Welcome, Comrades and Friends,
Welcome to The Chaplain's Brief—the dedicated space for the Department of Florida VFW chaplaincy network.
As veterans, we know that looking after one another goes far beyond meeting prayers or a traditional Sunday service. It is about a daily commitment to our fellow service members, our families, and our communities. Through this page and our newsletter, Beyond the Prayer, our goal is to provide you with the tools, encouragement, and resources needed to meet the challenges our veterans face on and off the home front.
Whether you are a post or district chaplain looking for guidance on fulfilling your duties, conducting a ritual, searching for mental health and crisis support resources, or simply looking for inspiration to strengthen your post's morale, you are in the right place.
We are standing watch together. Please never hesitate to reach out if you or a comrade need support.
In Comradeship and Service,
David Bear
Chaplain, VFW Department of Florida
727-359-6137
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One of the many wonderful things our State Chaplain is doing for us is putting out a wonderful newsletter called "Beyond the Prayer". Down below is the latest newsletter and QR code to see it on your phone.
Beyond a prayer November 2026 - January 2027 Newsletter
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Resource Links
Click here to get the Chaplain's Report Fillable Form
National Chaplain of the Year Award
2026-2027 Department of Florida District Chaplains
VFW Chaplain Training Simulator - real life scenarios to see how conversations can unfold
Chaplain Care Tracker - a tool for remembrance and follow up care
Chaplains Handbook - August 2026 version
Ceremonies Handbook - July 2026 version
Chaplain of the Year award requirements
VFW Digital Podium Book - 2026 Edition
VFW Chaplain resources at VFW National
Steps to access VFW Chaplain resources on the VFW National website:
1. Log in at: https://vfw.org
2. Click on My VFW
3. Click on VFW Training & Support
4. Click on Bylaws: Training, Forms & Templates
5. Click on Training
6. Scroll down to Chaplains
There you'll see the chaplain resources links