In his words: Chaplain Mark Steiner

Chaplain Mark Steiner

Hometown: Pocahontas

Commissioning date: August 1988

Branch: U.S. Navy

Rank: Captain, Chaplain Corps, United States Navy

Current unit: Naval District Washington in Washington, D.C.

Status: Active duty

Residence: Fairfax, Virginia

There were several factors involved in my decision to join the U.S. Armed Forces. Several members of my home congregation, Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas, served in the military during Word War II. One of my sisters served in the Air Force. Later on, the pastor who was my supervisor during my vicarage year of seminary education served as an Army Reserve chaplain. When I was a parish pastor, several of my members had served in the military. One member, in particular, encouraged me to consider chaplaincy in the U.S. Navy. I requested and received an endorsement from The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. Armed Forces.

My deployments and assignments have taken me to Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Bahrain, the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Philippines, Australia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Deployments with Navy and Marine Corps units afforded me the opportunity to visit several countries. Ordinarily, these visits lasted about three to four days. While assigned to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I was invited to travel with the chairman to visit the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. While assigned to the U.S. Naval Forces Central/U.S. Fifth Fleet, I visited troops in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The Chaplain Corps exists to ensure the free exercise of religion for personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members. The U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force each maintain a Chaplain Corps. The U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps supports the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Ordinarily, when Navy chaplains are assigned to Marine Corps or Coast Guard units they wear the uniform of the service to which they are assigned.

My first tour of duty was with Destroyer Squadron 21 in San Diego. I was deployed twice to the Arabian Gulf and served about four to eight ships during each deployment. On several occasions, I was hoisted via cable from helicopter onto the ships. While on ship, I provided worship service, Bible study, pastoral counseling and evening prayer. Evening prayer is the tradition of having a prayer over the ship’s intercom system at 9:55 p.m. (i.e., 2155).

Currently I serve as regional chaplain of Naval District Washington, where I supervise Navy chaplains assigned to Arlington National Cemetery. They officiate at more than 2,000 burials annually for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. My other responsibilities include oversight of religious programming throughout the region, oversight of chaplain-sponsored retreats and workshops throughout the region and membership in the Joint Religious Support Cell.

In accordance with Secretary of the Navy policy, chaplains care for all service members, including those who claim no religious faith; facilitate the religious requirements of personnel of all faiths; provide faith-specific ministries; and advise the command on matters pertaining to morale and spiritual well-being. When service members see the chaplain, they do so with the full assurance their communication is privileged. This provides an outlet for service members to work through issues in a protected environment.

Serving in harm’s way carries factors and circumstances. Some service members may have seen and experienced horrific conditions in battle. If a service member has unresolved issues with experiences in battle, it can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms: self-medication, chemical abuse and injury to self or others. Some service members experience post-traumatic stress and others experience symptoms leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

... Some time ago I spoke with a man who received the Purple Heart for a wound he received during battle. His family indicated that the first time they heard about his experiences in battle was when they listened to his conversation with me. He gave a vivid description of the sights, sounds and smells of the battle, along with the moments before and after he was wounded. He seemed to be coping well. He indicated that his faith in God gave him much comfort. The family was able to more fully appreciate what their father had gone through.

For those who have lost loved ones through military conflict, I believe it is essential to lay to rest those who have served our nation with dignity and honor, treating their families with respect and compassion.

... It has been an honor to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. I have met some outstanding patriots in almost 28 years of service. In fidelity to my ordination vows and my commissioning oath, I intend to continue to serve the personnel entrusted to my care to the highest of my God-given ability.