JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. —
(This article is part of Joint Base Charleston's Integrated Delivery System series. These stories focus on an IDS program, highlighting their services.)
Servicemembers face stressors such as deployments, relationship troubles, financial struggles and legal binds which can be overwhelming when piled on top of keeping the mission going.
Fortunately for those going through hardships, there are avenues providing help to those in need of assistance.
What if the problem is too difficult to discuss with another person? What if the servicemember is afraid of getting in trouble for seeking help? What if the individual wants to keep the conversation private?
"There is a place on base offering 100 percent confidential counseling; the Joint Base Charleston Chapel," said Chaplain Maj. Kyle Hundley, deputy joint base chaplain.
"Every time I go to a deployment briefing or a quick start briefing, I like to start with the question of how many people think chaplains offer confidential counseling to individuals," Hundley said. "Most of the audience says yes, but when I ask if it's 100 percent confidential, people hesitate."
Chaplains are held to a standard of 100 percent confidentiality even outside of the military, Hundley added. Confidentiality is a key factor in offering spiritual guidance, providing moral support and ethical advice.
Chaplains provide support in spiritual fitness, which is a key component to resiliency and dealing with life stressors.
"Much like a body builder spends time in a gym to work on physical muscle, chaplains offer help to those looking to build spiritual muscle," Hundley said.
The chapel is part of the Integrated Delivery System or Helping Agencies, which is a working group consisting of organizations across the installation that provide support to the well-being of the joint base community. Each month, the agencies meet to discuss goals, partnerships and ways to help improve issues.
"The IDS is a group of people who truly care about the struggles servicemembers face today," Hundley said. "As a chaplain, I provide an input in the spiritual domain of helping others.
"The spiritual, mental, physical and social components of military fitness are much like the four legs of a chair. If one of those legs is weakened or broken, the stability of a chair is compromised. We meet every month to help support each component of fitness and discuss ways to improve the overall well-being of our servicemembers."
Besides providing spiritual guidance the chapel offers religious accommodations to foster a healthy environment throughout the installation. The chapel also provides weddings, baptisms and religious services.
For more information on the Joint Base Charleston Chapel, please visit
http://www.charleston.af.mil/ownersmanual/chapel.asp.