Training Chaplains for Deployment: Insights from the Exercise ENGAGING SPIRIT
May 27, 2024 - Defence Stories
Caption
Lieutenant (Navy) Wilson Gonese is raising his hand during a classroom training on 01 May 2024, at His Majesty's Canadian ship Cataraqui.
Photographer: Kristy Murphy, Photographer, Canadian Forces Base Kingston Base Photo
Chaplains preparing for future deployment convened at His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) CATARAQUI in Kingston, Ontario, from April 29 to May 3, 2024, for Exercise ENGAGING SPIRIT 2024. This is the first time an exercise of this kind has happened in Canada.
For the previous decade, Canadian Armed Forces chaplains have participated in a CANUS SIMEX at the U.S. Army Chaplain School and Center in Fort Jackson, enabling them to develop skills as well as interoperability. Recent evaluations, however, highlighted the necessity for more Canadian input, better bilingual training, readiness for the increased tempo of forecast deployments, and updates in doctrine, including a broader focus beyond just the Army. This led to the creation of Exercise ENGAGING SPIRIT.
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Captain Samuel Agustin and Captain Jonathan London are participating in a role-playing exercise at His Majesty's Canadian ship Cataraqui on May 2nd 2024. Acting as the interpreter is Antra Balode-Matsubara and acting as the Lutheran minister is Peter Brauns. From the left: Peter Brauns, Antra Balode-Matsubara, Captain Samuel Agustin, Captain Jonathan London.
Photographer: Kristy Murphy, Photographer, Canadian Forces Base Kingston Base Photo
The exercise focused on the chaplain operational tasks of Religious Area Assessment (RAA) and Religious Leader Engagement (RLE). Throughout the intensive training sessions, chaplains learned ways to cooperate with similar organizations, such as civil-military cooperation (CIMIC), and acquired essential skills for effective operational chaplaincy.
Major Kent Horsman, the Exercise Director, expressed satisfaction with the training's effectiveness in preparing chaplains for deployment. “As a first iteration, I thought the exercise went exceptionally well,” he remarked. “Leveraging Latvian-speaking actors to play the roles of religious leaders, and the use of Language Assistants, offered a pertinent training environment, especially considering our commitment to Operation REASSURANCE.”
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Outside group picture of the staff and participants of the Exercise Engaging Spirit 2024, on May 1 at His Majesty's Canadian ship Cataraqui. From left to right: (Front) Lieutenant (Navy) Kevin Offord, (Back) Major Daniel Gilroy, (Front) Captain Marcin Rosinski, (Back) Lieutenant-commander Mary Anne VanHeuvelen, (Front) Captain Jennifer Renouf, (Back) Captain Raphael Pérusse, (Front) Captain John Nemanic, (Back) Captain Jackson Ntumba, (Front) Chief Warrant Officer Paul Rhodes, (Back) Captain Mustafa Kaya, (Front) Brigadier-General Stephane Tardif, (Back) Captain Jonathan London, (Front) Captain Brian Vautour, (Back) Captain Samuel Agustin, (Front) Lieutenant (Navy) John Lee, (Front) Lieutenant (Navy) Wilson Gonese, (Back) Captain Stephan Wagner, (Front) Captain Michael Bowyer, (Back) Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Crawford, (Front) Major Kent Horsman
Photographer: Kristy Murphy, Photographer, Canadian Forces Base Kingston Base Photo
The exercise used traditional classroom learning, computer-assisted simulation, and role-playing to train and prepare chaplains for deployment. A key aspect of the training involved improving chaplain briefing skills to higher command and ensuring clear and concise communication in high-pressure environments. This provided chaplains with the unique opportunity to practice briefing a variety of Senior Officers playing the role of Battle Group commanding officers, to simulate a more realistic training experience.
Exercise ENGAGING SPIRIT was a resounding success for participants, instilling confidence courage, and conviction in their abilities. Major Daniel Gilroy, the Officer Conducting the Exercise, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the training, which swiftly came together with support from various entities including the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre and the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service. “I believe the twelve chaplains from the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force, who made up our primary training audience, are now well equipped to help their deployed chains of command understand and negotiate the important impact that religious and spiritual practices can have on operations.”