Editor's note: After a recent Army.mil piece on chaplains participating in the Special Forces Qualification Course, Army Times solicited viewpoints on the training. Click here to read an opposing view.

As a former Army chaplain who served over 15 years with special operations forces, I am a strong advocate that a few carefully selected chaplains should go through the Special Forces Qualification Course. I was fortunate to serve at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in the 1980s, and the commandant of the school urged me to complete the officer's course. I graduated from SFQC 5-89 and have seen multiple benefits from being an "SF Qualified" chaplain.

First and foremost, the course was a superb educational experience that presented a breadth of information that would take years to accumulate otherwise. The nature and mission of SOF are different enough from conventional forces that chaplains may have a steep learning curve when first coming into an SF unit. The Q course better prepares a chaplain to integrate into the unit.

The operational pace, range of missions and decentralized execution of those missions can impede a chaplain from conducting religious support unless that chaplain has some unique knowledge regarding how to integrate into the operational flow. The knowledge gained through the Q course better prepares chaplains to conduct their primary mission of religious support.

The Chaplain Corps often allows chaplains to pursue advanced training in various disciplines in order to enhance religious support in those unique venues. For instance, some selected chaplains develop additional training so that they can enter into hospital ministry, Family Life ministry or teaching ethics at Army schools. Others are selected to attend the Army War College. The rationale for allowing chaplains to go through advanced training in these areas is the same argument for sending chaplains to the SFQC. It enhances the chaplain's knowledge of a unique environment that facilitates better religious support.

Retired Chaplain (Col.) Tim Willoughby

Photo Credit: Submitted photo

A third positive benefit from attending such a long and challenging course is the opportunity to build positive relationships with officers who will soon lead the Special Forces community. The connections established by shared hardship in training can establish bonds that can continue throughout future assignments.

I served in six different SOF assignments over the span of 20 years. The friendships made in the Q course greatly enhanced my ability to conduct my chaplain mission as fellow Q course friends became senior commanders and leaders. Long-term, trusted friendships contribute to professional confidence that leads to greater freedom to operate within the SOF community.

There are some risks in sending chaplains through the Q course. The main risk is that a chaplain may lose their pastoral identity and see themselves as an "operator" and no longer primarily as a chaplain. Therefore, only carefully selected, mature chaplains should be allowed to attend the course. One criterion that is vital in selecting a chaplain for the course is pastoral identity. Chaplains should resist any influence that may cause them to veer from their ministry calling.

Religious support is the mission of the chaplain. Chaplain involvement in Q course training and assignment with SOF is always for the purpose of providing better religious support. Senior supervisory chaplains in the SOF community have the mission to ensure that the chaplains who go through the Q course understand their role and the purpose for going through the course.

Chaplains are non-combatants. Even though some of the training in the Q course involves combat skills, it does not remove the chaplain's non-combatant identity. Done properly, Q course participation by chaplains enhances religious support.

Retired Chaplain (Col.) Timothy Willoughby served 30 years on active duty.  His last few assignments include serving as command chaplain in the following units:  Army Special Forces Command, Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, senior chaplain in Afghanistan and U.S. Central Command.  Since retirement in 2011, Willoughby serves on the pastoral staff at a local church in Safety Harbor, Florida.

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