2013 Air Force Budget

"I miss the Cold War." These were the words I heard in 2006 when a fellow chaplain and I were running PT. He was formally an intelligence officer and had experienced the "FAT" years of the Air Force budget when we focused on Kremlin activity rather than flying out of Qatar. Even though our mission was deadly serious, there seemed to be less stress and an easier going culture in Big Blue back then. Well, today stress is high. We lead the DOD in divorce and while I would argue that the suicide rate is not a statistical uptick, it does sound an alarm that our dual wick burning at an after-burner rate is finally catching up with us. I wasn't in the AF during the Cold War, but I think I miss it too. Who wouldn't want lots of money, lot's of fun places to go TDY and a never ending but predictable mission. Or, at least that's the way the old heads portray it. So, what are we in for? We'll this ain't your daddy's AF. It's not even your granddaddy's AF. The way I see it, we are heading into  an era of supreme austerity not scene in the US military since the 1930s. The money is going to be tight. Missions are going to shrink and we are going to see it get worse before it gets better. 

What does that mean for the chaplaincy and for those of you thinking about joining the chaplaincy? We are not going to have as many school opportunities. We are not going to be able to do a lot of "fun" things. But, in my opinion, you couldn't pick a better time to join or to currently be here. Now is the time when we really prove our worth. Now is the time when it's not easy. Now is the time when the budget is bad, the mission is rough, the morale is low, the grind is daily, the leadership begins to dig in, and when we are most needed. It's going to be a tough row to hoe these next few years, but for those of you who join and those of us who stick it out, the rewards will be great. Leaders will be forged that will fix what's broken now. A brotherhood will emerge that can only be formed in the bonds of suffering. Our Air Force is hurting right now. We have been used and abused for 20 long years over the skies of the Middle East. The thanks that our Airmen get is to be downsized. So, I say it's a great time to become an Air Force Chaplain. You are needed to help our nation heal from years of war and your Air Force needs you to help our Airmen stay resolved to meet the next enemy on the battlefield. 

Chaplain to Atheists?

How does a theistic chaplain minister to non-theistic personnel? This used to not be much of a concern for chaplains because most believed the old adage; “there are no atheists in foxholes.” The reality is, there are more atheists, agnostics and humanists, sometimes referred to as “Free Thinkers,” in the military than just about any other minority theological/philosophical group. For example, a military base with around 5000 personnel might have ten Muslims, but would sport nearly 150 atheists, agnostics and humanists. Knowing how to constitutionally, and more importantly, compassionately minister to this growing segment of our population is vitally important to our mission as chaplains in the United States Military.

For some reason, Christians get really freaked out when the topic of Free Thinkers comes up. And, admittedly, I have to shake off some of my Cold War images before I am comfortable engaging the topic. The people who claim these philosophies and ways of life are not uncomfortable to me in the least. And, the Free Thinkers who march along side us in our military have very little to do with the “duck and cover” communist atheism some of us may have been taught about. No, these folks are readers and thinkers and probably know more functionally about the Bible than many people in Christian pews. And, I think that’s why I like them so much. Most of them have at least thought about the things of faith.

What makes this ministry difficult? Well, to be honest, many Free Thinkers can come across as hostile and angry. Some come across as anti-Christian and I have to admit I have run across more than one website that has offended me by what was said against a faith that I hold dear. What I have to remind myself is that I’m sure many Free Thinkers have been hurt as they read sites from a theistic perspective that were equally unkind.

For dialogue to exist, theist and non-theists must be tolerant as members of the military. If Free Thinkers are truly going to take a full seat at the table then they must be tolerant of their theistic colleagues. We can’t have derisive slurs being thrown about denigrating someone’s religion (Darwin fish excluded, because those are just funny). And, likewise, theistic personnel have to respect a Free Thinkers right to non-theistic belief if they are to continue to enjoy their own religious freedoms. Spreading hate should not be tolerated in the military by anyone.

So, to answer the original question:  The way you minister to non-theist personnel is the same way you minister to anyone who is not of your own faith tradition. You meet them where they are, listen to their needs, accommodate them where you can and refer when needed. You are not there to convert them or to debate them. You are there to be a chaplain to and for them. You may be the only person they can trust at a given point in their life. If a Free Thinker comes to your office and asks for a loaf of bread would you give them a stone instead? No. Be salt and light.

Here are two links for further reading that give a good take from each side:

http://www.militaryatheists.org/chaplain.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/marchweb-only/atheistsinfoxholes.html

DPS Move (Redeemed)

In 2010 I wrote an article about our DPS move and how frustrated we were with the new system. We just completed our second move with the new military system and even though we moved overseas, it was much easier this time and seamless from beginning to end. I know that there will be some horror stories from this year’s peak season, but for the sake of fairness, I wanted to send some good news out there from our home front. I had to navigate the move.mil site again, and even though it’s not very intuitive, I was able to figure out what I was doing. It took me about 3 hours (partly because the site was not very user friendly and partly because of Air Force network issues) to log everything in the system. When I helped a friend later that week it only took about 1.5 hours.  It took a couple of days for the folks at personal property to load my move and within a month I heard from my first service provider about picking up my unaccompanied baggage. Within a couple of more weeks I got a call from the local provider on behalf of my service provider to set a date for my household goods. Everything ticked off like clockwork. Once we were in Germany, we were only in country about two weeks before our stuff arrived. Everything was flawless. 

Here is a link to the first article and the issues that seem to have been resolved: http://usafchaplain.blogspot.com/2010/06/dps-move.html

Spiritual Fitness

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/13/132904866/armys-spiritual-fitness-test-angers-some-soldiers

This is an interesting story about the challenges of caring for people spiritually while maintaining the integrity of the establishment clause. While you may agree or disagree with either side of this issue, it is something for the chaplain to know about and be aware of. This NPR story is about an Army program.

Air Force yanks nuclear ethics course - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Air Force yanks nuclear ethics course - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

End of an Era

UPDATE: 12-04-11
A policy letter was sent out last week outlining that the non-inclusion of Chaplain AFSC badges on ABU hats was an oversight and thus never truly went into effect. Thus, Chaplain AFSC badges are able to be worn by USAF chaplains.

We got word this week that the new AFI that covers wear of our uniforms (AFI 36-2903) no longer allows chaplains to wear our AFSC badge on our patrol caps. Christian chaplains wore the cross, Jewish chaplains wore the ten commandments and Islamic chaplains wore the crescent. Now, these symbols of faith must be replace with our rank instead. This changes over 60 years of tradition in the USAF Chaplain Corps. We will salute sharply and comply, but this chaplain does not like it. We are to be visible reminders of the Holy. We are to be Chaplains first. Each of these values were taught to us in the Basic Chaplain Course. Now it's more difficult to be distinguished from a regular officer. How often I would come up on an Airman and they see the cross and they smile and say, "Hello, Chaplain." Now they don't smile, they just call me Captain... I'm just another boss to them rather than a trusted spiritual guide.  I pray that this change in the AFI is reversed very soon.

Realignments add to busy summer moving season

Realignments add to busy summer moving season

Updated Chaplain Website

The Air Force has updated it's recruiting site for chaplains. This is a great effort on the part of the Air Force to give you an idea of what the chaplaincy is like from the perspective of the chaplain and those to whom the chaplain ministers. Click the link below. You will enjoy hearing their stories.

Click here: Air Force Chaplain

USAF Chaplain FAQs

I have been receiving a three to four emails a month from readers of this blog. I really appreciate the feedback and the kind words you have shared. You also have many of the same questions, so I thought I’d write a post of frequently asked questions.

Q: Why did you choose the Air Force?

A: The Air Force was the best fit for our family. At the time, the Air Force was only sending chaplains on 4-month deployments every 18 months. Now it sends us on 6-month deployments.  That was shorter than the 18 months in the Army and the more frequent 6 months in the Navy. The Army has now backed down to 12 months. Also, I was told by several friends, who were prior Army, I should try to get into the Air Force first. They said if they had it to do over again they would have joined the Air Force. As I began to explore the types of ministry I would be doing in the Air Force, I realized it would be a good fit for my family and me.

Q: How has being and Air Force Chaplain been for your family? Do they like it?

A: My wife loves the Air Force family. We have made lifelong friends and have enjoyed so many of the benefits of being a military family. There is less pressure on her than when she was a “pastor’s wife.” We love the chapel communities. Our kids enjoy moving and seeing new places. We don’t relish the deployments, however, we know this is where God has called us to be. I actually get to spend more quality time with my family as a Chaplain than I did as a civilian pastor.

Q: What is your typical day like?

A: Short answer is…there is not typical day, and that is one of the things that makes this vocation so wonderful! The longer answer is…I could be doing just about anything on any give day. On Monday I might be visiting the flight line and talking to folks who work on jets. On Tuesday I might be in a staff meeting with the base commander, filling in for my boss. On Wednesday I could be leading an AWANA program. Thursday may be my day off to compensate for my Sunday work. Friday I may be counseling a couple for marriage. Saturday I’m off, and Sunday I’m preaching in a service. Other things we do: emergency counseling, unit visitation, on-call chaplain, lead Bible studies, attend squadron and group functions, pray at ceremonies, host luncheons, funerals, weddings, baptisms, communion, training missions etc.

Q: I’m not a liturgical pastor or an infant baptizer; do I have a chance to get into the Air Force?

A: You have zero chance of getting in the Air Fore if you don’t apply. If you are a quality person, feel called of God to serve God and Country, and desire to be a part of the most powerful Air Force on earth, then you should apply and follow God’s lead. Don’t join another service because you have a better chance of getting in. Only join that service if you feel called to be there.

Q: Can you preach what you want or does the Air Force tell you what you can preach? (also what about the repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell” or DADT and the rules about not praying in Jesus’ name.)

A: The Air Force chaplaincy is a unique place to serve and it comes with it’s own rules of engagement. You will have to navigate your own ethical and religious waters surrounding these issues. But, let me give you some short answers to these questions:

1. No one can tell you what to preach. However, you must realize that you are not the pastor of the local MethaLuthBaptiCostal Church. It’s not wise to spend pulpit time on subjects that are near and dear to particular denominations. I preach in the Protestant service. So, I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not the folks in that service know what Infralapsarianism is doesn’t matter so much.

2. You can’t denigrate another faith group.

3.  The repeal of DADT has caused many chaplains and many who want to be chaplains to question their future in the chaplaincy. You do not have to do anything that would go against your conscience or your faith group. Can you preach from Romans chapter one? Yes. Should you preach on it four times a year or more? Probably not. But, if you are preaching through the text you have every right to preach on it and to give your interpretation. You do not have to perform rites or ceremonies that violate your conscience. I have another blog entry on this subject here: USAFCHAPLAIN DADT

4. You can pray in Jesus’ name anytime you want. The current guidance basically states that no one will tell you how to pray. If you must always pray in Jesus’ name or in any other sectarian way, you may not want to pray at events where people are forced to attend who may not share your faith. That’s my paraphrase of the policy. In the chapel service you pray however you would like. See this link for more info: USAFCHAPLAIN A Pluralistic Air Force

Q: What are deployments like and were they hard on your family?

A: Deployments are great because it’s the most amazing ministry you can imagine. Deployments are awful because we are at war and because you don’t get to see your family. It was hard on my family, but it’s part of this ministry. We get through them by God’s grace and wonderful technology like Skype and Facebook.  You should prepare yourself spiritually for deployments. They are like the movie Groundhog’s Day in many ways. You will do the same thing over and over and over and over again. Establish a routine, talk to and write to your family as much as possible and realize that every moment there is precious because they are moments the Lord is using you for his work in the Kingdom. Many of our deployments are “safer” in the Air Force than other services, but in today’s combat everyone is vulnerable.

Q: Do you enjoy what you do?

A: YES! This is the best job I could ever have.

Q: What do you not like?

A: The same thing everyone hates about his or her job. I must say, however, that the Air Force has been absolutely wonderful to my family and me. We have no complaints about how we have been treated and only praise for the Air Force and the Air Force Family. But to answer the question: I can’t stand administrivia. I hate feeling helpless when policies are made that impact what we do in a negative way. I hate being undermanned and under-resourced. I loath when it appears good people get hurt in a system that doesn’t seem to care about them. But, you are going to experience that anywhere. Your attitude in the midst of that makes all the difference in the world. I am choosing to help where I can and where I can’t, well, there is plenty of ministry to be involved in that can take my mind off some of the unpleasant things. The negatives really are minor compared to the joy of being an Air Force Chaplain.

Connecting Worlds

I recently shared this resource with a friend. This little paper has resonated quite a lot with the pilots I've been around and with other folks in the Air Force. I like it because it is a good example of "connecting worlds." During my first year in the Air Force, I was thinking of ways that I could break into the world of pilots and connect with them on a spiritual level. As a broad ministry, the Air Force believes that all people are spiritual. Connecting with people spiritually is a first step for me as a chaplain. If the person wishes to go deeper then by God's providence we can move to religious, Biblical and Christian conversations. But, the gateway to helping people in the chaplain world is to connect first on a spiritual level. The picture in this post is what  I came up with as a world connecting resource and it caught on pretty well. It fits in a pilots personal inflight guide book and is a handy twist on familiar concepts. Thanks to Jeromy for reminding me to dig this back out and I'm posting it here for your future ministry in the Air Force.

Don't Just Do Something, Stand There

As preachers, we are trained talkers. In fact, if you are like most pastors, you are probably very good at talking. So, it comes as a surprise to some that in pastoral care, talking is not a highly valued skill.  It also comes as a surprised to some of us that it is not a highly effective skill in pastoral care either.  When someone really needs to get something off their chest and we are too quick to offer platitudes or hope, we can actually stifle that person’s ability to heal. As chaplains to the injured or sick, we are called to the pastoral care ministry, a ministry called "presence." In other words, sometimes we are not called to speak, but to simply "be." Being can be uncomfortable for some of us. We desire to fill the silence with words of hope or humor (by the way, don't make people laugh after surgery, not a good idea). This speaks much more to our needs rather than focusing on the needs of the patient. I recently had an interaction with someone who said something that made me want to respond. I wanted desperately to tell them about healing in Christ, or to offer to pray with them, or to give some sort of encouragement. However, I fought this temptation and simply stood there with them in that moment. When they looked up, I nodded to them (as if to say "go on") and they shared even more of their story.

In theater, there is a phrase that goes like this, "hey, you stepped on my line." It means that you forgot that someone else had a part and that you needed to wait for him or her to make his or her line before you launch into yours. It's one of the worst mistakes an actor can make. Chaplains can be tempted to step on someone’s line as well. Had I given in to my need to fill the air with noise, had I given in to my need to take care of my own discomfort, I would have never heard this person's line. I never would have heard the rest of the story. Yes, the silence was uncomfortable for me, but it allowed this fellow actor to say his/her line and contribute to the play. The story grew richer and as a result, I knew not only that he/she needed comfort, but also how to comfort. You've heard it said, "don't just stand there, do something," but I tell you "Don't just do something, stand there."

Pastoral Care, the art of CPE

There is a fine are to pastoral care. Art is not always something that you would expect to find in a clinical setting, but much like doctors are rediscovering the need for art in medicine, chaplains learn the art of ministry in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

When I first began CPE, I was a bit leery of the clinical aspect of the program. After all, I really didn't like the idea that something as personal as ministry could be critiqued, studied, criticized, ripped apart and then put back together. It sounded cold and impersonal. Nothing, could be farther from the truth. The atmosphere of our program is one that hones our skills and the clinical portion simply offers a vehicle by which to study the art.

I use the word art intentionally. The ability to minister to people in need is a gift.  One can learn how to "paint by numbers" but I would hardly call that person an artist. We can teach people how to go through the motions of pastoral care, but to truly be a master practitioner, I believe that a spiritual gift is necessary. It's like being a pitcher in the major league. Pitching coaches will tell you. "I can't teach a guy to throw a 90 MPH fastball. He can either do it, or he can't. But for the guy that can, I can teach him to throw 95 MPH." So, CPE is about making good pastors, better pastors. It's about looking at the narrow field of "pastoral care" and becoming and expert in that field.

In future articles I will take you through some of the fundamentals that we are learning. Those articles will include: "Don't Just Say Something, Stand There," "Get in, down, up and out:  the art of the visit," and "Pastoral Authority: How to own your place on the interdisciplinary medical team."  I am going to write these next few articles as a part of my process and I hope they are helpful for you in becoming a better pastor.

CPE NICU

I have been at CPE for a few weeks now and will begin working on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Our group has been really enjoyable to work with and we have had a good time getting to know one another along with our supervisor. This year will be challenging, but in a good way. The environment is very collegial and we are learning more about ourselves and ministry every day. Our program will be collocating with the Army some time this year and we will be working between two hospitals. By the time next year's class begins, most of the transition should have taken place. It will be a rich learning environment when we move in with the Army. The AF and the Army approach things in very different ways, and it seems CPE is no exception.

Our program is divided into four units that make up the year. During unit one I will be focusing on understanding pastoral voice/authority  and honing the direction of my ministry. I'll be working in the NICU and attending group and one on one sessions to unfold the layers of our collective experience.

So far the schedule has not been too demanding and it has been a nice balance between home, work and PT. It think this program is well worth applying to from what I've seen so far and will benefit us greatly as we continue our work in the chaplaincy.

Troops: Loss will be felt when Air Force cuts chaplain corps by 15 percent - News - Stripes

Troops: Loss will be felt when Air Force cuts chaplain corps by 15 percent - News - Stripes

Above is a link I got from Dave Reedy's blog about current events in the chaplaincy.

You can read his blog here:

http://chapdavenewsletter.blogspot.com/

DPS Move

Rules are changing but your home station may not know this. That's what happening to us. What used to be known as TMO (now the Personal Property Office) and now known as PPO will schedule your move. They should load you into DPS (Defense Personal Property System, yes it needs another "p" but they are not big on the "personal" part so maybe that's why it got left out). Before, you had one number for your outbound and inbound TMO office and they took care of everything. Now PPO is supposed to load you into DPS, set up your packing and pickup and then you manage your move from there. It's what a friend of mine likes to call the "Home Depot Air Force, you can do it and we can help." Doesn't sound to pleasant does it? To make matters worse for us, our outbound PPO loaded us using the old system and the inbound TMO has us in DPS. This means, I've had all the disadvantages of DPS with out the ability to use the system for it's advantages. (Which by the way is a web based application for tracking and scheduling your move. Not easy to do if you have no place to live yet or have no access to computer.) The original moving company no longer has my stuff. They shucked it off to a middle man.  I've been communicating with a "middle man," a referral agency for movers. My local PPO can't help. The middle man wouldn't return calls. I finally got a manager on the phone and now am waiting on a truck to come sometime today but still have no number for a local vender to call and check on things or a time that they might show. The only help I got was from JPPSO (jipso), which is the joint personal property office. They did confirm some things and got some grease in the wheels but it's still been all up to me. So why the rant? I want to let you know what happened to us so you can ask your PPO person to take you through the whole process and not leave you hanging. Making sure you have a clear idea of who will have your stuff from the time it leaves to when it arrives. It's all an all new system and there aren't many answers. Currently all the tutorials online reference the old website and are of no help. The picture above accurately represents my usually upbeat feelings. It'll be better soon, but for now it feels like there is no way out.

UPDATE: 5-11-10 Still no household goods. 9 days past due. Things are getting better. JPPSO San Antonio (The joint personal property office) is now communicating on my behalf. It's a mess. It seems with the new DPS systems, carriers are tapped for a move and if they don't accept the bid they get booted from military business for 30 days. So, they accept all moves regardless of their manpower. It seems the long haul driver dropped the load in Dallas and quit. Now they are looking for a driver.

Advise so far: research a good local company that has a good contact on the receiving end of your move. You have the right to ask for that company. Things should go smoother. We just allowed the government to randomly pick one. Find out who will be tracking your shipping and get their toll-free number. Learn how to log on to DPS and track your stuff. If the company doesn't log into DPS call JPPSO or TMO and get them to badger the company until they update your information.

UPDATE: 6-07-10 We received our household goods 12 days late. We are currently filing an claim against the Transportation Service Provider (TSP) for time without our goods. The TSP had not updated DPS at all during or after our shipment.

HUGE! UPDATE: 7-6-10 SUBJECT DPS
I received an email from the Chief, Personal Property Branch at HQ SDDC PP about my blog entry being quoted on http://www.blogdaycos.com/  (read here http://blog.daycos.com/2010/07/01/perfect-storm-of-peak-season-problems-draw-responses/ ). The article, "Perfect Storm" by Brandon Day, quoted a couple of things that I want to clarify. My knowledge of assigning moves to the TSPs is second hand and was collected during multiple converstaions on the phone with multiple agencies. I have no first hand knowlege of how companies take and receive bids. Secondly, I used the word "randomly" when speaking of how the goverment picks your mover if you don't select one. Actually what is done, is there is a selection process based on a number of criteria that involves among other things, customer feedback. Just to be clear, the government is not "randomly" choosing companies but selecting them in an fair manner based on many things. Finally, I mentioned above that the online tutorials references the old website. That is not correct. They reference the DPS site, but I couldn't get through the http://www.move.mil/ site to get to that site until I got to a government computer and then the tutorials were helpful.


I was pleasantly surprised to recieve the email from SDDC and I called the Chief, Personal Property Branch. We had a very constructive converstation, and I feel I have a better understanding as to the intent of DPS and it's mission. I was aslo able to share my concerns with him and we had what I think was a very fruitful converstation. I am thankful for his willingness to go above and beyond in this matter.

Conclusion.
DPS works in-so-far as this:
1. Your TSP has to update the system for it to be of any use to you during your move. Mine didn't. This is not the fault of DSP but it does show what I think is a weakness in the system. However, you will be able to rate the TSP on your satisfaction survey and this is extremely important, becase that effects how tht TSP racks and stacks in the system.
2. DPS cannot be accessed using Safari or to my knowlege a MAC. Also I never was able to complete the survey from home. I had to wait until I got on a government PC. Keep this in mind if you are planning a DPS move.
3. The major fault was with my TSP.  In retrospect, I don't know how much the old system could have "fixed" things, but a flesh and blood person who would hold my hand would have been nice. The above blog entry, however, is an accurate, realtime indication of my emotions and feelings as we went through this move.

Update
Click here for latest update on military transportation

More interesting information about this system
Agents Against DPS

http://reloroundtable.com/blog/moving/dp3-–-a-moving-industry-conundrum/

Update 2011 DPS Move Redeemed
http://usafchaplain.blogspot.com/2011/09/dps-move-redeemed.html

Deploy Early and Often

It's official. You will deploy and you will deploy more often. Though the Army will be pulling out of Afghanistan and Iraq, we will still be there and probably in larger numbers than during "active combat operations." It used to be that chaplains were vulnerable to deploy every 18 months for 4 months at a time. That was the under the old Air Expeditionary Forces model, or AEF. Now we use "blocks and bands." See picture below.

Chaplains used to be in what we now call Band "A." You were assigned to and AEF and then you were vulnerable to deploy each time your AEF cycle came up. Each job in the Air Force had a different dwell rate which meant that depending on your job you might go every 6 months for 6 months or ever 24 months for 4 months. The lag between deployments was called "dwell time" and there was not a good system for tracking and planning this. Enter the bands and blocks. For your purposes as  a future chaplain we are in Band "C" and our dwell time is 6 months deployed and 18 months on station before you are vulnerable to deploy again for 6 months. We still deploy less than Navy and Army chaplains although we are deploying now, more than ever. This needs to be a part of your prayers and consideration as you explore your call to the chaplaincy.

Reduction in Force: Getting in could get harder

Getting in to the chaplaincy  may be harder than ever. We are currently undergoing a reduction in force or a RIF. The RIF is affecting 30% of four year groups in the chaplaincy. In other words, four years worth of accessions will be reduced by 30%. That and reduction through attrition will take us down to a total of around 400 chaplains in the active duty Air Force. What does this mean for those of you trying to get in? Well, it's a good news bad news story. I never want to discourage anyone from joining the Air Force. If God is calling you to this unique ministry, then you should stick to your guns, so to speak. Don't be swayed to do something because it sounds easier or to be a more "sure thing." If God wants you here, then you will be. So what is the good news? The good news is that if you make it in during a "lean" year, you are much less likely to be facing what 30% of four year groups are facing now. The bad news is that it's harder to get in. This has been true over the last few years anyway. Just a few years ago the AF was taking in around 30 chaplains a year. By my accession year of 2006 it was around 25 and continues at that rate.* What does this mean for you? Bring your "A" game when you apply. Don't be mediocre in you enthusiasm. Don't be sloppy in your paperwork. Finish every deadline (we call them suspenses) before they are due. Don't expect the AF to "want" you. Your job in, this climate, is to prove to the AF how much you want to be a part of them. We get to be very selective right now and we are only taking the best. You need to be fully on board with our core values and mission. You have to be able to operate in a pluralistic environment. You need to be excited about deploying and caring for Airmen. Your family needs to be stable and fully supportive of the ministry God has given you. You need to feel called from deep within your soul. My prayer is that doesn't scare you, but that it hones your intensity.

*Earlier I had reported that 2009 saw 12 chaplains brought on active duty. That was incorrect. The number remains at 25 per year. Sorry for any confusion.

Right Prayer at the Right Time

It's always good to know that prayers were heard and answered by God in the way we asked and expected. I just got word today that a prayer I prayed a few weeks ago in chapel service became effective and real in the lives of some of our folks. We can never overlook the value of living out our vows as ministers in the lives of our people. It was a simple prayer from my heart that dived deep in to the hearts and lives of the faithful. God continues to do amazing things.

I have counseled so many people over the last four years and I have been blessed to help a few of them, but it is the point in counseling when God leads us to prayer that I see the stress and burden lift from the person in front of me. That is a cool experience.

I remember counseling a Spec 4 in the Army who was experiencing PTSD. I worked with him on thoughts and actions and on reality and focused breathing. After about an hour of letting him talk and making suggestions I was getting nowhere. I finally asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" He looked at me and said, "Well, all I really needed you to do is pray. Could we do that now?" Wow! You think I would have thought of that. I'm glad he had his cranium on straight. We did pray and it was a blessing to him and me.

All the Right Moves

It's finally time to move. We have been on station for three years and eleven months. That's a year and a half longer than  time on station was when we first got in. We have loved being at our current duty station, but we are looking forward to our next assignment. It will be tough leaving our old friends, however, many of them have moved on already. We are really the last of the old breed here. It's down to checklists and sweeping out the closets. This will be our first move since coming into the military, so if I learn a few things along the way, I'll be sure to post them. Some things I've learned already:

• Save your travel vouchers along with your orders. They are important.
• Make sure you have an extra copy of all of your records, just in case your primary copies are lost or ruined. Oh, and hand carry anything you don't want lost.
• May sure you get your cars weighed for a partial DITY (Do it your self move). We missed out on about $1K when we came here because we didn't know that trick. 
• If you use house hunting days while at your old base, you get 10 days. If you wait until you get to your gaining base, it's only 8 days.
• Learn to live light. We just realized we really don't need a lot of stuff. Makes life a lot easier. 
• Call the temporary lodging as soon as you get orders.

Here are some links that you may find useful as well:
www.move.mil
Military Home Front
It's your move DOD
DITY MOVERS
Check List
About.com Military Moves

Don't Ask Don't Tell

There is a lot of discussion about the repeal of DADT. Among chaplains and future chaplains I have heard everything from "I will quit" or "I will not join" if it happens to "I welcome it happening" and everything in between. Here is what I know to be true. If God has called you to the military to be a chaplain, then he has a plan for you. You wouldn't quit being a missionary or not go to a foreign land if they had laws you found immoral or against your faith. If God called you to that country then you go. Why would the military be any different? I am a chaplain to all and a pastor to some. I don't agree with the lifestyles of many of my Airmen, but I love them and am proud to be there chaplain. Chaplains are the visible reminders of the Holy.

Preaching TDY: Everyone Needs Renewal

I really hate to admit it, but my passion for preaching had hit a low point in my ministry. It is very easy in the chaplaincy to get so involved in the function of the chapel that you miss the unction of your calling. That is why I was so blessed to attend a TDY (temporary duty assignment) for a week in South Carolina. The Air Force brought in Dr. Mike Milton, President of Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC. Dr. Milton is an evangelical and reformed in his theology. Although his reformed theology was not the theme of his talks, it was like being home after a long journey to hear him speak. There were also 41 chaplains from all over the Air Force in attendance and the fellowship was tremendous! We were encouraged and given strength.

I share this with you because in your ministry as a chaplain, you will not always have the strong tether of the church. Many times you will find yourself not preaching or teaching. You have to be very intentional about your devotional life and spiritual renewal to stay connected to your first love--In my case, the call of God to share the good news of Jesus Christ. It will be important for you to seek out Godly men and resources who will keep you sharp and to remind you of your first love and your call.

If you have no one at hand, then I recommend Dr. Milton. He was so wonderful to spend time with and to learn from and I have included a link to his broadcast page for you to enjoy.

I also enjoyed reading one of his books, "What God starts, God completes." I have included a link to that book as well.

In addition to being an accomplished preacher and seminary president, Dr. Milton also serves as an Army Reserve Chaplain.

The Call with Mike Milton

What God Start's, God Completes

Chief of chaplains speaks out

Chief of chaplains speaks out

Check out the link above to see the unique challenges we have in the Air Force Chaplaincy and to get the unique perspective from our Chief of Chaplains.

How to Become an Air Force Chaplain | eHow.com

How to Become an Air Force Chaplain eHow.com

The link above takes you to some good information about becoming a chaplain in the Air Force. I outline much of this information below, but his is a good one stop shop to check your pulse and see what you will need to do to begin your Air Force ministry. It also has links to the Chaplain Corps Website and to the Chaplain Candidate Program which may interest you if you are still in seminary. Also below is a link  from the official site:

http://www.usafhc.af.mil/howtobecomeachaplain/index.asp

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

We just got word that I've been selected for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). We'll be moving to San Antonio for a year of school and I'll be working and studying at Brook Army Medical Center. We are excited to be moving and I'm excited about all the great things to learn in the hospital setting. It's also going to be fun to work along side the Army and to learn from their experience. We will miss our current duty station and the wonderful mission here, but we are ready for something new after four years.

UPDATE: Looks like I'll be going to CPE at Wilford Hall instead. At least for now.

Air Force Chaplain Air Force Chaplain CPE Clinical Pastoral Education Air Force BAMC

USAF Chaplain

Air Force Chaplain School

Air Force Chaplain Blog

A Pluralistic Air Force

Bottom Line Up Front: No one can tell you how to pray as an Air Force Chaplain. I wear a Christian Cross on my chest every day. The chaplain badge is one of only two AFCS badges that is mandatory to wear. The other is pilot wings. I am faithful to my God first. I have never and will never do anything that violates my conscience as a Christian or as an Officer in the United States Air Force. I love the Lord Jesus Christ and it is because of him and the Constitution of the United States that I have the freedom to minister to all.

First of all, let's define terms. Pluralism should not be the order of the day in the Air Force. Pluralism is an ideology that holds the idea that all religion is equal. That would be a difficult reality for chaplains who are on loan from their respective endorsing agencies to minister to people of a like faith. Pluralism is a philosophy that most chaplains cannot embrace. Being pluralistic, however, means that you have tolerance for all religions without denying the uniqueness of your own faith. The Army calls it "Cooperation Without Compromise." Some new chaplains can find even this to be difficult. Finding your way in a pluralistic environment will mean the difference in you being at peace with your call as a chaplain and you being at odds with your own ministry in the Air Force.

First of all you must realize that a pluralistic environment must exist for Air Force Chaplains to do their jobs. As officers, we take an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States. The First Amendment ensures a person's right to the free exercise of religion. As chaplains, we are the champions of this right. Even if a person's religion is not my own, I am sworn to defend his or her right to exercise that faith. In my case, I provide pastoral services for Protestant Christians. However, I cannot and would not conduct a Catholic Mass, give a Jewish service or lead a Wicca Coven. I can and do provide for those Airmen who have these religious needs. I can direct them to a chaplain or lay leader who can serve them or the Wing Chaplain may contract for someone of that faith to come onto base and offer services.

Our willingness to provide for all faiths gives us the opportunity to be faithful to our own traditions. When I am ministering in a place where Airmen have to be, (e.g. workstation, mandatory formation, or a military ceremony) I am a "Chaplain to all" at that point. I do and say things that are inclusive of all people who are in the profession of arms. I seek to be their chaplain regardless of where they are coming from spiritually. When someone voluntarily seeks me out, then they are encountering me as "pastor." Therefore, I am a "Chaplain to all and a Pastor to some." Nothing stops me from being an evangelical pastor when I am in the bounds of that ministry. Nothing stops me from be a chaplain to everyone when I am in the bounds of that ministry. Each chaplain wears two hats. If he is honest about who he is and recognizes when each is appropriate, he will never find it difficult or against his own faith to live in a pluralistic Air Force. My willingness to be a chaplain to all ensures my ability to be a pastor to some.

For example, in my tradition it is customary to invoke the name of Jesus at the end of a prayer. This is common to many Catholics and Protestants. If I am praying with someone in my office or I am praying in religious services on base then I almost always follow this tradition. However, when I pray at an awards dinner or at a change of command I will pray in a "non-sectarian" way out of respect for fellow Airmen who may not believe as I do.

Another way for you to think about it would be to put the shoe on the other foot. Suppose a Wicca Coven leader or an Islamic Chaplain were asked to pray at an event where you were expected to attend. If they prayed a prayer that was narrow and sectarian, you might be offended or feel subjected to a form of proselytizing that is not comfortable to you.

So what do I pray when I don't pray a sectarian prayer? I usually pray something like this:

Dear Lord,

We thank you for these Airmen and their families. Watch over and protect them. Give them your Grace and uphold them with your Spirit during their upcoming deployment. Prepare their fingers for battle and their hands for war and let their acts of courage be in keeping with your justice and your Holy will. Bring them home safely and bless our nation once again with your peace. We pray in your most precious name. Amen.

This is a common example of being true to my own tradition while serving the broadest spectrum of Airmen. It is something you will need to pray about and come to your own conclusions. No one will tell you how to pray as an Air Force Chaplain. However, you may be limited in where you pray if you are limited in how you pray.

*UPDATE: It was pointed out that I was using the word Pluralism in place of "being pluralistic." I have edited this post to reflect a more accurate understanding of those two words. After looking at it again, I am so thankful to make the correction. Thanks for the input!

USAF Chaplain Corps

There have been some recent changes to the Chaplain Corps that you may be interested in. First our name has changed. We were formally the USAF Chaplain Service. Now we are known as the the USAF Chaplain Corps. This brings us more in line with our joint partners. Also our school house has moved. Formerly at Maxwell AFB Alabama, our school house has moved to Ft Jackson South Carolina. It is collocated with the Army and Navy Chaplain schools. No longer is it called the Chaplain Service Institute, but is now known as the Chaplain Corps College. Finally our vision statement has changed a bit too. We used to live by the words, "Glorifying God, Honoring Airmen, Serving All." We have tweaked that ever so slightly to "Glorifying God, Serving Airmen, Pursing Excellence." An updated wikipedia article with more informatin about the Chaplain Corps can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Chaplain_Corps

Redeploy

Coming home seems like a very natural act, however, it can be as stressful as leaving. You have heard the list before: things have changed, don't rush into work or vacation, realize that others have been picking up your slack, don't make any major life or financial decisions, etc. But, hearing those things and actually understanding them in you heart are two different things. You may find everything at work has changed. You may not be in charge of things that you once were, or some of your pet projects may have been taken in a new direction. If you can anticipate these things then you won't take them too personally. The same is true at home. Your spouse and children have been making due without you and they may not want to give up some of their expanded duties or activities. You may have a "honey do" list waiting for you. Communicate well with those who will be receiving you at home and work to make sure homecomings happen as smoothly as possible and that expectations are met and understood by all.

New Christians

To have someone who was a complete stranger when they walked into your office be able to call you "brother" when they leave your office is nothing short of a miracle. God has made it possible for me to lead 5 men to Christ during this deployment. I pray for each of them as God continues to work in their life. The work that Jesus is doing in the lives of our Airmen is amazing and of all the reasons why we are over here, I have to believe that God is using this time to harvest many souls. I'm thankful that HE has allowed me to be a small part of that.

Nearing End of Deployment

I'm nearing the end of my tour at the 379th AEW. It has been a really good experience. I miss my family very much and can't wait to see them. Pictured here is the crew at Wing Staff that was here when I arrived. Most have gone home now. Behind us are the air craft that we support. I'm the in the next to the last row, third person from the left.

Baptism

One of the greatest things in the life of a pastor is to see people coming to faith in Christ. I had the great joy of being a part of Todd's baptism. We have served together here in the desert for the last 60 days and through that relationship he came to trust me with this important sacrament. We baptized three that night, and through their willingness to publically accept Jesus as their savior, they became a visual witness for all at the pool.

Pictures from a cool meeting

Providence is a great and wonderful thing. On the 24 of April, before I left the United States I had to layover in St. Louis for a night before I boarded the "rotator" to South West Asia. I knew that Nell and Beaufort Hartley were visiting St. Louis for the Under Age Veterans Reunion. Beaufort joined the Navy at age 16 during WWII and fought in the South Pacific. I had no idea where they were staying, so I was going to call them when I got to my hotel and take a cab to see them. When I walked into the lobby of the Crowne Plaza I was blessed to see the Under Age Veteran Reunion was being held in my hotel. Beaufort was my "first salute" and it was so fitting for him, his wonderful wife and all of his warrior buddies to be the folks who saw me off on my first deployment.

Prayer at Camp Andy

Our base used to be known as Camp Andy, after the man who was the first death in Operation Enduring Freedom. A stone marked the location and the story behind the base being named after him. Our name has changed but our history has not, nor will it be forgotten. Over time the location of the stone had become more and more industrial. The stone was relocated to Memorial Plaza on the main part of base. Since Andy was a Dirtboy (heavy equipment earthmovers) that's who asked me to come out and pray before we moved his memorial. It was an honor to pay tribute to him and to move heaven for the ones who move earth.

Reenlistment

I was honored today by being asked to perform the reenlistment of one of my troops. It’s an honor because an Airmen get’s to choose who administers their oath. SrA Muniz is a member of “ESCORT FLT” and I was overjoyed to be a part of his Air Force career. The ESCORTS are volunteers from all over the Air Force who come to the desert to be security escorts for the TCNs or Third Country Nationals who do all of the food service, cleaning , construction, road work etc. on base. They work 12 hours in the sun watching people dig ditches and paint buildings. It’s hot, dry, hard work. But, it’s important work as they keep our base safe. They are one of my favorite flights to work with.

Fallen Heroes

One of the most significant things we do while deployed is to honor those who have paid the greatest sacrifice. Every day this week I have been called to the flight line to complete the chaplain's duty of receiving our fallen warriors from the front. Our leadership never fails to take time out of their busy day to care for the remains of those who have no name but "hero." It is a solemn and quiet affair. There is respect and dignity in each transfer as we get these warriors back to their grieving families. I don't want to write too much because these moments are too sacred. But I write this to remind myself that freedom comes at a great cost. The picture displayed is one from the internet. We do not take pictures of those we care for here. But this picture is very close to what we see and this is what our troops here face every day as they take time from their work to honor our dead. May God bless the families of the fallen and may they find rest in the love of Almighty God.

Deployed

I've been deployed now for about a month. I'm in a safe place that is offically "undisclosed." I'm working for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Life is very fast and ministry is very good. I ran into some guys from home station as well. I wish I could share more about the mission of the base but for OPSEC reasons I cannot. Let's just say that it's really neat to be a part of this wing and it's mission in the AOR. I'm currently in charge of 2 worship services and 4 bible studies. I'm the public affairs rep for the chapel and having the time of my life. I miss my family very much and would say that is the only down side to this deployment. I've had the opportunity to meet many chaplains who pass through here and that has been a great "side ministry." I am the MSG chaplain, so I take care of everyone from Comm guys to CE to Cops and Firemen. I drive an old Deawoo micro truck that was a left over from PSAB days back in 2oo2. For those who remember it's called "Shepherd 2." Currenlty the temp is around 115 degrees F. We should see 140 before the summer is over. One of my favorite ministries is the Barstool Ministry that we do here. So far we have had a good response and had a great time sharing Godly teachings over cigars and fellowship. This is not an easy deployment because it is very busy, but it is a simple deployment because my living conditions are very good. I have a room to my self, I'm only 12 meters from the "Caddilac" (what we call the nice bathrooms), we have three dining halls (DFACs) and a shopping mall with a fountain. So it's pretty posh! I remember in prayer my fellow chaplains who have less desirable conditions. Please keep folks in your prayers as we encounter some amazing ministry opportunites here and they happen every minute of the day at Victory Chapel. We are the only 27/7 chapel in the AOR.

update: as my friend pointed out in the comment below, you can read more at the 379th public site which is: http://www.379aew.afcent.af.mil/

Morale Visit

The Flight Doc and I were very blessed to be included in a morale visit to see some personnel in the hospital. We had a great crew. Doc and I are pictured to the left of our crew in the wing picture. The interior shot is of the two commanders that went who allowed Doc and me to tag along. While chaplains are authorized to wear a flight suit anytime they fly, I felt on this flight it was more important to obviously be a chaplain. This was a special mission and I'm so very thankful to have been able to go and minister to our people.