New York National Guard

Colonie resident Timothy Miller, a New York Army National Guard chaplain, took part in African chaplain's workshop

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Miller was one of 12 Americans attending a 60 chaplain gathering in Lusaka, Zambia April 5-13

Latham, NY (04/23/2024) — New York National Guard Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Timothy Miller, a Colonie resident, represented the United States during a meeting of African military chaplains in Zambia held April 5 to 13.

Miller, who serves as the deputy chaplain for the New York National Guard, and the chaplain for the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division, was one of 12 American military chaplains who attended a chaplain's workshop hosted by Zambia's chaplain general in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.

Sixty chaplains attended the event, including representatives from Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Namibia.

The five nations are part of the Southern African Development Community, a 16-nation organization which is focused on economic development, but which also works together in defense and security cooperation, according to the organization website.

Chaplain (Col.) Douglas Brock, the New York National Guard's chief chaplain, was also part of the U.S. delegation, which was headed by U.S. African Command Chief Chaplain (Col.) Karen Meeker.

Brock and Miller were invited because the New York National Guard is aligned with the South African National Defence Force under the National Guard's State Partnership Program, and South Africa is part of the development community.

The South African's did not make it, but taking part in the conference was a great experience, Miller said.

The Americans learned from the African chaplains and the African's learned from the Americans, he explained.

The African chaplains face the same issues that American chaplains do, Miller said.

"Their Soldiers deploy on peacekeeping missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo and face the same stresses Americans who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan dealt with; separation from families and PTSD inducing events," Miller said.

He and the other Americans talked about American programs for coping with PTSD and the stresses of deploying and returning from deploying, Miller said.

"We are all in the same type of environment," Miller said. "It might look at little different, but we all have the job of nourishing the souls of those who are part of the military no matter what flag they may be under."

"Our chaplain core competencies are to nurture the living, care for the wounded, and honor the fallen," Miller added.

The Americans also discussed how the U.S. Army is making changes to programs to train and develop chaplains.

Democratic Republic of Congo Army Chaplain Col. Tshinyime Kasongo Celestin, spoke movingly about how he had to deal with his own trauma after seeing soldiers who had been killed and mutilated by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Miller said.

Another retired military chaplain talked about how he provided care for Soldiers stricken by a deadly fever during a deployment, Miller added.

Along with the formal discussions, there were plenty of opportunities to talk unofficially with the other chaplains, Miller said.

A nine hour bus trip with all workshop attendees from Lusaka to Livingstone's Victoria Falls, a waterfall on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe that is twice as high and twice as wide as Niagara Falls, was particularly memorable, Miller said.

The American chaplains were also invited to preach at local churches and invited to a wedding as well.

In remarks posted on the Africa Command website, Meeker emphasized the importance of these relationships.

"As we come together, sharing insights and experiences, we're not just strengthening the support for military personnel and their families, we're forging a bond that transcends borders," the Africa Command chaplain said.

New York National Guard Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Timothy Miller, a Colonie resident, represented the United States during a meeting of African military chaplains in Zambia held April 5 to 13.