AFGSC chaplain programs give Airmen tools to succeed

by Airman 1st Class Joseph A. Pagán Jr. and Ms. Carla Pampe
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

3/26/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- In Air Force Global Strike Command, respect for the worth and dignity of every Airmen is one of the command's eight values. With that in mind, programs are in place throughout the command to promote resiliency, family readiness, financial health and more.

To help strengthen Airmen's spiritual health, Air Force Global Strike Command's chaplain office recently received funds from Headquarters Air Force to support resiliency programs at the five bases assigned to AFGSC. These will be distributed equally to each base chaplain office for resiliency programs like retreats, workshops and seminars.

While the retreats were restricted to marriage care in previous years, the chapel offices are now broadening the types of retreats to include single Airmen, single parents and divorced parents, said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Gregory Jans, AFGSC staff chaplain.

"Airmen are asked to give so much, and their families sacrifice so much," he said. "Through these programs, we are equipping Airmen and their families with the tools needed to deal with stress."

Each wing may choose any program they believe works for the Airmen at their base, Jans added.

"The Malmstrom Chapel is planning on using the funds for a MarriageCare retreat in July and a Single Airmen retreat in August," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Clyde Dyson, 341st Missile Wing Malmstrom AFB, Mont., wing chaplain. "The MarriageCare retreat will focus on strengthening the marriages of 20 couples assigned here and the Singles retreat will enhance social networking and build new relationships as well as strengthen existing relationships for 40 single Airmen."

In addition to a MarriageCare event at their base, the Whiteman AFB, Mo., Chapel will also host "Storytellers."

The storyteller events will provide a venue for Airmen to relate stories of their past victories over personal stressors and/or trauma.

The goal of the funds is not to purposely create new programs, but to support effective initiatives already in place at Global Strike wings.

"Any time we can help the wing chapels do great resiliency events and put more of them on, that's going to bless Airmen and their families, which ultimately supports the AFGSC mission," Jans said.

While Warrior Care is the Chaplain Corp's number one priority, the AFGSC Chaplain's Office is also focusing time and effort on the priority of caring for the caregivers.

"Listening to the problems others are going through, and helping them through those issues can be stressful in and of itself," Jans said, "so even in these austere times we are doing a developmental day with each of our chaplain teams to ensure that we refill the water in their wells."

The first developmental day was held at Whiteman March 11, and two others have been scheduled for April and May. All five base chaplain teams will have a developmental day by the end of the year.

"We're focusing on the nine elements of leadership," Jans said. "It's about growing and understanding ourselves in caregiving - what drains a person, what energizes a person and how to work together as a team."

The goal with all of these programs is to ensure AFGSC Airmen have the spiritual tools they need to succeed.

"We know that stressors right now are huge, and helping replenish people's spirits is always a good thing," Jans said.