Military Services working with WI troops
Filed Under: Army, Military Services, Wisconsin
WELS Military Services will begin working this week to connect with soldiers of the Wisconsin National Guard, who will deploy to the Middle East this spring. Almost 3,500 soldiers have been called up for active duty, making this the largest operational deployment of Wisconsin National Guard forces since World War II.
Troops from the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team—the Wisconsin National Guard's largest unit—will be heading to Fort Bliss, Tex., for training before traveling overseas. Rev. Paul Ziemer, WELS' national civilian chaplain to the military, is now working with WELS military pastors in El Paso, Tex., and military chaplains at Fort Bliss to get permission to hold worship services at the base. Once the soldiers arrive, Ziemer will be traveling to the base and assisting the WELS military contact pastors.
Mr. Mark Vance, programs and communication director for the Military Services Committee, is also helping coordinate this project. He says it will be important for the military contact pastors to network with the soldiers in Texas and get their names and contact information so Military Services can minister to them once the troops are deployed.
"The Army has provisions for allowing us access to our troops," says Vance. "They said they'll grant us access to our troops overseas, but they need a detailed list of which people we want to see and where they are stationed. In order to do that, we have to make connections inside the unit, find WELS people, and get a list of names together so we can start working on our end."
If you or someone you know is being called to active duty, fill out a military referral form. If you've already submitted a referral, use the form to send updated contact information.
