AFMC Command News

General shares vision of Air Force Chaplain Service

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Francesca Carrano
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  There are 2,200 chaplains and enlisted support people from the active and Air Reserve components serving a unique mission in today's Air Force.

Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles Baldwin, Air Force Chaplain Service chief, visited Edwards March 16 as part of a nationwide tour of five bases in five days.

During the general's visit, he took time after speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast to explain the role of the Air Force Chaplain Service in the military and why it is an intricate part of Air Force mission.

"The chaplains are here to guarantee the free exercise of religion for all Airmen," Chaplain Baldwin said. "Chaplains are simply members of the clergy who pray, counsel and go to war alongside American troops. Whatever their church or creed, when they join the military they pledge to serve the spiritual needs of every faith."

Although chaplains are non-combatants, meaning they do not carry weapons, there are currently 71 members of the Chaplain Service deployed to areas of responsibility around the world.

"Chaplains serve in many capacities, from counselors and spiritual mentors to morale builders," Chaplain Baldwin said.

The many functions filled by Air Force chaplains can be summarized by saying they care for people.

Chaplains often serve as safety values of sorts for commanders. By caring for families, Airmen and civilian employees, the Chaplain Service helps to keep families strong and ready for whatever service is asked of them, he said.

"It is our strong belief that if families are taken care of and their needs - whether they be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual - are met then our soldiers and Airmen will be in a better frame of mind to fulfill the duties they are called upon to perform," he said.

There are many programs both at home stations and in deployed locations that care for base people and help them through their faith journey - regardless of faith.

"The chapel is so much more than just church services," Chaplain Baldwin said. "There are many bases that have coffee houses and programs for our young people. Chaplains also give free pastoral counseling."

Chaplains have privileged confidence. Anyone - military people or family members - can take advantage of the opportunity to speak with someone who can't and won't divulge what is discussed to anyone.

There has been a recent move lately - Air Force-wide - to place emphasis on the four dimensions of wellness, one of which is spiritual wellness.

"Most people have some sort of deep-held belief that encompasses who they are spiritually, even if that is having no spiritual conviction at all," Chaplain Baldwin said. "Chaplains are here to care for all people, regardless of religious background. We don't check dog tags before we sit down and talk or counsel an Airman."

Chaplains wear the same clothes, live the same life, move around and deploy the same way the Airmen they care for do.

"The fact that we wear the same uniform and live the same life, gives our Airmen a sense of security knowing that the hardship and challenges they face is not something they are going into alone," Chaplain Baldwin said.

Wellness is the primary foundation for someone confidently stepping into battle, and chaplains are in place to help foster that wellness.

"When a person is ready to face even death they will be more courageous not in a distorted way to go die, but to go fight," Chaplain Baldwin said. "Fear is debilitating and if you can take away that fear, you have enabled greater, braver and stronger abilities in that Airman or fighter pilot. I think it is a very helpful starting point before battle."

No matter where the military member is stationed, Chaplain Services works to provide the same services that are available to military members at home.

In deployed areas, there are no restrictions on the services provided by the chapel staff. The priest conducting mass does not water it down and the Assembly of God preacher is back there preaching his heart out, he said. This provides a sense of normalcy for our Airmen. It is just one way the Chaplain Service can reassure them life is "OK" and lift spirits.

"The first time this generation really realized the need to be sensitive to host nations was during Desert Storm," Chaplain Baldwin said. "We were not able to wear crosses or stars on our uniforms, and we entered the country as 'morale officers' and led 'morale meetings' in the 'morale tent.' We saw the need to be respectful to our host nation, Saudi Arabia."

The main mission of the Chaplain Service ministry is not preaching on Saturdays or Sundays, but supporting warfighters and their families.