Meet the Chaplain: Chaplain Dovid Egert
The USCC has a diverse and vibrant group of hundreds of chaplains. This month we’d like to introduce you to Chaplain (Captain) Dovid Egert, the rabbi of Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Chaplain for the 192 Ordnance Battalion (EOD).
On a personal level:
Chaplain Egert is married to wife Shira, and the proud father of a 10-year-old son. His son is in public school on the base, while Chaplain Egert home schools him on Jewish studies.Prior to moving to Fort Bragg in December 2020, Chaplain Egert was at the base in Fort Hood, Texas for three years.
A tradition of giving back:
When asked what made him choose a career in the army, Chaplain Egert told PULSE “it was for God and country.” His pride in serving his country is also a family tradition.
In Chaplain Egert’s words “My grandfather was in the army in WWII, we heard stories from him about his time there, and he joked about how he ended the war. He was on a boat going to the Philippines when the war ended, but his commitment stayed with me. I have a cousin in the air force, Menashe Miller, he’s an air force chaplain. When I made my own decision, I realized it was time to give back.”
It isn’t always easy for Chaplain Egert who has been in the military for about five years. “Sometimes you gotta do what’s best for the family and the country.”
Making meaningful connections:
Egert also connects with chaplains across a wide variety of faiths. “I hang around with the chaplains of other faiths. I work with them on a daily basis. I’ve had a non-Jewish chaplain staying in my house for about two months. He stayed at my house only eating kosher. He actually learned all the kosher symbols.” Egert also was a prominent presence when the USCC held an inaugural weekend down at Fort Bragg. “We had about 75 people show up for that. I don’t think any other organization could say they had our inaugural meeting on a military installation.”
While Egert is sometimes questioned by members of his Jewish faith on his choice of a career in the military, most unilaterally respect his decision. Those of other religions are curious about his own. “Outside, people are accepting, challenging. I’ve been all over Eastern Europe, and people ask about Jews in the military. People say I didn’t know there were rabbis in the military.”
A day in the life of an army chaplain
Chaplain Egert serves a variety of needs for those in his care. “In the hospital I get calls from other hospital chaplains. The chaplains know that we need a chaplain or rabbi. Even though I’m the rabbi, I’m the chaplain for the unit. I have several hundred soldiers, and I’m responsible for all their religious needs.” What that means is that if someone needs something or has a holiday coming up,Chaplain Egert can help them or reach out to others who can better help.
Chaplain Egert is most often asked to help with “counseling, marriage problems or relationship problems, or when they need a listening ear.” Chaplain Egert said “We provide all their religious needs, we also advise the command, stuff that soldiers need. As a chaplain, even though I’m not Muslim or Christian, if there’s a holiday coming up, I’ll say ‘Ramadan is coming up or a Buddhist holiday coming up’, I try to make sure the soldiers have what they need. I make sure they’re religiously supported.”
The best part of being a military chaplain
Chaplain Egert said the best part of his job is that he “gets to meet new people every day. I meet with them at their location at their time of need and they allow me to be with them.”
And the worst
Working for the military isn’t the same as a regular job and that means you could be separated from your family for long periods of time. Chaplain Egert said “It’s hard to be away from my family for a while, that’s the hardest part.” And one last thing, “Make sure to have a camaraderie; Without it it can be pretty lonely or pretty boring.”
Final thoughts
If you think being an army chaplain is a regular job, you’re in for a rude awakening. Chaplain Egert said “Soldiers have problems after hours. All my soldiers know, if they send an email they receive a response saying I’m available 24/6* , and my assistant is available.”
If you’re like to learn more about becoming a military chaplain,Chaplain Egert says you can get in touch with him via Chaplain Mendy Coen.
*Chaplain Egert is Sabbath observant and therefore not available 24/7