GSPIA Promies and International Consors | ste Map | Pitan GSPIA HOME Tom Helms Master of Public Policy and Management “Balancing Grad School and Family Life, with Military Precision” Tom Helms, a chepiain in the United States Armed, Foroas, and father of six children, is studying military ethics during his year at GSPIA as 2 nontraditonal student. The armynas @ program called Advanced Chall Schooling, which allows oficers to gst masters degrees, simultaneously expanding their knowiedge and better equipping them for their roles in sening their county, “its a great break from the miltary” Helms says, ofhis, enrollmentin the Master of PublicPolicy end Nanagement year at GSPIA “Its a great return forthe military, too-the officers have a stratogic view of whats going on in the whole world, rather tan through the microcosm of me AFm}.” ‘As a chaplain, Holm’ dutios are manifeld, He takes caro ofthe religious noeds ofthe battalion he's been assigned to, which typically consists of 800-1000 soldiers. He upholds and defends ine Free. Exercise Clause of the Fist Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as well. We believe that [solciers] should have the opportunly to worship,” he says. Though he is aMormon, on the job, he typically finds himself attending tothe needs of soldiers of every religion. For example, a Catholic soldier needs to have his daughter baptized, ora Jewish solider needs a bris for her gon, ifs Helms’ job to find a priest or mone! to perform the respecive ceremonies. Chaplains are helpful in boosting troop morale; therefore, 2 solid grasp of military ethics is an asset on the job. Helms says that while the armed forces are exemplary at cemonstrting the day-to-day actuailtios of survival and warfare, tho moro nuancod othics of combate well as othor Issues, SUCH 25 conflicts of interest with foreign natons, actives of dissent or protest and miltary secrets—are not readily learned on the frontlines. “AS a chepiain, my|ob s to be extremely well-versed in te justice of combat,” Helms says. For example, how do you teat prisoners of war?” Musing over Abu Ghraib, he cays, ‘When someone doesnt live up to Army values, Ithuris” Helms noies, however, hathe is generally qulle impressed bythe respect US. soldiers display towards cvilans and soldiers of other cultures. Comprehensive understanding of miltary ethics is key, he say, to this multicultural senstivity. Helms selected GSPIA because he wanted the opportunity to work with the Mathew 8. Ridoway Center for inlemational Securily Studies and the Ford Institute for Human Securiy. "| consider my training here to be exceeding that of any other chaplain in the chaplaincy.” he says, cting Chari Carpenter's and Phil Wilisms's classes 2s especially helptl. "Ive been impressed with the outside presenters (such as head instructors from the war ccllege] thatthe school brings in.” he adds, "These are roalworidicsues, hore.” Helms’ army-ie landscape is dotted by global travel, notable forts lack of concrete roots in any (one city. He and Andrea are planning a move to Augusta, GA, whore Helms will toach ethics to mittary omicers in a classroom seting afterne graduates this ADM. "AS atl, we really have to be close to one another, bacause we are our own rocts,"he says. Upon completing a solid educaton in rilitary ettics, nell cary lessons leained at GSPIA-and a litle bit of PAtsbuIgh, too-along for the rest of his journey Lae: updited an September, 2007 @ briversity of Pittsburgh