Tatiana Letovaltseva discusses her role as an expert in “spiritual fitness”

Paris Match. What does your role as an expert in “spiritual fitness” entail?

Tatiana Letovaltseva. The Health and Well-being department has set up a department called Total Sport Fitness (TFF), inspired by an American model that addresses health and well-being holistically through eight dimensions (physical, mental, social, etc.), including “spiritual fitness.” In this context, my mission is to draft guidelines applicable within the Defense related to spirituality, but through a transconvictional approach. This means that this approach takes into account all beliefs, not limited to them, to arrive at a universal policy, adapted to a public institution like the Belgian Defense. With the support of a specialized jurist, we have, for example, developed a decision-making guide for unit commanders based on existing procedures. This tool helps them address more complex conviction-related issues, such as “Can I grant a day off for a religious feast of a non-recognized conviction?” or “When can a military personnel wear a conviction symbol once their regulation uniform is removed?” These situations, often unprecedented and not covered by existing procedures, put unit commanders in front of real dilemmas. They must make proportionate and non-discriminatory decisions, in compliance with laws and regulations, in an area where the lack of expertise can make things delicate. If the situation is not urgent, they can seek my advice or that of the SARM division (Religious and Moral Assistance Services) to obtain an appropriate or even innovative solution. The interconvictional committee, which brings together all beliefs represented within the Defense, can also be consulted. Common denominators are often discussed to manage religious and philosophical expressions, such as the systematic provision of vegetarian meals in mess halls, for example. This approach works in the civilian world of business, where schedules are regular and constraints are minimal. But the Defense, due to its operational imperatives, faces such specific cases that it must go beyond these standard solutions. It becomes a true laboratory of innovation in managing beliefs, exploring uncharted territories, even for society as a whole.