Greetings in the Name of the Lord!  It is our prayer that this website would give you a good understanding of what the United States Army Chaplain Corps is all about in the IET (Initial Entry Training) environment.  The soldiers that are a part of the 198th Infantry Brigade are here for 14 weeks of intense training.  It is an intense and non-stop environment where respect, discipline, and honor are modeled, taught and instilled in these young men.

For many of our Soldiers here in training, this is the first time to be away from home.  Homesickness and the initial culture shock of the Army hit the hardest during the first three weeks of training, also known as Red Phase or Total Control.  Many of our Chaplains are prior enlisted, so we know exactly what they are going through.  Because of this, we are here to spiritually lift up and encourage these patriotic volunteers. 

Unit Ministry Teams (Chaplain and Chaplain Assistant) are here to provide worship, encouragement, motivation, counseling, prayer, and whatever else possible to help these men complete one of the hardest training programs in the United States Army.  We cannot get Soldiers discharged or send them home – that is not our function or mission.  Our hearts desire is to assist the Drill Sergeants and Cadre in building a complete and well-rounded Infantryman:  body, soul, mind, and spirit..

Fourteen weeks may sound like a long period of training, but the Drill Sergeants need every moment of it to turn civilians into Infantrymen.  Since time is valuable, Chaplains do their best to meet with Soldiers when it will least interfere with their training.  Meetings can be coordinated through Platoon Drill Sergeants, or meeting with a Chaplain at a training site or after chapel services.  Some of

the best time spent with Soldiers is rappelling down Eagle Tower, or running the obstacle course with them, or marching with them on one of the many road marches.

It is an amazing and blessed thing to not only see civilians transformed into Soldiers of the United States, but also Soldiers of the Lord.  There is not a single week that goes by that Unit Ministry Teams are not able to impact the lives of these young men for all eternity.

We are proud to be of service to God, the Nation, and your Soldier.

For God and Country!

Infantryman's Prayer

Almighty God, whose will it is that we be leaders of men. Hear us as we come to you for guidance in this awesome responsibility.

Let us never forget our duty to the men whom we will lead. May we instill in them the qualities of loyalty, integrity, and duty.

Grant us the patience in dealing with the mistakes of our fellow man and let us never forget that no man is perfect, but that perfection, is trying each day to be better than the day before.

Give us courage, O Lord, in the face of danger: keep us pure in heart, clean in mind, and strong in purpose. Remind us that wisdom is not gained in a hour, a day, or in a year, but it is a process that continues all the days of our lives.

Keep ever before us our goal, which is not to perpetrate war, but to safeguard peace and preserve Your great gift to man, the gift of freedom.

May You always be near to guide us in decisions, comfort us in our failures, and keep us humble in our success. We ask Your Divine blessings and leadership as we discharge the honor and responsibility of being Infantrymen in the service of our country. Walk close to us always, our Father that we may not fall.

AMEN