In the Army Now: An Orthodox Jew’s US Army Experience
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U.S. Navy Lt. Joshua Sherwin, second from left, a Jewish chaplain deployed with II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), sings the final hymn and recites the final blessing prior to breaking bread and sharing wine in fellowship with worshippers attending a Yom Kippur service Oct. 8, 2011, at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gino Flores/Released
The call from the Department of the Army came to me on a random day in the summer of 2012, an unexpected offer to serve our country as an Army civilian. The opportunity presented to me that afternoon had all the perks that any young professional would dream of: on the job training, continuing education, mentorship and apprenticeship in addition to job stability and security with lifelong benefits and opportunity for job growth with the federal government. The catch, however, would be a commitment of two years of public service to our military – anywhere in the world.
The offer came from the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, known within the Army as OCPA. Headquartered in Washington D.C., OCPA is the United States Army command responsible for explaining and justifying the intricacies of the army to the public. OCPA fulfills the army’s obligation to keep the American people and the army informed. The job is not an easy one. One must explain and balance the intricacies of the United States Army while protecting national security interests. Upon learning more about the position and its responsibilities, I began to realize what an honor and privilege it would be to join a group of unique individuals who undertake such a complex mandate with integrity and pride. Who was I to turn down such an offer?
The average young professional fresh out of graduate school with limited job experience, especially in today’s economy, would more than likely not think twice of accepting this job offer. I however, as an Orthodox Jew, had to think twice about it. Once I realized I would be fulfilling my lifelong dream of public service to my country, which has given so much to me, my family and community, I graciously accepted the Army’s offer, a decision I will never regret.
At the time of the offer, I was living on New Yorks’ Upper West Side; a bastion of Modern Orthodoxy and the place to live if you are young, single, and Jewish. At the time I was working for a Jewish not-for-profit where I gained valuable work skills, but yearned for higher job growth. I was told by OCPA officials told me I would have to leave New York as the initial assignment by would be in Philadelphia with later assignments in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Upon completion of my training I would be assigned to a yet to be determined location based on the needs of the U.S. Army. Not originally being from New York, I welcomed the opportunity to move back home to Philadelphia, where I was born and raised. While many would probably hesitate to move multiple times over two years, I saw it as a unique chance to live in and explore other cities while serving the needs of our country.
AS I BEGAN WORK at the Department of Army, I quickly came to realize, just as I had realized previously, when I was interning at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, just how few Orthodox Jewish people there are working for our federal government. This is especially apparent in national security agencies like Defense, Homeland Security and State. As a student in Yeshiva University, I remember being encouraged to understand political developments and realities via working through the dozens of Jewish organizations that exist, but never to help shape policy decisions directly from inside the government. Why is there such apathy within our community towards participating and working within our government? Here is a thought: Perhaps, relationships and trust are fostered from within, not without?
There is, I believe, an unspoken fear by many Orthodox Jewish people that leaving their communities would mean risking the loss of their Jewish identity and potentially losing their religious observance. I can tell you from personal experience this fear has no basis. I have found that since taking on my new role, quite the opposite has occurred. If one has been empowered with a tightly rooted Jewish identity by family, school and community, working then in the secular realm, in a country that allows freedom of religion, should assuage any fears of alienation.
My Jewish identity has been strengthened in my new career and I have not changed who I am and what I believe nor been swayed by anyone. The non-Jewish community, and in particular, the military community, has treated me as an equal and has welcomed me into their ranks. I am respected for who I am and what I believe in. Since many of my co-workers have not worked with Orthodox Jews in the past, I am many times seen more as a curiosity. I am asked many questions about my practices simply because most people are unaware of what we believe and why we practice the way we do. I find it sad that many members of our community have isolated themselves to the point where we are aware of our secular neighbors, yet they know nothing about us. How can we in this country create unity and religious tolerance if we refuse to proudly show who we are?
For me, working for the U.S. Army is much more than just a paycheck. In addition to an exciting and fulfilling career, my job is filling what I consider to be a real void within the Orthodox Jewish community. The federal government invests a significant amount of money into training individuals for fellowships and internships in all branches of the government with the promise for enriching and rewarding careers. But by and large, the government does not go to Orthodox Jewish colleges such as Touro and Y.U. to recruit new talent. This is largely in part because our community does not show an active interest in partaking in public service.
It is vital for religious Jews of all ages to be involved in public service in some form or another. Yet the numbers of those opting to pursue professional career paths in this field are embarrassingly low. I believe and hope that by educating my peers in the Orthodox community I can show them one is capable of working in a government position while maintaining their religious practices.
tell a friendAbout the Author: Dovi Meles holds a masters degree in social work from Temple University and a BA in Psychology from Yeshiva University. He has held numerous positions within Jewish non-profit organizations. In his current position, he works for the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs at the United States Army. He can be reached at admeles@gmail.com
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I definitely agree. my brother is in the us airforce and it is very enriching experience besides he has multiple opportunities to make a kiddush Emounah Hashem.