The point is that, whether for good reasons or not, soldiers have religious needs when their lives are on the line.
So far as pastoral care is concerned, that is limited to one’s flock...even in the military. However, the skills used in pastoral care are the same skills as those used in many counseling settings.
In the military such counseling by chaplains IS available to all on an equal basis.
Local commanders are in charge of everything on their installations, to include medical and chaplain care.
Christ told us to pray to God in a dark corner, privatly. He considered public expressions of faith Pharisaical (hypocritical). The soliders who are religious should pray, pray and then some, and leave everything to God. There is nothing a pastor or a priest can do for them. It’s all in God’s hands.
Kosta