MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Accommodating spiritual needs of School of Infantry Marines with an undersized staff is a difficult task, but new methods here are making the job easier.
SOI chaplains raised the op-tempo of their ministry to accommodate all walks of life - and christened their new approach Religious Corps Values.
"More than 17,000 students pass annually through SOI, so it's difficult to address each religious tradition," said Cmdr. Dudley V. Johnson, SOI head chaplain.
"When we give our 'talks' (spiritual lessons) we have to speak to all Marines with a language that touches everyone," added Johnson, who received "God's call" 22 years ago.
Johnson discovered the solution to his spiritual conundrum by integrating Marine Corps Values with spiritual lessons.
"I combined values that come out of biblical tradition, which shaped our civilization, with Marine Corps Values, and I refer to them as Religious Corps Values. The program identifies us as human beings and Marines," Johnson said.
"You see, honor, courage and commitment is embedded into their minds, so our talks reflect who we are individually with who we are as Marines."
Although Johnson and his "God squad" are dedicated to their program, leisure has been formatted into their saintly schedule.
"I hold Concrete Beach, where Marines receive grilled hot dogs, chips and drinks, only after a 20-minute lesson. This gives the guys a two-hour mental break from their instructors - with the chaplain," Johnson said.
For some, this break is essential to achieving spiritual peace, he added.
According to Johnson, commanding officers have accepted the sacred evolution as a necessary tool of the SOI mission.
"Bottom line, my contribution helps the total success of the SOI, because I also teach the skills of honor, courage and commitment.
"The command fully assimilates its chaplains into the SOI mission - we are considered essential personnel," Johnson said, emphasizing chaplains are not a luxury, but crucial for success.
"It's a good program. The chaplains bring church to the Marines, because odds are, they're not going to church on their own," said Sgt. Robert Chaves, SOI instructor.
While this "God squad" deals with all Marines, regardless of race and religious preference, one-on-one sessions sometimes are imperative.
"During Concrete Beach, we do one-on-one counseling. Sometimes they just can't get to us because of their schedule," said Lt. Cmdr. Rudolph Dimery, assistant SOI chaplain, a reservist called back to active duty 10 months ago.
"This program is fantastic. It's definitely a morale booster, especially midway in their 52-day training evolution," he added.
Others besides SOI staff value the Religious Corps Values program; students consider the opportunity of religion exposure invaluable.