Chaplain plays distinctive role

National

By ALEXANDER NARA
PNG Defence Force Media
MILITARY chaplains play a distinctive role in any military setting.
They are strategically assigned to all military establishments or wherever there are military members, including combat zones.
It is an intense, yet, profoundly rewarding experience where they are often bound to confidentiality.
They tender to the spiritual well-being of soldiers regardless of their religious backgrounds, providing confidential counselling and helping them meet challenges in areas such as religious education, morals and morale.
In a military area of operations, chaplains stand as the pivot in connecting local civilians and church ministries through the Word of God.
Within the PNG Defence Forces Task Force Covid-19 operations centre, you will find our good chaplain – Capt Norman Kakeni from the PNGDF chaplaincy directorate.
Capt Kakeni was assigned to the centre to be among the troops participating in the Government’s overall response to the pandemic.
I first met him in 2019 when he was among a small contingent of PNGDF medical officers and engineers deployed to provide support to Okapa hospital in Eastern Highlands. Capt Kakeni issued Bibles to youths and several homes as well as holding special engagement with local churches and reminded them to build a relationship with God, whilst the military medical staff and engineers assisted the hospital.
He also sat down with elders and leaders of the surrounding communities and discussed ways to address youth and development issues in the district.
He gave me a Bible during that time too.
A few weeks back, he was down at Motukea, giving his last words of blessing as he commissioned a company from 1RPIR (First Royal Pacific Island Regiment) deployed by the PNGDF Task Force Covid-19 operations centre into Weam, Western.
These soldiers were to be inserted into the Southern PNG Indonesian Border to support ongoing border operations as well as to carry out awareness to people living along the area on the Covid-19 pandemic.
Capt Kakeni issued Bibles quietly to each soldier, urging them to give a space for God within their area of operations.
“He is your defender. He never dozes nor sleeps,” he assured the troops, reminding them of the PNGDF commander’s intent to always put God first and let Him take the lead in the fight.
“Putting God first” is and has been the PNGDF command’s motto over the years that guides its mandated duties and the entire reformation and upskilling of the force.
Upon it, hang all operations, supporting plans and guiding principles that drive the organisation.
In a special statement released last week, PNGDF commander Maj-Gen Gilbert Toropo also refreshed the call to put God first and reminded the troops to stay in focus as the fight against the Covid-19 was not over.
Toropo said spiritual and mental growth, including the morals of service members and their families was of paramount importance in such times.
Within the government’s overarching response to the pandemic, the Government has repeatedly urged the entire country to pray and to allow God alone to take the helm in our fight.
The PNGDF has taken the lead as the key security agency to uphold these guidance under the PNGDF commander’s intent, where Capt Kakeni is taking the lead within the heart of the PNGDF Task Force Covid-19 centre.
Recently, I was allowed to walk into the operations centre hoping to chat with him but found his door locked so I loitered around the Task Force Centre.
Inside the main briefing room, a colourful map, blown up on one side of the wall displayed the entire 820-kilometre land border labelled with paper arrows and coloured drawing pins.
I stood there, staring at those pins then it dawned on me.
The soldiers are scattered across some of the most rural areas of the country, including high-risk areas along border, placing themselves and their loved ones at risk.
The strange calmness, understanding and acceptance of their jobs by their families, wives, husbands and children cannot be defined.
Maybe it could be measured against time or maybe it can only be seen through the eyes of the chaplain, even when wars get cold and graves called, he will be there.
A soldier without a weapon.