Elmendorf chaplain helps make a difference

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Allison M. Boehm
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) --  As the final rotation of the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group chaplain office draws to a close, the two-person team went on a final mission to neighboring forward operating bases around Baghdad International Airport.

Although the purpose of this last trip was to provide pastoral care and help facilitate the best means of continued chaplain corps care for joint expeditionary tasking Airmen, Chaplain (Capt.) Steve Fisher, from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Staff Sgt. Dewey Landers, a chaplain assistant, focused on one squadron in particular, a group of individuals who put their lives in danger every time they are sent to carry out a mission, the Airmen of the 732nd AEG Security Forces Squadron.

"As security forces members, we need the obvious physical and mental preparedness for our missions, but also one of the aspects of the job is having the spiritual preparedness," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Fluck, the 732nd AEG SFS Det. 2 security forces manager. "Going outside the wire, you never know what's going to happen. We face dangers here that may happen one day and may not the next. I think that being spiritually prepared to meet your maker is something the chaplain has brought to us that gives us that peace of mind before heading out on mission."

By lending an ear to Airmen who wanted to talk and offering prayer to those who were leaving for the mission, the chaplain team added force to the message that the Airmen are not alone once they leave the confinements of the base.

"The chaplain's visit means a lot to me," said Senior Airman Jason Santiago, a 732nd SFS dismount patrol member. "It reinforces the fact that my best interest is at heart, that they care, that they are willing to travel through hostile locations to reach us and provide support for us and our faith. This visit made us realize that we are not alone when we go outside the wire."

"Some of the missions security forces Airmen carry out are sometimes very dangerous, so some Airmen would like to see a chaplain, so when a chaplain comes to them it makes the Airmen feel better and lets them know that people do care about them," Sergeant Landers said.

After the chaplain team ensured all spiritual needs were met and the Airmen were sound before leaving for the convoy, Chaplain Fisher led both teams of security forces members in prayer. Airmen gathered around to take part, then rolled out to complete their mission of working with the Iraqi police help govern their own people.

"My hope was to provide a sense of hope, peace and encouragement for the expeditionary security forces Airmen we serve," said Chaplain Fisher. "Many people see chaplains as a visible reminder of the holy. With the prayers that were offered, I hoped to be an audible reminder of the prayers many people are lifting each and every day for our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines. In prayer we can know we go not alone and we can lift our burdens and focus more on the mission at hand."