Chaplain candidates look to serve

  • Published
  • By SrA Jeremy Roman
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  Nearly forty members from the Air Force Chaplain Candidates Program visited Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base as part of their Chaplain Candidacy Tour Thursday, August 2, 2012. The 33-day tour allows program candidates the opportunity to visit five military installations while experiencing ministry in Air Force active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard components.
 
Besides seeing how they would like to serve, the chaplain candidacy program is also used to evaluate the candidates' compatibility and potential for serving in the Air Force Reserves. While here, they were treated to a base tour, met members from the 301st Fighter Wing and took photos with F-16 Fighting Falcon jets. But the focus of this part of the tour was the exposure to total force integration through Patriot Defender deployment training at Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas.

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Bill Wiecher, Air Force Reserve Command interim chaplain candidate program manager, said his goal for this part of the tour is to help the candidates understand the tools needed for deployed ministry.

"It's a vital part of the chaplain mission," Wiecher said. "I want the candidates to come away with a broad appreciation of what all goes into a day-to-day mission and various components of the average airman."

Second Lieutenant Justin Thomas, an AFRC chaplain candidate, particularly enjoyed the land navigation and improvised explosive device course.

"I get a better understanding of the dangers and stressors that are out there for the Airmen downrange," said Thomas. "Learning what the enemy is trying to do helps me be able to empathize and support our Airmen."

Part of this tour puts them in the field helping them to understand the experiences of those to whom they will be ministering.

"Interacting with security forces and understanding the stresses and hazards of the mission gives them insight into another side of chaplaincy that is a physically, mentally and spiritually demanding part of ministry into which we are called," Wiecher said. "This experience gives them the tools to survive and be successful as chaplain candidates and future chaplains."
This tour is not just about what they learn in the field, but also what they learn about themselves.

"Though it can be hard and stressful at times, they have the resiliency to press forward and in doing so be examples of the Holy and motivators in support to the men and women in the Air Force community," Wiecher said. "Especially in training here with security forces and civil engineers and all those other folks that sometimes do the hard work that is unsung in our Air Force."

Each of the five military installations toured provided a different aspect in which candidates can serve in ministry. This stop at NAS Fort Worth JRB was the fourth base they toured. It focused on deployment with training courses that included a land navigation, IED, and counter insurgency classes.

"Seeing the different challenges that come with being a warrior Airman, shows us the different ways that we can provide ministry," said Thomas. "I'm grateful for the opportunity because it gives a full idea of what ministry will be like in the Air Force. It's an excellent tour."

Aside from their visit to NAS Fort Worth JRB, the other Air Force bases on the tour included Robins, Ga., Lackland, Texas, Barksdale, La., and Charleston, S.C.