Chaplain team here to serve

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stan Coleman
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Being deployed doesn’t mean an Airman’s spiritual involvement or fellowship with other members of his or her faith has to be neglected. The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing’s base chapel is a source of continued spiritual support of worship opportunities and counseling services for deployed Airmen.

Chaplains (Maj.) William Bartoul and (Maj.) Craig Benson and Chaplain Assistant Staff Sgt. Steven Beasley support deployed Airmen’s faith and worship activities in Southwest Asia.

The base chapel team welcomes volunteers to lead, support and take part in the music ministry, bible study and prayer groups. Other ideas are welcome regarding the chapel in relationship to the base community. 

“Our service to the base populace involves three areas,” said Chaplain Benson, a Lutheran pastor based at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. “Those areas are to glorify God, to honor Airmen and to serve all. Our duties also include the providing of advice to commanders regarding ethical and moral issues.”

So what inspires a person to serve in an Armed Forces chaplain program?
 
"It provides the opportunity to encourage people who are going through stressful times in their life,” Chaplain Benson said. “There is an immediate satisfaction from the result of feeding the soul of the military person where they are uplifted to face the challenges of their duties, whether it is working 12-hour shifts, facing home challenges while away from home or actual combat.”

The rewarding part of serving in the chaplaincy is working with people and chaplains of other faiths, Chaplain Benson said. 

He said that the spirit of teamwork is very rewarding.

“Sergeant Beasley has been a miracle worker," Chaplain Benson said. "He has been the logistical and administrative backbone of our team, especially during the move from 'Tent City' to the new facilities.”

“Our mission involves bringing the ministry to the people,” said Chaplain
Bartoul, who leads the Roman Catholic service. “Our service involves going out to our assigned units and ministering to people regardless of their religious background. Chaplains are there to support the morale of the troops. Troops at the squadron level recognize the value of chaplains for counseling.” 

Chaplain Bartoul has served in the Air Force chaplaincy for 14 years. Before that, he served in the civilian community as a priest for 14 years.

“At the personal level, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to experience foreign cultures while serving in the military,” he said. “The experience of working with members of different faiths is priceless.” 

There is a guiding principle when it comes to setting up chapel programs and décor.

“We work to create a setting that is very familiar to our Airmen so they can enter the chapel and feel at home,” Chaplain Bartoul said. “Those settings include the decorating of a Christmas tree as well as the recognition of various religious holidays.” 

The base chapel also provides Jewish, Buddhist and Wiccan worship support.

“There is no chaplain available for these groups," Chaplain Bartoul said. “We rely on lay leadership to coordinate and the rites of their religion.” 

As American troops work and sacrifice to ensure justice and peace, the base chapel is part of a network that helps ensure the rights of its troops, Chaplain Bartoul said.

“Those rights include the Constitutional right to exercise their religious freedoms and the right to speak to someone with the privilege of confidentiality," he said.