Helmand Province, Afghanistan -- As we are humane fighters here in America, our military has done what is morally and ethically correct in warning the local civilian population of our impending attack of 20,000 troops on the town of Marja in the Helmand province, it has also given the Taliban weeks to dig in.   Reports are circulating that the town is heavily defended with IED’s waiting for the first U.S. forces to breach the enclave and the Taliban have demonstrated they won’t be leaving without a fight this time.   U.S. forces will be joined by Brittish and Afghan forces in what is called Operation Moshtarak or “Together”.

However, this engangement is expected to be the bloodiest and fiercest battle in the war on terror in Afghanistan.   The sobering reality in this operation is that many of our brave young men and women in the Armed Forces may not be returning home after this operation and many others will be returning to a life that has been turned upside down from injuries they may sustain in this aggressive combat operation to root the Taliban once and for all for the fiercly contested Helmand Province.

Behind our men and women is a network of military chaplains, dubbed Sky Pilots, who are there for our fighters.  Please keep our men and women in your minds over the coming weeks and rest assured knowing that they are in good hands with our nation’s sky pilots.