Adventist chaplains appointed to Australian Defence Force

For the first time in its history, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has appointed two Seventh-day Adventists as chaplains to provide pastoral support for members and their families.

After an extensive recruitment process, which took over 12 months, Pastor Milijan Popvic was assigned as an Air Force chaplain and Pastor Gys Seegers as an Army Reserve chaplain earlier this year.

A Defence spokesperson stated that, on average, the ADF receives 70,000 applications each year for all available positions in the Navy, Army, and Air Force. In the current financial year, they are only looking to recruit 22 chaplains across the ADF, proving that becoming an ADF chaplain is not an easy feat. Applicants need to undergo the full ADF officer recruitment process, which includes several interviews, medical, aptitude testing, psychological testing, and grueling physical training.

The first two years in a chaplaincy position are considered an induction period as there are academic requirements to learn about the ADF and chaplaincy. Both Popvic and Seegers are undertaking professional development where they are enhancing their skills and knowledge of leadership, teamwork, ethics, psychology, counseling, and other courses and training programs. All these skills will assist them in their new roles as they care for members of the ADF, and they will also be able to bring these skills to their local church ministry.

This article was originally published on the website of Adventist Record