Date

10-16-2024

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Chair

Harold Bryant

Keywords

Chaplaincy, Corrections, Military, Moral Injury

Disciplines

Counseling | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

Over the past thirty years moral injury has been a topic of concern regarding the behavioral and spiritual health of military members. Part of that work has given a voice to Vietnam veterans and the events they faced while in combat. Some of these events were acts of betrayal at the hands of another military member or their own. This act led to an injury to their moral code. Military chaplains may have morally injured soldiers in need of pastoral care as they serve. This includes soldiers working the military prisons like the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth. This paper seeks to inform future chaplains on the corrections profession, and the challenges soldiers face with inmate fraternization that can lead to moral injury. Understanding why such a crisis exists and how chaplains can help could be helpful for future chaplains finding themselves in an Army corrections battalion or even within the Directorate of Pastoral Care of an Army correctional facility. This is done through discussing moral injury in the context of Army Corrections including events that can lead to soldiers having a moral crisis and developing moral injury. Biblical characters Judas and Peter will be used as examples of betrayal and to reflect on the betrayal of soldiers within corrections This discourse includes possible response and prevention methods through counseling and protectors taught to correctional staff.

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