NY National Guard chaplain Timothy Miller, a Colonie resident, represents U.S. at South African conference

Latham, New York (10/30/2024) — New York Army National Guard Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Timothy Miller, a Colonie resident, was one of two New York National Guard chaplains representing the United States military at an annual meeting of South African military chaplains held in Cape Town, South Africa from October 14 to 18.

Miller, who serves as the New York National Guard's deputy state chaplain, joined the state chaplain, Col. Douglas Brock, and 200 South African Defence Force chaplains at the symposium held by Brigadier Gen. E.T. Masweu, South Africa's chief of chaplains.

Brock and Miller attended the meeting as part of the New York National Guard's State Partnership Program relationship with the South African National Defence Force.

Chaplains representing nine of the 16 counties in the Southern African Development Communities also attended the meeting.

Miller and Brock were invited as both a courtesy and to further the relationship between the New York National Guard and South Africa's military, according to Brock.

New York National Guard chaplains have visited South Africa in the past.

And in April, Brock and Miller took part in a regional chaplain's workshop conducted by Zambia's chaplain general, Brig. Gen. Rev. Dr. Henry Matifeyo.

Miller also serves as the chaplain for the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division. The division includes 5,400 Soldiers in New York and 13,000 Soldiers from other states as well.

The division headquarters is slated to deploy to the Middle East to command the Army's Joint Task Force Spartan in 2025.

Being present at these kinds of events helps strengthen the strategic partnership between the United States and South African militaries, but also allowed the two New Yorkers to learn from the experiences of African military chaplains, Brock explained.

"We get to see how other chaplaincies are doing their business, how other chaplaincies are fulfilling their call," Brock said.

Masweu said he would like the New Yorkers to regularly attend his annual chaplain's training events, Brock said.

He would also like to invite South Africa to send representatives to the New York National Guard's Joint Chaplain Annual Sustainment Training in January, Brock said.

New York has had a state partnership with South Africa since 2003.

Ongoing engagements with South Africa include New York participation in the South African National Defense Force Combat Rifle and Soldier Skills Competitions, New York Army National Guard Military Police officers visiting the South African military police training center, firefighter exchanges, and other specialty staff and family readiness engagements.

The New York Air National Guard also regularly participates in the bi-Annual African Aerospace and Defense Air Show held at Air Force Base Waterkloof, located on the outskirts of Pretoria, South Africa.

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