aroon Seeda and Marines with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Unit, hand out school supplies and teach English to students at the Ban Phan Sa Nguan School in Korat Province Feb. 15, 2017 as part of Cobra Gold 2017. Seeda, a Thailand native, is the only Buddhist Chaplain with the U.S. Navy and is with Navy Operational Support Unit. CG17 maintains a consistent focus on Humanitarian Civic Action (HCA), community engagement, and medical activities conducted during the exercise to support the needs and humanitarian interests of civilian populations around the region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Ally Beiswanger)

Chaplain David L. Duprey makes a case for spiritual fitness based on CMC guidance provided in ALMAR 033/16. This can be used as stand-alone training or in conjunction with the three part Tier 1 Suicide Prevention series entitled “Are You Willing to be Inconvenienced,” Spectrum Mapping” and “Fire Team Leadership.”

Tier 1 Suicide Prevention and Intervention Are you willing to be inconvenienced? Chaplain David L. Duprey builds on the foundation of UMAPIT 2.0 to ask the critical question of engagement: “Are you willing to be inconvenienced?” This can be used as a stand-alone training or as part 1 of a three part series. The other two parts are entitled “Spectrum Mapping” and “Fire Team Leadership.”

Tier 1 Suicide Prevention and Intervention Spectrum Mapping Chaplain David L. Duprey builds on the foundation of UMAPIT 2.0 to describe an intervention model called “Spectrum Mapping.” This can be used as a stand-alone training or as part 2 of a three part series. The other two parts are entitled “Are you willing to be inconvenienced?” and “Fire Team Leadership.”