Members of the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC) have been honoured by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
AFCC Principal, Reverend Mark Davidson and Director Training (Army), Reverend Mark Grant-Jones, have each received the Ukraine Military Assistance Medal in recognition of their personal contribution to the AFU Military Chaplaincy Service.
Also receiving the honour were Officer Commander AFU Chaplaincy Training, Colonel Zosich, Chaplain General of the British Army, Reverend Michael Parker, and Deputy Chief of Chaplains, US Army, Brigadier General Jack Stumme.
The medal bears the image of the Motherland Monument statue in Kyiv and features the Virgin Mary holding a veil of protection over two crossed sabres, surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. It is presented for significant contribution to the development of the AFU, strengthening cooperation, and popularising the image of the AFU.
The medals emphasise the importance of the contribution to the defence of Ukraine, the development of the army and the preservation of its traditions. The award is given, among others, to AFU members, volunteers, and employees of defence enterprises.
Speaking of the award, Reverend Mark Grant-Jones said:
Established in 2021, the AFU Military Chaplains Service is a multi-faith chaplaincy branch of the Ukrainian military. It was formed to ensure that spiritual and pastoral support is available across units, hospitals, and training sites.
The AFU Chaplaincy Course is entering its third year and has trained nearly 100 Ukrainian padres. It uses classroom and field-based study to equip the course members to deal with conflict on the front line.