File:Sgt Cortney Marie Carmona (7091048).jpg

English: Name:

Sgt. Cortney Marie Carmona

Job title: Religious Affairs Specialist

Assigned: 16th Special Troops Battalion, Headquarters and Headquarters Company

Location: Baumholder, DE

Experience: 6 Years as a 56M Religious Affairs Specialist

Hometown: Watseka, IL

Can you explain what you do and what you are responsible for at your unit? Some responsibilities that I have is we care for the soul of the Army, they say, just taking care of Soldiers, planning resiliency events, providing religious support wherever we can, whether that be in the field or in garrison or here at the unit, just planning events is a big part of it and caring for everybody and just ensuring that we're following up with Soldiers, making sure they're doing OK and planning events like suicide prevention, resiliency events, doing prayer, breakfast and then integrating with the staff regularly.

Why is what you do in your unit important? I would say what we do is important to the unit and the mission because the Army as a whole would not be able to operate without a unit ministry team. As Soldiers, we carry weapons; as a Unit Ministry Team, we carry the Soldiers. We care for the soul of the Army, which can often be overlooked.

What do you enjoy about your job, and what motivates you?

My favorite thing about what I do in my job would be that I get to be with Soldiers and their Family Members. Not a lot of jobs have the opportunity where they say, Hey, I'm going to work and just going around and talking to Soldiers. I enjoy caring for Soldiers and their Family Members and being able to do the resiliency events we do, having people just come by to talk, and being a part of their lives. Service Members smile knowing that they are taken care of. That is what keeps me motivated at the end of the day, every day, and I am glad to be a part of something like that.