In the space of a week, Jean-Pierre Schroeder went from his duties as an Anglican community school chaplain in Perth to delivering a Sunday service at RAAF Base Curtin, in the far north of WA.
"When you arrive initially, it's a shock to the system - you realise how tough everyone has had it," Chaplain Schroeder said. "But people had been there for weeks already."
The Air Force reservist was augmented to 13 Squadron at RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Talisman Sabre as part of a development program for a handful of Reserve chaplains.
The program also sent him to Curtin, where he spent four days shadowing another chaplain.
At Curtin, they provided 24/7 support to 600 members, all of whom were far from home. Like them, both chaplains slept in tents on red dirt, endured the 30-plus degree days and cold nights.
"We walked between places to check up on members," Chaplain Schroeder said.
"We were wearing body armour, which is heavy. And we walked a few kilometres from one place to another, in the hot sun. I had to think, how do we run a sustained chaplaincy program in that environment?"
The person Chaplain Schroeder learnt the ropes from was Chaplain Miljan Popovic, the sole chaplain deployed to Curtin for the exercise.
It was Chaplain Popovic's third time at Curtin, having been there for the previous Talisman Sabre as well as Exercise Austral Shield last year.
"Everyone respects and knows him," Chaplain Schroeder. "When there's a need, they call upon him."
When the two met, Chaplain Popovic was wearing camouflage face paint, fresh from joining Australian Army members on a patrol.
"It is important to make sure members are not alone," Chaplain Popovic said. "Visiting workplaces, meeting members where they are. Being with them on patrols. Sharing the path.
"That was my role, to walk beside them and to show Schroeder what it means to go into these locations."
He said they were trained to provide care and support to all members irrespective of their spiritual or religious interests, and their role included supporting command.
'I'm very impressed by the RAAF chaplaincy branch's professionalism in how they were training us and feel I've learnt so much.'
"It's important to help build their understanding of where people are at," Chaplain Popovic said.
"Appreciating that there have been tough moments, the exercise is an excellent and unique opportunity to grow resilience. Overall, in my interactions with members, I've noticed that morale is positive."
At Curtin, the chaplains held a service each on Saturday and Sunday. Both services were attended not just by ADF members but also US troops.
The chaplains participated in training serials, which included responding to a mass casualty event.
"We set up a welfare point or centre for people who may have taken friends to be treated and are in a bit of shock," Chaplain Schroeder said.
"One chaplain in this scenario stayed at the welfare centre and the other went to the Role-2 [field hospital] to attend to the injured and dying, and even staff."
Chaplain Popovic, who had been a Seventh-day Adventist pastor prior to joining Air Force full time, appreciated the exposure Talisman Sabre gave him.
"[In an expeditionary context] you don't know what will happen next. You need to be ready for anything," he said. "Adaptability, agility, and innovation get their true meaning here.
"We can expect certain challenges, but it's easier when we walk together."
Spending time with Chaplain Popovic, and the development program overall, had the intended effect of contributing to Chaplain Schroeder's growth.
"I'm very impressed by the RAAF chaplaincy branch's professionalism in how they were training us and feel I've learnt so much," Chaplain Schroeder said.
"[It was also great] to see how all the nations have pulled together and are genuinely working together."
Chaplain Popovic praised the work Chaplain Schroeder had done at Curtin.
"I believe he has done a remarkable job in those few days," he said. "Next time, I believe he'll be much more ready to come here."
