Ukrainian military chaplains, as part of the INTERFLEX operation, completed a two-week leadership and operational-level instructor course at the UK Defence Academy, as reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook.
"This course was a continuation of the professional training for military chaplains, as the program included clergy who completed an eight-week advanced training course for tactical-level officers on military chaplaincy at the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University, underwent training at the 7th Army Training Command in Germany, and trained at the Chaplaincy Training Centre of the UK Defence Academy," the statement said.
The course program aimed to develop competencies in the fundamentals of spiritual leadership, styles and examples of mentorship, building mutual trust, resilient motivation, and team cohesion. These topics are critically important for the work of military chaplains, as they play a key role in supporting the morale of soldiers, providing spiritual care, and serving as role models.
"One important element of the leadership course included field exercises at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where leaders such as Winston Churchill and Princes William and Harry were trained. Seizing the opportunity, the chaplains met with three cadets from Ukrainian universities who are undergoing training at the academy. A spiritual conversation and a joint prayer united them and filled their hearts with warmth and comfort while far away in Britain," the General Staff noted.
Additionally, as is tradition, the chaplains visited one of the training bases in the UK where Ukrainian defenders are undergoing military training. They had the opportunity to speak with the defenders.
"It is important to note that as a result of bilateral meetings between representatives of the Military Chaplaincy Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and chaplains from the Royal Army's Military Chaplaincy Department, agreements on cooperation for the coming years have been reached," the General Staff emphasized.
