THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 27, 1995 TAG: 9512270245
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLENE CASON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
One of the biggest misconceptions about Petty Officer 2nd Class Debbie Myers' job, she said, ``is that you have to be religious. But, if you're too much into your own religion, you can't help other people.''
Myers, who has been at her present duty station six years, heads Portsmouth Naval Medical Center's holiday assistance program, a Thanksgiving and Christmas food program that allows the hospital's employees to help each other.
``I guess I'm the project RP,'' she said, when describing her job. Because she likes ``anything hands-on,'' Myers is usually involved in behind-the-scenes work for her department's school volunteer and other help programs.
Only one in 10 people who come into the pastoral care services office has a religious question, she said. Sixty percent come in with a problem related to illness, theirs or a family member's. Some need answers to personal, marriage or financial problems.
But religious specialists are not counselors, Myers said. She sees herself more as a liaison between the patient or family and assistance.
``Everybody goes to the chaplain's office when they can't think where else to go,'' she said. ``And that's as it should be. We should be their last stop, because we should be able to help them.''
The most difficult thing about her job, Myers said, ``is to be compassionate, but to not get too involved. We are not doctors or chaplains.''
She said a little known fact about her job is that it is a combatant rate. ``We are responsible for the chaplain's safety. Chaplains don't carry guns in combat, but we do.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Photo
ON THE JOB
Petty Officer 2nd Class Debbie Myers, 28
Job in military: Religious program specialist
Duty station: Pastoral Care Services, Portsmouth Naval Medical
Center
Years in military: 10
by CNB