5 Questions: Lt. Daniel Chung

1.) What services do chaplains offer to military personnel?

We offer spiritual guidance and advice but also counseling. So if Marines or Sailors come in with marriage problems or stress at work they can come and speak with a chaplain. Some of us have professional degrees but most don’t so it’s not like talking to a psychologist. We offer an avenue for service members to vent and find other resources to help them. We can tell them about the other services around base like military one source. We try to connect Marines to their specific place of worship, whether it be out in town or on base and most important we provide confidential advice and counseling and that creates trust.

2.) What religious services are available on base?

Sundays at 9 A.M. we offer a catholic mass. At 11 A.M. there is a protestant service. Tuesday’s at lunch a bible study is available at 11:30 A.M. at the chapel. For flight line Marines, MAG-13 provides a fellowship on Thursdays. 

3.) If someone was trying to seek help through the chaplain’s office how would they go about it?

No one can stop a Marine from talking to a chaplain. Marines can really just walk in through the doors and get help, or make an appointment if that works better for them. We also walk around shops or the flight line and make ourselves available so that if anyone needs us they can approach us. 

4.) Why does having a chaplain benefit the service members and their families?

It is all about being mission ready. We are here to help alleviate some of the stress Marines and Sailors go through, in stead of having them bottle it up. They come and talk to a chaplain and let it out. In my mind it’s something that we bring to the table. Marines come far and wide across the country and they might not have the means out in town to facilitate the need and we make it available here, so they can have that piece of home with them. 

5.) While deployed what is your mission and how do you go about completing it?

I just came back from Afghanistan and our mission was still to keep all Marines mission ready. Our motto was keep the main thing the main thing. Walking through the hangar you make sure your Marines are good to go. We remind them to get in contact with family back home. With the Marines having marriage problems we help them get by and help them see the big picture and do what we can to help relieve that stress. Most of the time they just want someone to pray for them. That is our mission; take care of your Marines especially while deployed.