Among the many positive things Capt Euikyun (David) Chang likes about the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is the endless opportunity to learn and grow.

He was deployed on Op UNIFIER Rotation 15 as the Task Force Chaplain and was known as Padre Chang to many CAF members across Task Force-UNIFIER.

“This deployment gave me a lot of opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds and culture, I’m very grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow. It is something that has drawn me to join the CAF,” he said.

CAF chaplains are responsible for fostering the spiritual, religious, and pastoral care of CAF members and their families, regardless of religious affiliation, practice, and belief. They have privileged access to CAF members of all ranks to provide them an active, personal and supportive presence. 

“It was over four years ago when a friend from my pastoral ministry told me about the Chaplaincy occupation in the CAF,” recalled Padre Chang. “My friend was also applying to become a chaplain in the CAF, he gave me the recruitment website and that sparked my interest after finding out the many opportunities available to CAF members to learn and grow as a human being.”

Padre Chang said throughout his life, his main preoccupation is to keep on learning and to develop himself. Joining the military as a chaplain was an extension of his personal journey to constant personal development and in turn to be of service to people by using his talents.

“As a Korean immigrant to Canada, being a chaplain in the CAF has been instrumental in deepening my understanding and appreciation of my new country. It has embedded in me the Canadian values and has given me a profound understanding of the Canadian society and what it means to be Canadian,” he said.

He also said joining the CAF gave him the opportunity to serve Canada in the best way he can, and his deployment on Op UNIFIER gave him a sense of pride to be a Canadian.

“I was excited when I learned that my first deployment would be to support the CAF soldiers who were training Ukrainians with the military skills to defend their sovereignty and freedoms,” he said. “It’s an honour to use my pastoral ministry to help keep the morale of our troops who are making a difference in the world.”

During his deployment, Padre Chang had the privilege of providing the ministry of presence not only to the Canadian troops, but also to Ukrainian soldiers at the training camp in the southeast of England.

“The participation of Ukrainian soldiers during the church service is really high. I’m glad to be of service to them, and in turn learn and grow from this experience.”

Maj Christopher Daniel/Joint Task Force-Ukraine Sr PAO