Left to right, North Carolina National Guard State Chaplain Col. Jonathan Heitman, Col. Pastor Noah Tsoka, Malawi Defense Force chief of chaplains, and Col. Alwynmichael Albano, U.S. Southern European Task Force, Africa command chaplain, meet before chapel services at Kamuzu Barracks, Lilongwe, Malawi, Aug. 11, 2024. The military-to-military exchange marked an initial visit as both teams prepared to collaborate on establishing a chaplaincy school for the MDF. (Courtesy photo)
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LILONGWE, Malawi – The Malawi Defense Force invited chaplains from U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, and their new state partners, the North Carolina National Guard, to participate in a military-to-military exchange.
The collaboration in August marked the first interaction with MDF chaplains since 2019, highlighting a renewed commitment to partnership and religious support.
Before the official start of the discussions, U.S. chaplains joined their MDF counterparts in experiencing various religious services, including Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and Assemblies of God worship. This exchange fostered mutual understanding and respect for diverse religious practices.
“Cultural exchange is vital for building trust and understanding. It allows us to learn from one another and enhance our effectiveness as chaplains,” said U.S. Army Maj. Adam Ivey, a chaplain with the North Carolina Army National Guard.
North Carolina and Malawi have been partners through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 2023.
The summer exchange included discussions on the professionalization of the MDF chaplaincy, religious support, pluralism, ethics and the history of chaplaincy. These conversations aimed to strengthen the capabilities of the MDF chaplaincy and enhance its role in fostering spiritual resilience.
“This partnership will strengthen our chaplaincy because we have recruited new chaplains who need training,” said MDF Col. Pastor Noah Tsoka. “This collaboration will help our two militaries learn from each other’s best practices.”
Tsoka emphasized his vision for the MDF Chaplaincy, noting the importance of training and support from the United States. He plans to send at least one chaplain to the U.S. Army Chaplain Basic Officer Leader course and is committed to establishing a train-the-trainer program for their military chaplains and chaplain assistants. His goal is to expand the chaplaincy from 12 to 44 to better support every military installation in Malawi.
“As I am retiring, I look forward to a time when we shall have our own chaplain school with U.S. help,” Tsoka said.
However, challenges remain. The MDF Chaplaincy lacks a basic military training program and professional development opportunities for its chaplains and chaplain assistants. Tsoka expressed the need for U.S. support to bridge these gaps and enhance their training capabilities.
“The potential for growth in our partnership is significant. We face challenges ahead to include regular personnel transitions, but together we can build a strong foundation for delivering religious support,” said U.S. Army Col. Alwyn Albano, SeTAF-AF command chaplain. “As the U.S. chaplaincy is more mature than Malawi’s, we have an opportunity to potentially assist our MDF partners in the training and professionalization of their chaplains and chaplain assistants.”
The exchange concluded with a dinner hosted by the SETAF-AF command chaplain, enabling informal discussions and relationship-building. This engagement strengthened military ties and emphasized the importance of spiritual support in multinational contexts.
“This experience has been invaluable. It reinforces the importance of collaboration and understanding in our mission,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles Gilbertson, SETAF-AF deputy chaplain for plans and operations.
