America's military is struggling to find enough chaplains to minister to U.S. troops.
The Kansas Army National Guard is among the hardest hit, with nine of its 15 chaplain posts vacant.
Leaders describe the high vacancy rate for chaplains as typical of units across the country.
Incentives such as a sign-on bonus, tuition assistance and extending the age limit for new enlistees have done little to reduce the shortage, causing chaplains to face repeated deployments to war zones.
One of the reasons for the shortage is that many churches are unwilling to do without their pastors or ministers for extended periods of time. Also, some clergy don't want to sacrifice their careers for a life in the military.
Still others simply don't want to subject themselves to the danger inherent to war-torn areas abroad.
Capt. John Potter, a full-time support chaplain in the Kansas Army National Guard, names busy schedules as the main culprit.
"It's got to be a calling," Potter told the Topeka Capital Journal. "God has to put it on the heart of the individual that this is where I want you to be planted for ministry."
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