It’s not easy being green: Soldiers find support in midst of deployment

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Deployments are hard. Soldiers spend months away from their families, missing key moments in their family’s lives such as play-off games, graduations and anniversaries. Tensions can build between individuals and within units with few outlets of release. Our favorite puppet frog was right: It’s not easy being green.

As the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon, completes their seventh month of deployment, TF Workhorse, 3rd CAB, TF Falcon’s battalion chaplain offered a prayer breakfast at the Falcon Cafe, for Soldiers stationed at Bagram Airfield with the goal of offering support and encouragement during the deployment, June 22.

“What I see is people don’t take time to focus on what they need to focus on,” said U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) John Monahan, battalion chaplain for TF Workhorse, from Atlanta. “If you focus on God and scripture and have faith that the Lord is your shelter and protector, then you’re not going to feel anxious. The prayer breakfast was designed as a time to pray for God’s protection from those who desire to do us harm and to ask for protection over those back home who support our efforts.”

The event included readings from the Bible by U.S. Army Chap. (Maj.) Joseph Kilonzo, 62nd Medical Brigade, from Tacoma, Wash., and U.S. Army Chaplain (Maj.) Bill Lovell from the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, from Overland Park, Kan. In addition, there was singing provided by the Enduring Faith Chapel Gospel Praise Team and a devotional given by the division chaplain for Combined Joint Task Force-101, U.S. Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Paul K. Hurley, from Weymouth, Mass., who talked about the importance of being prepared.

“Before we deploy there are months of preparation,” said Hurley. “At the time we just want to say, ‘let us be there already,’ but the preparations and the training is all good. It serves a purpose by preparing us and our families to be strong in the trials we may face.”

Hurley went on to say Soldiers should strive to strengthen relationships with others, particularly with families to prepare themselves prior to emergencies and difficult situations.

“[The prayer breakfast] allows you to step back, like a timeout for the day,” said U.S. Army Sgt. David Samuel, Headquarters and Support Company, TF Workhorse, from Goldsboro, N.C. “It takes you away from your job while you’re here and asks you why are you here and how do you approach situations that come up?”

“What’s the worst thing you can do when you’re in pain? Go off by yourself and withdraw from society and the people who want to encourage you and have your best interest in mind,” said Monahan. “So when we come together as a group like this, with people who want to encourage each other, you come away encouraged.”