US Army’s Top Muslim Chaplain Stresses Spiritual Resilience For Soldier Readiness

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) — United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) Chaplain, Colonel Khallid Shabazz, has highlighted the importance of spiritual resilience in strengthening soldier readiness, describing it as just as crucial as physical fitness for military service.

Shabazz, the senior-most Muslim chaplain in the US Army, said that a soldier may be well-trained and physically capable, but without nurturing the spiritual soul, overall readiness could be compromised.

“A soldier can be physically fit and have all the external attributes they need, but every one of us has a spiritual soul. 

“Chaplains allow soldiers to tap into that,” he said during an interview with Bernama TV’s programme The Nation Diplomatic Dispatch, in conjunction with the 14th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC) from Sept 23 to 26, held in Kuala Lumpur.

Shabazz stressed that spiritual resilience is crucial, explaining that when soldiers are spiritually strong, their readiness is enhanced –  and readiness is everything, especially in times of conflict.

The colonel, who began his career as an enlisted soldier, shared that his own struggles with trauma, academic setbacks and suicidal ideation had inspired him to enter the chaplaincy.

He explained that although he had joined the Army in search of a better life, he continued to face difficulties and felt that he was falling short. 

It was during this time that the army chaplain reached out to him and suggested he consider becoming a chaplain himself –   an idea that, despite never having spoken to God before, struck him as a divine calling.

For Shabazz, chaplaincy is about providing soldiers with a confidential and compassionate space to process challenges, whether marital conflicts, depression, or the challenges of adjusting to military life.

Beyond the barracks, Shabazz said technology has become an indispensable tool for connecting with soldiers in today’s digital environment.

“People ask me, ‘Chaplain, why are you on the internet?’ The answer is simple, because soldiers are there,” he said, recounting how a TikTok post about his own struggles saved a young soldier from attempting suicide.

“That moment reminded me why it’s important to leverage technology. How many young soldiers get to talk to a colonel? Not many. Technology bridges that gap,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the ongoing IPACC, Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS), and Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum (SELF) 2025 – platforms bringing together army chiefs, senior leaders and enlisted personnel from across the Indo-Pacific – he reiterated the chaplain’s role as a “listening ear” for leaders shouldering heavy responsibilities away from their families.

During his visit to Malaysia, Shabazz joined Friday prayers at both the oldest and newest mosques, prayed with soldiers at a military academy, and met with local chaplains to explore future interfaith dialogues.

He said the soldiers were excited to meet an American soldier who is also an imam, with many taking pictures together and later following him on TikTok.

Looking at the wider world, Shabazz said his mission is to promote peace and compassion, stressing that faith should inspire service, not condemnation.

“The Qur’an says, ‘Don’t let the hatred of a people move you to deal unjustly.’ My job as a spiritual leader is to help people bridge with love and compassion,” he said.

“If people of faith focus on serving and helping others, they can inspire change. But if all we do is condemn and point out faults, then I wouldn’t want to be part of that either,” he added.

— BERNAMA

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