The Role of the Chaplain in Tactical and Strategic Military Operations - George Youstra
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
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Today we have a unique and very interesting Combat Story with former Green Beret and later Command Chaplain at Special Operations Command, George Youstra. George accumulated over 400 flight hours, primarily in the F-16, at the urging of his boss at the time, General Breedlove, so he could better connect with and serve the pilots and airmen he was assigned to. After building his reputation as a Chaplain within the Air Force fighter community, he was given a call sign, “Saul,” which is perfectly suited given his role and stature.
In his career, George was a personal advisor to eight Four Star Generals and helped drive religious efforts at both tactical and strategic levels in multiple combat theaters, particularly within the Special Operations community. I had no idea how critical the Chaplain’s role would be for combatant commands at the strategic level, which is something we dive into in this episode, in addition to the tactical experience just being present for soldiers and airmen about to go into harm’s way, on the verge of taking their own lives, supporting brothers-in-arms who just lost a best friend, and wrestling with their spirituality in the heat of combat.
At SOCOM, George served as the principal and personal staff advisor to the Commander, Directors, and headquarters staff in areas related to morale, ethics and spirituality, to include advising on the role and impact of religion in the strategic environment.
With that, I hope you enjoy this incredibly insightful and moving conversation with one of the few Chaplains to have seen combat himself as a Special Forces officer, as much as I did.
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Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro
00:44 - Guest Introduction (George Youstra)
02:12 - Interview begins
02:45 - Childhood
04:45 - George's Marine Father
06:18 - Religion and the Military
08:48 - Path to the Chapalain Core
12:24 - Time in the Army
13:08 - Strom Thurmond
22:30 - Time in Special Forces
24:27 - Time in South America
29:30 - Challenging Operations as a Green Beret
34:30 - Going down the Chaplain path
37:16 - Training as a Chaplain
39:34 - Differences between Army and Air Force
42:21 - What makes a good Chaplain
50:04 - Day in the life of a Chaplain downrange
54:59 - Goals of a Chaplain
01:02:28 - Assistance with Mental Health
01:08:31 - "Saul" callsign
01:10:10 - Working with Fighter Pilots
01:18:47 - Perspective of leadership
01:22:40 - Leadership lessons
01:26:04 - Different religions in combat
01:37:58 - Most courageous act
01:41:37 - Sentimental items
01:43:03 - Do it all again
01:44:35 - Administering last rights
01:45:18 - Closing thoughts
01:46:19 - Listener comments and shout outs
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When George spoke of "moral injury" & PTSD, I know what that is from my time in Vietnam. Fifty+ years since, I still relive that moment. The VA speaks of it but PTSD counseling & therapies are a marginal fit.
I'm encouraged George brought this up
This is for Me, the best episode yet, He has changed lives and the reasons many of us are still here. Thank you.
This should be required viewing and learning of the students at the U.S. Air Force Academy, OTS, and ROTC. His handle may be Saul, but he demonstrates the wisdom of Solomon.
Chaplain Youstra! He was my Chaplain during our time at Beale AFB, CA. He was also going to conduct my retirement cermony, but due to COVID-19 it had to be canceled. A true Man of God, but more importantly a friend. Great to see this!
This is such a richly textured interview Ryan. In the context of your own experience, your guest, your questions and the scope are just incredible. This goes into your hall of fame, just my opinion.
I was a medic deployed to Germany and Iraq. We would go by bus to get patients off the flightline (in Germany) and we would drive them to Landstuhl (and of course back to the flight line when they were ready to go to the States). The chaplains would come on the buses with us while we were transporting. We also had a facility (a CASF) inside a gym on Ramstein where some of the “walking wounded” stayed with us. Landstuhl was completely overwhelmed in Feb 2003. We were there to help backfill. Later, in 2008, In Iraq, I was assigned to the CASF. The patients stayed with us (again the walking wounded) with the more critical patients in the hospital and we pretty much provided transport and treatment while getting them evac’d. Anyway, I say all this to say, the Chaplains were a constant presence. They were on the buses, at the bed side, etc. They were phenomenal! I’ve NEVER witnessed anything so moving as watching a Chaplain pray over a wounded service member. It still brings me to tears. God Bless them. Thank you Ryan and Chaplain Youstra ❤
One of the deepest and most insightful interviews ever. Thanks Ryan for yet another pearl.
Amazing interview. Thank you for bringing George on to talk about the human aspect of our soldiers in war. They are soldiers trained to protect our country but in reality, they are still kids in their hearts (17 -20 yrs). At that age, my brain and heart were all over the place. Can't imagine the load George and every military chaplain have over their shoulders. Our military make a lot of good and bad decisions, but having chaplains with in them, is one of the best blessings. Thank you again Ryan and George, no need to say that he definitely earn his wings to heaven. (Fater that an F-15...lol)
Saul was my chaplain and to say he made (and still makes) a difference in my life is the understatement of my lifetime
I’m glad to hear that you have found a religious leader who you feel comfortable with, and get a ton out of what he has to convey. This is so important in this day and age, because I see so many especially very recently at my church falling away from god and the church, largely due to them not getting what they need out of the pastors sermons, and message and connection with the pastors. I will admit, I see where they are coming from although I don’t exactly see it how they are I can relate because I have been there and had to make changes in the church I went to but ultimately I found that there was nowhere better than where I came from and ended up back from where I came. I will say that, in this age, many churches are doing a piss poor job of hiring our church leaders. They’re putting weak people in the church to lead us.and unless you are some kinda extremely weak person, woke or a beta it Ain’t cutting it.I came back to the church after meeting my girlfriend who as luck would have it, had parents who were pastors at what would be my new church and new denomination. Although she was batshit crazy, her dad was the most fantastic pastor, family man, and human being in general. He was great at conveying the gospel to us and did it in a way through his sermon that virtually all of us would tell you every week that his sermon was tailored to me. When I say tailored to me, everyone was thinking that way. The church hired an associate pastor from Korea who was a very weak guy, who was publicly led around by the nose by his wife. He didn’t last long, but when he was asked to leave, he refused. Until he got another job in DC. After my girlfriends dad retired, they searched for a new guy, and found who I believe to be great at what he does, but the new associate pastor, a woman, is not great at what she does. She is more than good enough to go through the motions, but connects with nobody. This is the problem I see lately everywhere, the hiring of women to be put into the highest leadership position in church is doing nothing but turning people away from the church. And probably in slot of cases the lord himself. I think it’s absolutely basically impossible for any average to alpha type man to get behind the leadership of a woman in the church, and most women would probably tell you the same. I’m not saying that all women are horrible pastors, but I would go as far as saying that most are, in one way or the other. Weather they’re just not assertive enough, or a television evangelist who’s a charlatan interested in the money first and foremost.
Great guest and interview. When I was a kid my Roman Catholic parish had a wonderful old priest who had been a career Marine Corps chaplain who served through the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was unflappable with a tremendous sense of humor and there was nothing we could do as kids that would shock him in the confessional.
I have listened to most of your interviews, this is the only one that has moved me to tears. This is by far the most meaningful interview that you have done, good job!
This is the episode of the year. Insightful, informative, and many times poignant. Well done Ryan and George Youstra.
Agree, hands down
Ryan, you have out done yourself with this one. Brilliant in every sense of the word. Grateful to Saul and yourself for such openness. Beautifully done. I am not a Pastor but I work at a mega church with 15 Pastors. I share it with them for the shear beauty of Saul’s story of servanthood.
One of your best episodes yet. Thank you to George for sharing his story and perspectives.
The trauma he describes is what I felt like I dealt with as a Mental Heath troop. I feel ya Chaplain❤
Chappy has real fortitude. Faith is easy to proclaim. It's harder to implement. It's nearly impossible to practice effectively. This man did it all. Never really sat down and spoke with a Chappy in my time, but if I ever needed one, I hope they would have been half as good as this guy.
You do this so well. But what a cracking interview. I'm not religious at all but this guy is amazing. I like these type of interviews. George is a guy who could get me through anything..
Thank you Ryan keep bringing the others who served.
Mark
Thanks Ryan loved the episode I have much respect for our chaplains while in Afghanistan struggling with my run t for a PT test it was my awesome Chaplin Capt. Deluca who would be our there Every morning running with me and both coaching me and mentoring me on how to get better at my running. Thanks for this combat story!
Combat is horrible... it is killing and death. Mental and spiritual health is apex after survival in combat. Military chaplains are more important to the soldier than any military brass when in a war. Thanks George for hanging in there and helping. Blessings... peace
I love that there is a focus on really teaching and expecting good leadership that includes emotional competence. I also like hearing that the mistakes made in Iraq in dismissing their culture and using money was stupid. A lot of guys would get healing from knowing that leaders take some responsibility. Kicking in doors and terrorizing families on bad Intel was more than fog of war. Chaplain Saul gets it in a big way. I hope he's writing his biography.
What a powerful testimony.
If this man had been my chaplain... I'd still be in the Air Force. He is extremely interesting.
What a deeply wonderful, very special Human Being. Be Well Good Sir :)
Your interviews get better and better. This is one of my top 5. Thanks for this.
What a great interview. Thanks so much for his insight.
Great episode! Better than I would have expected, for sure!
Chaplin Miracle from 10th GRP awesome guy.
Great interview! Thank you for sharing
Frickin great job!!! I really appreciate this Story!!!! Thanks alot
There is a special place in Heaven for men like this. I cannot begin to imagine the nightmare scenarios that must play thru his mind every day., but I know God must ease his pain and calm the horrible memories. Those who do not believe should look to men like this, without Gods help, he too would likely be a casualty of war.
I personally think that chaplains do the most in the military and is the most important.
Very interesting interview
This was powerful
Impactful, he makes me want to be there for people
Not religious but what a great interview!
We had a chaplain go with us on a route clearance patrol in Iraq. He fell asleep for a couple hrs during that mission. He road in a route clearance Buffalo. The Buffalo had a water Buffalo skull tied to the front of the truck with horns wrapped in barb wire. Same hull number vehicle that was in the first transformers movie, in fact.
BTW, just before 1:36 he didn't say "scatalogical, but "eschatological" I think. Big difference.
Amazing i want to be like this 😮❤!!!!!!
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Crítica sou eu. Tu não viu nada.
Ajajaja
Is this the guy that woollis wished touched him as a child?