Chaplain Jonathan Robertson
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UPLOAD: Share Video Message To Troops
READ: C3K's 32 Faces Of 32nd SectionREAD: Soldier ProfilesUPLOAD: Share Video Message To Troops- What is your name, rank and age? Captain Jonathan Robertson; Chaplain, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry. Age 34.
SLIDESHOW: Photos By Chaplain RobertsonWhere are you from? Portage, Wis.Why did you enlist in the military? And at what age?I enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 33 to offer my pastoral ministry skills to the Soldiers of Wisconsin on deployment and the following reintegration.Is this your first tour? If not, how many tours? How is this one different from the others?It is my first tour. I finished my Chaplains Officer Basic Leadership Course (CHBOLC) in September 2008 and was preparing to deploy by November 2008.Tell us about your civilian job. How it compares to what you do while on active duty?I am the senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Portage. Although a chaplain is not technically a pastor of a church, they function pastorally. I am using my training to help Soldiers with the pressures of deployment. Since people are essentially the same regardless of location, being a chaplain is comparable to being a pastor. However, being a chaplain is much more individual specific. Being a pastor has corporate or group responsibilities. For instance, my church is made up of people who made the choice to gather with others because of a similarity of faith. The unifying factor of my Soldiers is the battalion. They did not choose me as their chaplain nor do they all believe the same as I do. Therefore, I perform services for those of like faith and work to provide for the spiritual needs of a variety of faiths including some who believe in nothing. Soldiers and civilians face personal and relationship issues that are quite similar, so I employ my pastoral counseling experience to the task of helping Soldiers cope and advise them on how to make better life choices. Typically, people try to handle their own issues until circumstances begin to overwhelm them. At that point they seek for help. Although it is much easier to address issues before they reach the breaking point, I am grateful to be available to assist our Soldiers through times where stress and circumstances are reaching that critical threshold. I also have the privilege of assisting Soldiers strengthen their spiritual lives. Deployments are often a time where many people reexamine their belief system. On an almost daily basis I am able to discuss truths with Soldiers that have eternal ramifications.What is your unit typically known for? Are you doing that type of work in Iraq? Is it harder or easier than you expected? The 2-127th is an infantry battalion. Since I am not an infantry soldier I will leave this answer up to those who are MOS [Military Occupational Specialties] qualified to speak to this.Tell us about your daily routine. Please include the region of Iraq you are serving in.I serve as a battalion chaplain to the 2-127th Infantry and 132 Brigade Support Battalion soldiers that are stationed at Camp Bucca, Iraq. We are the southernmost Army camp in the country. We are a couple of miles from the Kuwait border and just a short distance from the border with Iran. Having an established routine might make the deployment rather boring. Rarely does my job let me script a day in advance. However, a rough outline of a typical weekday would look something like this: I try to get to my office in the chapel before 0600 to make coffee and call home. Breakfast follows and then I head to the BDOC [Base Defense Operating Center]. There I make a visit to the Commander's office to find out how he and the Command Sergeant Major are doing and to glean any information that might impact my efforts that day. By 0930, I have typically returned to the chapel for some office time. I try to get matters wrapped up before heading to lunch, so that my afternoons are somewhat open. If I am not detained, I visit units during the hotter part of the day to deliver freeze pops to Soldiers. About 1600, I make my way to the Fight House, to practice Army combatives. After a cool-down and supper, I usually spend a bit more time at the office to prepare for the events of the next day. Intermingled into my normal schedule include things such as: soldier counseling, Red Cross messages, staff meetings, Bible studies, required briefings, impromptu encouragement sessions, trips outside the wire to visit Soldiers, and a continual ministry of presence. Essentially, my role is to be with or accessible to Soldiers to 'nurture the living, care for the dying and honor the dead.' Thankfully, our mission has required us to face the minimal amount of the latter two responsibilities.How do you relax over there? Is it possible to relax? I relax in multiple ways over here. I have found that participating in sporting events with fellow Soldiers is a great diversion. I join in football, volleyball, softball, and 'Ultimate Frisbee.' I also enjoy the competition of ping-pong and Army combatives. Since I am a fairly low maintenance individual, it takes little to entertain me or break up the monotony of the day. One of my favorite means of getting away from daily tasks is doing something constructive for my family relationships. I have made several picture slide shows set to music for my family. I do the "Readings from the Sandbox" for my kids. I write letters to my wife and children on a regular basis. This not only lets them know I am thinking about them, but gives me the opportunity to continue building family relationships from 8,000 miles away. I am able to relax over here when I know that things back home are taken care of properly.What has been the most memorable moment of this tour so far? One of the more memorable moments was seeing my Sergeant Major show up at one of my chapel services. He claimed that the chapel would burst into flame if he ever showed up, when I asked him about attending a service. His competitive fire got the best of him. I found out he played ping pong, so I challenged him to a match. To make it interesting, we agreed that if he won, I wouldn’t ask him about attending services. If I won, he would have to attend. He lost, and the chapel is still standing.What is your impression of the Iraqi people? Are they appreciative of your presence? The Iraqi people are a resilient culture to survive in this hostile climate. Their sense of family/tribal loyalty provides a strong contrast to the shoddy American concept of family. One cultural attitude that goes against the grain of the American 'can do' attitude is the concept of enshallah ('if God wills'). This cultural norm irritates our expectation of progress and change. Changes take place very slowly. These things are different than our culture. At times we judge a culture as bad because it is different. I see strengths that I admire in parts of their culture and weaknesses. However, I believe we have much to learn as Americans. Their resiliency to deal with a tough environment and unstable government comes from a strong foundation in family and faith. Our culture has minimized these two key ingredients for a strong, stable individual. I believe that a good portion of them are grateful for the changes that have been introduced by the work of the U.S. military. However, popular sentiment resembles any occupied nation. They would prefer to live without our presence. I do not expect any parades in our honor, nor do I anticipate any great praise for our accomplishments because they must continue to live here when we are gone. Publicly siding with a military force that is withdrawing could have negative consequences for them in the future. Yet, it seems to me that they recognize their country is in a far better position today than it was previously. It would be fitting if our country would recognize the landmark achievements of the U.S. military regardless of how the Iraqi people respond.As troop withdrawals continue, what change do you feel you and your unit are bringing about based on your mission? How does it make you feel? We have been given a mission connected to the drawdown of troops in Iraq. As such, much of our success has to be measured in reverse. It is difficult for troop trained to go forward to find satisfaction in going backward. Our mission is not one that the infantry is asked to do very often, so finding appropriate justification for the sacrifices made is a major issue. Our unit has been successful in securing our area of operation so that no major disturbance has happened under our watch. Having things continue smoothly means that we are being successful. Personally, I have a justification for my presence. As a chaplain, my only concern is service members within my area of operation. I come into contact with soldiers who are wrestling with the question of justifying their presence on this mission. I try to encourage them that we are volunteers who are serving our country. We have been given a necessary assignment. It may not have the "excitement" of a normal infantry combat mission, but it is a mission from which we can return home with honor, if we continue to serve will. I am proud to be serving these great citizens of Wisconsin.What is the biggest misconception you think people have about being in the military or what you're doing overseas? Americans have generally lost the ability to comprehend sacrifice. Being able to justify sacrifice instead of the typical expectation of self-indulgence, has led to disillusionment of families connected to the military and some service members as well. I am the father of five and have a church that still desires for me to be their pastor. People have questioned why I would leave my family and church behind to serve in the military. I almost get the impression that people expect only those who have nothing better to do to serve in the military. Either that or they believe the military to be a profession. However, I volunteered to serve my country because it is at war with enemies who desire my family and myself dead. For reasons, I'm not sure I can easily articulate, the enemies of the U.S. are seeking to kill Americans. Someone has to be willing to do the difficult and dangerous job of being a Soldier. My personal skills are not consistent with enemy engagement, but I can be a force multiplier by strengthening those who are required to do that task. Throughout the history of our country, pastors have stepped up to serve their country in the chaplain role. I am grateful that God has given my wife, family, and church the strength and vision to sacrifice for our country in this capacity. People who do not understand the meaning and responsibility of sacrifice will not understand what motivates honest, hard-working, successful citizens to join the volunteer force that protects their interests daily.Name one thing you carry with you at all times.Bible.With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, what are you most thankful for? What's most on your mind? Without a doubt my family constantly comes to mind during the holidays. Having solid family support makes my time over here much more bearable. I am thankful for my faith in an eternal God which provides an eternal perspective on life. I am thankful for my family because I know they support the decisions I’ve had to make. I am thankful for my church that was willing to sacrifice to let their pastor serve in this capacity. I am thankful for the United States of America that still protects individual liberties. Most on my mind is making each day lived worthwhile regardless of where that location may be.Name your favorite song. What memory does it invoke? I have many significant religious songs that have provided much comfort and strength on this deployment. However, one fun song that has also lifted me up is "Thank God for Kids" by the Oak Ridge Boys. I took some family photos of my children and made up a slideshow with this song in the background. After a long day nothing makes me smile quicker and helps me realize why I’m here quicker than seeing my kids as this song plays.If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I prefer to leave the super powers with the Almighty. He is much better at wielding them appropriately. However, I sometimes wonder if the ability to read minds would help my counseling.Brains. Beauty. Bravery. Which would you like more of?Brains. Beauty is temporary. Bravery requires crisis. Brains are useful all the time.Forgive or forget Brett Favre for playing in purple? Forget. Copyright 2009 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
