MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Brigadier Gen. Mohammad Amin Nassib, director of the Religious and Cultural Affairs Department of the General Staff, Ministry of Defense, Afghanistan National Army, and his staff, visited MCRD Parris Island March 15.
The visit allowed the ANA to learn more about religious ministry programs provided to troops aboard the Depot and in the United States military.
Parris Island, the third installation toured during the ANA visit, was one of five stops of the 18-day visit to the United States.
The information gathered from the ANA visit will ultimately be used to assist them in incorporating and applying methods to their own religious and cultural affairs activities, family support programs and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities and programs.
"We are an Islamic country, Islamic Army and our religious services offer all sorts of Islamic services," said Nassib. "Ninety-nine percent of our Army personnel are Muslims, and we support different branches of Islam [including]: civilian Christianity, [Hinduism] and [Judaism]-our constitution recognizes all other religions [too]."
After meeting with Brigadier Gen. Richard Tryon, commanding general, MCRD Parris Island/ Eastern Recruiting Region, the ANA staff continued their visit and met with the Depot assistant chief of staff of religious ministries and deputy chief of staff of religious ministries, Navy Capt. Robert Beltram and Lieutenant Cmdr. Bruce Boyles, respectfully.
After the ANA staff received a brief on the religious ministry programs available for Marine recruits and how they are implemented, they toured the religious ministries facilities.
"We came here [to the United States] to see the [religious] systems and how they operate," Nassib said.
Nassib said the ANA members are learning how the United States military meets the religious needs of their soldiers so they can emulate it and be able to meet the religious needs of their own soldiers; hoping to make a better Army.
"We have learned a lot and we will discuss [how] to implement [methods] in Afghanistan," Nassib added. "We will [continue to] learn as much as we can [throughout
the trip]."
The ANA members also received a tour of the Navy and Marine Corps Family Service Center and the Child Development Center aboard the Depot and were briefed on each facility.