U.S. Military Chaplain Cpt. Jeff Tilden (heart), leads Troopers assigned to the one hundred and first Fight Aviation Brigade (CAB) in prayer previous to their flight to Puerto Rico, Fort Campbell Airfield, Ky., Sept. 26, 2017. The one hundred and first CAB can be conducting medical evacuation and reduction efforts to help FEMA within the restoration means of Puerto Rico after the devastation created by Hurricane Maria. (U.S. Military picture by Employees Sgt. Pablo N. Piedra)
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ERBIL AIR BASE, Iraq – Spiritual celebrations strengthen the religious development of Troopers within the one hundred and first Fight Aviation Brigade, one hundred and first Airborne Division (Air Assault), as they help ongoing operations within the Center East. Religious help from the one hundred and first CAB and associate chaplains play a key position in sustaining troop resilience, whereas additionally permitting Troopers to observe their religion and uphold private convictions.
“Spiritual help is a fight multiplier,” mentioned Maj. Michael Dawson, pastor and chaplain for the one hundred and first Fight Aviation Brigade. “The Military has acknowledged the significance of religious connection to our resiliency and lethality, and have embraced it. We perceive {that a} Soldier isn’t going to be at their finest in the event that they’re not in a position to train their faith.”
Chaplain (Maj.) Michael Dawson preaches to Troopers throughout a subject coaching train, offering religious help and steerage in a tactical surroundings. Because the one hundred and first Fight Aviation Brigade, Dawson exemplifies the important position Military chaplains serve in selling morale, moral management, and religious readiness amongst troops.
(U.S. Military picture by Employees Sgt. David Shaffer)
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On a chilly morning in March, a small group of Troopers and civilians, observe Imam Mohammed Ekililu, into the little picket chapel for a meal at Logistical Assist Space (LSA) Hazard on Erbil Air Base, Iraq. This jovial group gathers to have a good time Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic Vacation that marks the top of the dawn-to-sunset fasting throughout the month-long celebration of Ramadan. Capt. Ekililu, the 2nd Squadron seventeenth Air Cavalry Regiment chaplain, claims the expertise supplied a strong morale increase and belonging.
“When Troopers see that they’ve a spot of worship and somebody that understands them spiritually, they mild up,” mentioned Ekililu. “Typically they’re nonetheless studying and after they can come to a spot and there’s somebody to guide the prayers, they’re comfortable. They discover peace in working towards their faith.”
U.S. Military Chaplain assigned to one hundred and first Fight Aviation Brigade speaks at a Jumu’ah Mubarak service for Muslim Troopers and civilians on Erbil Air Base, Iraq, Mar. 7, 2025. Jumu’ah Mubarak is a neighborhood or congregational prayer service held as soon as every week on Fridays. Chaplains and Spiritual Assist Specialists of the one hundred and first Fight Aviation Brigade assist develop and strengthen servicemembers religious resiliences’. (U.S. Military picture by Capt. Andrew Lightsey IV)
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Later that day, the identical chapel is inhabited by Christians who collect, 4 days after the Catholic Feast of the Annunciation, to fill the sanctuary and worship within the time main as much as Easter. The Catholic Feast of the Annunciation commemorates the Virgin Mary being visited by the archangel Gabriel to announce the approaching delivery of Jesus. Easter celebrates Jesus’ resurrection and his conquer demise.
Just a few weeks later a Jewish rabbi leads Troopers via a Passover Seder, April 19 at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Capt. Adam Strater, the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) chaplain, reads from the Haggadah, the Jewish writings that designate the sequence for the Seder. The Seder is the ritual meal and repair held for Passover. Strater defined that Passover marks the Jews gaining their freedom from Egypt.
“Virtually 90% of Jews have a good time Passover in some capability,” mentioned Strater. “We’re celebrating the discharge of our bondage from below Pharaoh. The thought is that in doing so we’re placing ourselves within the place of the Israelites who have been slaves in Egypt, and we’re embodying their motion from slavery to freedom via this meal that has completely different steps alongside the way in which.”
U.S. Military Rabbi Adam Strater reads from the Haggadah throughout a Seder dinner on Erbil Air Base, Iraq, April 19, 2025. Seder is a standard Passover meal that celebrates with the retelling of the story of the Israelites liberation from slavery in historic Egypt. (U.S. Military picture by Capt. Andrew Lightsey IV)
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Muslim Troopers additionally search to achieve empathy by placing themselves via bodily experiences that symbolize what another person went via. Ekililu defined the bodily illustration discovered within the remark of Ramadan.
“Once we are fasting, ravenous, and going via testing, it reminds us of the individuals in growing nations, the individuals on the road, the beggars.” mentioned Ekililu. “You get a style of what some individuals face on daily basis of their lives.”
Deploying in service of their nation carries deep private that means for Troopers within the unit. The sense of shared goal is one thing the chaplains work onerous to nurture for Troopers of all non secular backgrounds.
“My fundamental viewers are Troopers,” mentioned Strater. “I make sure that they’re supported one of the best I can by giving them entry to their very own non secular practices, supporting them via pastoral care, and providing them 100% confidentiality to have the ability to have conversations.”
Dawson echoed the significance of dialogue.
“This deployment is a chance to stroll alongside our Troopers as they take a journey,” mentioned Dawson. “To have conversations, that in my thoughts are divine appointments. We’re on this location; we’re in shut proximity, and it creates these alternatives to have these very intimate discussions about one thing that’s life altering.”
Chaplain (Maj.) Michael Dawson, U.S. Military Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Household Life Chaplain, talks to a neighborhood member in his workplace on Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern. Household Life Chaplain counseling providers give attention to resiliency areas, resembling serving to {couples} with marital relationships and people fighting the stress and difficulties that include on a regular basis army life.
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By persevering with to prioritize religious well-being as a part of its pledge to construct resilient Troopers, the brigade fosters an surroundings of belief and unity. This surroundings strengthens mission readiness and deepens dedication to the crew.
“Our unit bond transcends plenty of variations that we have now,” mentioned Dawson. “You may take a look at socioeconomic variables, you may take a look at political variables, and you’ll take a look at non secular variables and see, regardless that we come from completely different locations, we’re all part of the one hundred and first Fight Aviation Brigade.”
