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U.S. Army Southern European Task
Left to right, North Carolina National Guard State Chaplain Col. Jonathan Heitman, Col. Pastor Noah Tsoka, Malawi Defense Force (MDF) chief of chaplains, and Col. Alwynmichael Albano, U.S. Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) command chaplain, meet before chapel services at Kamuzu Barracks, Lilongwe, Malawi, Aug. 11, 2024. U.S. chaplains supported four different chapel services alongside their MDF counterparts. This Military-to-Military exchange marks an initial visit as both teams prepare to collaborate on establishing a chaplaincy school for the MDF, assessing their program and planning for future partnership. (Courtesy photo)
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U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Command Chaplain, Col. Alwynmichael Albano, leads discussions with the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) on how chaplains provide Religious support in a pluralistic environment, where personnel may come from varied and diverse faith backgrounds, while remaining grounded in their individual faith at Kamuzu Barracks, Lilongwe, Malawi, Aug. 11, 2024. This Military-to-Military exchange marks an initial visit as both teams prepare to collaborate on establishing a chaplaincy school for the MDF, assessing their program and planning for future partnerships. (Courtesy photo)
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U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Plans and Operations Chaplain, Lt. Col. Charles Gilbertson, receives a Bible as a token of appreciation from Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Chaplain, Maj. Andrew Kamponada, at Kamuzu Barracks, Lilongwe, Malawi, Aug. 11, 2024. This Military-to-Military exchange marks an initial visit as both teams prepare to collaborate on establishing a chaplaincy school for the MDF, assessing their program and planning for future partnerships. (Courtesy photo)
LILONGWE, Malawi – The Malawi Defense Force (MDF) recently invited chaplains from U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and their new state partners, the North Carolina National Guard, to participate in a military-to-military (M2M) exchange. This collaboration marks the first interaction with MDF chaplains since 2019, highlighting a renewed commitment to partnership and religious support.
Prior to the official start of the M2M discussions, U.S. chaplains joined their MDF counterparts in experiencing various religious services, including Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and Assemblies of God worship. This exchange fostered mutual understanding and respect for diverse religious practices.
“Cultural exchange is vital for building trust and understanding. It allows us to learn from one another and enhance our effectiveness as chaplains,” said U.S. Army Maj. Adam Ivey, a chaplain with the North Carolina Army National Guard.
The M2M included discussions on several crucial topics, such as the professionalization of the MDF chaplaincy, religious support, pluralism, ethics and the history of chaplaincy. These conversations aimed to strengthen the capabilities of the MDF chaplaincy and enhance its role in fostering spiritual resilience.
“This partnership will strengthen our chaplaincy because we have recruited new chaplains who need training,” said MDF Col. Pastor Noah Tsoka. “This collaboration will help our two militaries learn from each other's best practices.”
Tsoka emphasized his vision for the MDF Chaplaincy, noting the importance of training and support from the U.S. He plans to send at least one chaplain to the U.S. Army Chaplain Basic Officer Leader course and is committed to establishing a train-the-trainer program for their military chaplains and chaplain assistants. His goal is to expand the current chaplaincy from 12 to 44 to better support every military installation in Malawi.
“As I am retiring, I look forward to a time when we shall have our own chaplain school with U.S. help,” Tsoka remarked.
However, challenges remain. The MDF Chaplaincy currently lacks a basic military training program and professional development opportunities for its chaplains and chaplain assistants. Tsoka expressed the need for U.S. support to bridge these gaps and enhance their training capabilities.
“The potential for growth in our partnership is significant. We face challenges ahead to include regular personnel transitions, but together we can build a strong foundation for delivering religious support,” said U.S. Army Col. Alwyn Albano, SeTAF-AF command chaplain. “As the U.S. chaplaincy is more mature than Malawi’s, we have an opportunity to potentially assist our MDF partners in the training and professionalization of their chaplains and chaplain assistants.”
The M2M concluded with a dinner hosted by the SETAF-AF Command Chaplain, providing an opportunity for informal discussions and relationship-building among participants. This engagement not only strengthens military ties but also emphasizes the importance of spiritual support in multinational contexts.
“This experience has been invaluable. It reinforces the importance of collaboration and understanding in our mission,” shared U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles Gilbertson, SETAF-AF deputy chaplain for plans and operations, reflecting on the overall significance of the engagement for future collaborations.
