Priests With Machine Guns: Unusual Instructors In Belarusian Army

On working with “religious personnel.”

On November 1 of this year, a new position was introduced in the Belarusian army — an instructor for working with religious personnel, reports the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.

“Clerics who have a spiritual education and have been elevated to the rank of clergy and are fit for health reasons to undergo compulsory military service (service in the reserve) are appointed to these positions,” the statement says.

Their task is “to participate in spiritual and moral education, as well as in meeting the spiritual and religious needs of personnel.”

According to the Ministry of Defense, six military personnel are currently appointed to such positions.