NCSC Mints Navy's Newest Chaplains

By Cmdr. Carla Barry, Naval Chaplaincy School and Center Public Affairs

COLOMBIA, S.C. (NNS) -- The Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (NCSC) held a graduation ceremony for the Navy's newest chaplains April 30 at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.

The graduates consisted of 10 active duty and eight Reserve chaplains attending the training center's Professional Naval Chaplaincy Basic Leadership Course. The class prepared the students for institutional ministry to the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Lt. j.g. Monya Stubbs, chaplain, said the basic leadership course assisted her in being an effective leader.

"My favorite part of the course was the writing assignments," said Stubbs. "One in particular was the philosophy of ministry paper and the definition of success. The basic leadership course helped me to develop skills to be an effective leader in life and out in the fleet."

Lt. Eric Brown, chaplain, was chosen to receive the Stan Beach Leadership Award.

"I made great relationships, and feel a sense of enthusiasm to go to the fleet," said Brown. "The training has prepared me for the fleet because I learned how ministry is conducted for the Navy, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard and as a result I have the tools needed to support all three services."

Guest speaker for the graduation, Navy Chief of Chaplains Rear Adm. Mark Tidd, explained that he expects great things from the graduates.

"Today is a celebration of your success. But it's also a day of expectation, because soon many of you will report to a unit far from here," said Tidd. "Some will report to a Navy Operational Support Center for duty as a reservist. Some of you will report to a carrier or squadron of ships or a battalion of Marines or Seabees or a hospital ministering to wounded or to a base far from home. Regardless of your next duty station, expectations are great. We've made a significant investment to build you into the leaders that you are, and the leaders you will become."

Capt. Kyle Fauntleroy, a chaplain and NCSC's commanding officer, added that NCSC has received great support from the chief of Navy Chaplains during his

tenure.

"Rear Admiral Tidd devoted himself to every newly-accessing chaplain by his deck-plate ministry and leadership at every Basic Leadership Course and graduation ceremony since 2009," said Fauntleroy. "He also dedicated himself to the career-long professional development of chaplains and Religious Program Specialists in pursuit of delivering the most timely and effective pastoral care possible to Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their families. It's bittersweet to know that this will be the last chaplain graduation that the admiral will make, but as he retires and moves on to the next phase of his life, he can take pride in knowing that his legacy will carry on in the ministry of the many religious professionals he has mentored."