A Spiritual Assist for North KAIA
Sgt. Michael Reinsch, ISAF Joint Command Public Affairs
May 8, 2011
U.S. Army Spc. Phillip K. Sherouse, ISAF Joint Command Chaplain's Assistant, sets up the projector screen before the church service at the "Rally Point" Chapel at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, May 8. In most of the services music is played and the lyrics are projected on the screen. Sherouse spends approximately 30 to 45 minutes setting up the chapel. He has been in the Army for almost three years and deployed with V Corps July 22, 2010 as part of the IJC contingency and is scheduled to redeploy at the beginning of July. (U.S. Army photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Reinsch, IJC Public Affairs)
KABUL, Afghanistan – It’s early on a warm sunny morning here and a Soldier is grabbing his first cup of coffee to start his long day. His Sunday starts earlier than most people at North Kabul International Airport, and his job is the only one of its kind.
After he finishes his cup of java juice he makes his way to the front of a large, dust covered, tent, punches in the code to the cipher lock on the door and heads inside. He reappears holding a large gold and tan banner, which he places in a support base outside. The banner, with words written in white “Rally Point,” waves slightly in the warm breeze and the Soldier looks at it approvingly.
The Soldier walks back into the tent and begins to set programs for the service on each of the chairs for the potential patrons. The Soldier takes a cloth with the same words, “Rally Point,” and places it on an altar along with other religious items. Behind the Soldier is the same type of banner hangs with the blue emblem of the Chaplain’s Corps.
U.S. Army Spc. Phillip K. Sherouse, ISAF Joint Command Chaplain’s Assistant, starts his Sunday by setting up the Rally Point Chapel for religious practice. He is part of the V Corps contingent deployed to Afghanistan and serves as the IJC Chaplain’s Assistant since he arrived July 22, 2010. He is scheduled to redeploy at the beginning of July. He is the only chaplain’s assistant on North KAIA and he starts his Sundays early to set up the chapel before the service.
“I start my day by putting in my contacts, brushing my teeth and grabbing a cup of coffee,” Sherouse said. “At about 7:30 a.m. is about when I really start. So from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. I get everything done. After that I do my checks and double checks.”
Lt. Col. Mark Gauthier, ISAF Joint Command, Command Chaplain. “He has worked hard to accomplish the mission of the base or the garrison religious support responsibilities,” he said “So anytime there is a worship service, bible study or a need for someone to use the chapel he’s basically managed and worked the setup, the maintenance and the ordering of supplies.”
Each Sunday; Sherouse takes on his tasks one-by-one to ensure that all of them are accomplished correctly. He begins by starting the generator, which provides electricity to the chapel, and then the air-conditioning units. After the generator is up and running, he takes the “Rally Point” banner out to the back of the chapel and sets it up. He then sets up all of the items on the altar, the computer and screen for the projector, and finally the programs.
After the setup he makes his rounds around the chapel to ensure everything is in place for the chaplain to properly perform his service. After Sherouse is given approval from the chaplain, he walks back to his office and prepares for the next service while the current service is in session.
“It always depends on the services. There may be a little bit of a difference to set up the chapel,” said Gauthier. “There are four different services on Sunday and a lot of times it’s the preference of the chaplain of how things are set up on the altar, handing out bulletins, worship guides, setting up the supplies and making sure everything is tidy and squared away.”
Sherouse has been in the Army for almost three years and became a chaplain’s assistant because of his background before he joined the military. Growing up in Michigan, his father was a pastor, and he helped him often while service was in session. When he decided to join the Army, being a chaplain’s assistant was a no-brainer.
“There are jobs that the chaplain has to do. If he had to do my job as well, he wouldn’t get to do those things,” said Sherouse. “He would be too worried about setting up and he wouldn’t have time to council people. Having me here allows him to deal with the Soldiers when they’re having problems while I am working the background items.”
Sherouse finishes placing all of the bulletins on the chairs for the participants of the first religious service. He takes his time to double check the entire Rally Point Chapel to ensure everything is in its right place before leaving the chaplain to his duties. He walks back over to his office and prepares items for the next service before walking back to the chapel to do it all over again.