As the nation advances in combat technology and personal protective armor,more people are wounded on the battlefield than killed. By far, the mostcommon of all injuries are psychological and the damage of core beliefswhich persist long after the horrific experience when the individuals havegone home. The most corrosive impact of horrific emotional trauma is tobe found in the spiritual fabric of persons, and that, the condition of PTSDis spiritual at its deepest level (Sinclair, 1993). While some individualsare capable of processing traumatic events and moving onto posttraumaticgrowth, others become "stuck" on the trauma, which can inflict such deeppsychological wounds that it threatens their very existence. In April of 2010,the Army Times reported that an average of 950 suicide attempts take placeevery month among veterans already receiving support for their PTSD, 18 ofwhich are successful (Maze, 2010). Clergy are often sought first due to theiravailability, their services being free, their nonjudgmental stance, and theirexpertise on sin, guilt, and forgiveness, all of which are common issues forthose struggling with psychological trauma. Military chaplains often work onor near the front lines and are the first-and sometimes only-line of supportthese men and women receive. Periodic training on traumatic stress doestake place for the chaplain corps, but unfortunately, this training is primarilyclinical in nature. While several studies have been conducted providingempirical evidence of the success in faith-based healing techniques, mostchaplains receive little to no continuing education in this area on how todiagnose and treat members suffering from the effects of war. This book,along with the website located at www.chaplainsandptsd.com, will addressthis important issue and provide both chaplains and pastors several resourcesto improve their skills in spiritual healing.
Chaplain Fowler joined the navy in 1989, serving in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a damage controlman (DC) on board USS Juneau. In 2000,he joined the Coast Guard where he worked as a DC instructor, which allowed him the opportunity to attend seminary at night at Regent University. After graduation in 2007, Todd received a commission to serve as a navy chaplain and officer. His educational goal is to develop an undergraduate course in faith-based healing for PTSD. Todd has been married for eighteen years to his wife and best friend, Rani, and is currently working as a Coast Guard chaplain in Baltimore, MD.