The Defence Academy has played host to a ‘first of its kind’ course, training ten Ukrainian military chaplains preparing to serve on the front line.
Supported by the UK Armed Forces under Operation Orbital and The Defence Academy’s Defence Leadership and Business Group (DLaB), the course came in response to a request from the Armed Forces of Ukraine to equip participants with the religious and practical resources needed to support personnel through the most challenging aspects of operations.
Over a period of two weeks between 22 May and 2 June, the visiting chaplains were embedded with the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department (RAChD) at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC), Beckett House. Through a team of interpreters, lessons included the provision of pastoral care and spiritual support to soldiers and their families, and included subjects such as bereavement and loss, and managing mental health difficulties.
Speaking from Beckett House on the final day of the course, The Reverend Michael D Parker, the British Army Chaplain General, said:
Major General Andrew Roe, Chief Executive and Commandant Defence Academy, echoed the importance of such engagement:
The visiting chaplains were able to visit and worship with Ukrainian soldiers currently training in the UK as part of Op INTERFLEX.
Reverend Robin Richardson, who was responsible for developing the Defence Academy programme said:
There are currently 160 chaplains within the growing, multi-faith chaplaincy branch of the Ukrainian military, which was formally established in 2021. There are aspirations to grow their ranks to 738 chaplains, to ensure that spiritual and pastoral support is available across units, hospitals, and training sites.
Colonel Vitalii Skrybets, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Military Chaplaincy Service, said: