Conceptual Awareness of Moral Injury in the British Army: A Chaplaincy Review

Awareness and understanding of the concept of moral injury within the British Army has grown significantly in the last few years. This continues to mature as dynamic and complex operating environments such as Op PITTING, the UK’s evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan, draw attention to the moral complexities that serving personnel may encounter.

This presentation offers an insight into the pastoral and prophetic approach undertaken by the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department Moral Injury Working Group to raise conceptual awareness of moral injury. The presenters will share the insights and lessons learned from their efforts to act as catalysts for discussion at all levels of the chain of command and to better equip unit chaplains to support the Army’s people at home and on operations.

The presenters will draw upon the experience of the Australian Defence Force Directorate of Spiritual Health and Meaning (DSHM) Moral Injury Research Team in shaping their approach, and will reflect upon the challenges and constraints faced in advancing their work while underscoring the need for an interdisciplinary approach in the future.