One critical aspect of any military installation is a space
that allows for service members to exercise their freedom of religion. For a military
city, greater numbers and diversity demand more than just a single space. The
first of four new chapels is nearly completed, and is slated to be put into
use by mid-2016.
“Many of us in the Far East District have been personally
invested in the construction of these chapels, and we’re going to be just as
excited as the rest of the Chapel community to see this and our other new
chapels open up,” said David M. Talbot, resident engineer of the District’s
Family Housing Resident Office at Camp Humphreys. ““I’ve been part of the
chapel community here for the past four and a half years. I’ll be just as
excited as the rest of the chapel community to see this and our other new
chapels open up.”
But the Far East District’s personal involvement with the
chapels at Camp Humphreys doesn’t begin there.
“Mr. Chi, Young-hae, one of the project engineers in my
office, actually worked in the early ‘80s as a quality assurance representative
for the construction of the prior garrison chapel,” Talbot said. “Now my office
was responsible for demolishing that chapel as part of the Humphreys
transformation.”
Until around 2014, U.S. Army Garrison-Humphreys personnel
exercised their freedom of religion using one small chapel (the Freedom Chapel)
and a small worship space in the 501st Military Intelligence area, said
Chaplain (Col.) Raymond A. Robinson, Jr., the USFK command chaplain. Since the
Freedom Chapel was demolished, the chaplains have been holding services in the
Humphreys high school through a facility usage agreement with the Department of
Defense Education Activity.
“The previous religious facilities were insufficient in capacity
and functionality to meet the total religious support needs of the community,”
Robinson said. “Having dedicated religious support facilities (will be)
critical enablers that empower the chaplaincy to help the commander fulfill his
or her Title X responsibilities of providing for the opportunity for the free
exercise of religion for the personnel within his or her command.”
Army chapels follow standard designs so they are properly
configured to support the free exercise of religion for the supported
population, Robinson said. The role of the Command Chaplain for U.S. Forces Korea
was to provide strategic guidance, feedback and oversight in the development of
these chapels, ensuring compliance with Army standards.
“Personally, I had a small role from 2005-2007 while serving
as the Area III Chaplain in helping the command determine the total number of
facilities and square footage required to afford the future supported community
with the opportunity for the free exercise of their religious faith,” Robinson
said.
While assigned to the Army Chief of Chaplains Office from
2008-2010, Robinson also had an indirect role in shaping the type of facilities
being built through his work on the Army Standards and Standard Designs for
religious facilities.
“It was very helpful to have reviews from the chaplains
during the project’s construction, particularly from Chaplain Robinson. He was
very familiar with the requirements and his input will help us avoid problems
as we complete the other chapels,” Talbot said.
When construction is finished at USAG Humphreys, a total of
four chapels and two religious education/family life centers will support the garrison.
The criteria for determining the number, size and types of facilities are based
on the projected population size of the garrison, Robinson said.
“These dedicated facilities not only provide a sacred space
and atmosphere that facilitates worship and the faith development of attendees,
but also represent the most effective and efficient means to manage the total
religious support program for the Humphreys community,” Robinson concluded.
Dedication isn’t unique to the facility itself, but seems to
be a feature in the chapel community.
“As a member of the chapel community, I volunteered a lot my
off-duty time to design the audio conduit runs and the sound booth for this and
the other Troop Chapel,” Talbot said. While the actual audio system will be
installed through a follow-on garrison contract, the underlying design came
through Talbot’s extra work and personal devotion.
For a sacred space like a post chapel, it’s a blessing to
have Far East District engineers dedicated to the project.