The longest war in American history means the need for chaplains has never been greater, but meeting that demand in the face of drastic cuts in military budgets poses a serious challenge, said Chaplain Milton Gianulis, Marine Corps Combat Development Command Chaplain.

“The need for chaplains is greater now than ever before,” said Gianulis, the former command chaplain for Marine Corps Base Quantico who now oversees chaplain training nationwide as part of the Training and Education and Marine Corps Combat Development commands.

“We have a lot of places crying out for chaplains and we can’t billets for them.”

There’s no tangible evidence that could easily quantify a chaplain’s value to officials looking to cut corners, Gianulis said, but their necessary spiritual services go a long way toward the mental and spiritual well-being necessary for Marines and other service members deployed around the globe.

Being a good listener who offers confidentiality is a valuable resource that troubled young Marines and sailors can rely to increase mission effectiveness in ways that Marine commanders are unable, he added.

The war in Afghanistan is winding down after 13 years, but Gianulis warned that the biggest challenge for chaplains still looms ahead as the many war-weary veterans begin returning home. The trick will be to recognize the many unseen wounds some of these veterans carry and address them with the proper medical or spiritual help they need before the issues become serious problems, he said.

That could perhaps come months or even years following their return home.

That means chaplains will need to continue taking the initiative, going where the troops are to get to know them. Building those relationships of trust and strong spiritual foundations will be critical to avoiding disaster down the road.

“It’s really about establishing a rapport,” Gianulis said. “You’ve got to take the initiative.”

Gianulis cited the many convoy rides or the so-called “Holy Helos” that have long carried chaplains to the forward operating bases where their counsel is most needed as proof of their reach.

“There are not a lot of restrictions to what chaplains can do,” he said.

Gianulis would just like to see more chaplains.

“We want to put chaplains where they need to be,” he said.