Advice for New Chaplains

A conversation with Chaplain (COL) Doug Ball recorded on November 21, 2025. Chaplain Ball serves as the Chief for the Personnel Branch of the United States Army Chaplain Corps. In our wide-ranging discussion, we talked about the great ministry and the difficult challenges that come with serving in a deployed environment. We discuss what it takes to keep pressing forward when faced with intense ministry demands. Finally, woven throughout the entire conversation is an emphasis on the importance of knowing who we are and possessing a strong sense of calling and pastoral identity.