Committed to caring in CAF: Understanding what chaplains can do for you

Published Sept. 26, 2011
By Master Sgt. Sabrina Foster
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- A little more than a year ago Air Mobility Command launched the Comprehensive Airman Fitness plan with the goal "to strengthen and sustain a culture of balanced, healthy, self confident Airmen and their families whose resilience and total fitness enables them to thrive in an era of high operational tempo and persistent conflict around the world."

The structural framework for CAF is built upon four pillars -- physical, social, mental and spiritual fitness; and the five "Cs" of positive behaviors -- care, commit, connect, communicate and celebrate.

But, what does it really mean to be spiritually fit? The AMC talking paper on CAF states spiritual fitness is "strengthening a set of beliefs, principles or values that sustain a person beyond family, institutional and societal sources of strength."

It further states, "Spiritual does not have to mean religion. Some people get their strength from their religion, but not everyone. Some people get their spiritual strength from other places such as yoga class or nature walks. CAF defines spiritual fitness as having hope and faith as well as a sense of purpose and meaning."

For Airmen and their families who are seeking a more "religious" based spiritual fitness, Air Force chaplains are there to assist them.

According to the Web site, www.allpsychologycareers.com/career/air-force-chaplain.html, "Air Force chaplains are considered military leaders, and often consult with top military leaders on issues of morale and morality. But their main mission is to minister to the diverse spiritual needs of a pluralistic community of Airmen. They respect the free exercise of religion, providing pastoral care and counseling to members of faiths different from their own while still maintaining their beliefs."

"Air Force chaplains provide for the free exercise of religion for military members and their families," said Ch. (Lt. Col.) William "Trip" Ziegler, Headquarters Air Mobility Command staff chaplain.

"If a chaplain is unable to personally meet a request for religious accommodation because it lies outside of his or her faith tradition, that chaplain will seek to make alternative arrangements either through referral to another chaplain or a civilian source," he said.

Chaplains provide many services for Airmen and their families, and focus on three strategic areas -- chapel based programs, warrior care and care for the caregivers. Chapel-based programs include worship services, religious education, faith-centered study groups, youth groups, and programs for singles/family members, marriage enrichment retreats and confidential counseling.

Warrior care is about chapel programs that help military members and their families connect with spiritually centered resources to equip them to navigate through the challenges of deployment and reintegration. Additionally, chaplains provide warrior care when deployed and through unit visitation. As information, current AMC policy requires AMC chaplains spend eight hours per week in their assigned units.

Care for the caregivers involves chaplains and chaplain assistants owning their individual and collective responsibilities to take care of each other. Chaplain Corps members recognize the importance of maintaining healthy levels of spiritual fitness that empowers them to provide quality spiritual care for those seeking their assistance.

"For chaplains, spirituality is rooted in faith in God and practiced through a variety of religiously centered spiritual disciplines," said Ziegler. "However, chaplains affirm a person's right to participate in religious as well as non-religious spiritual practices."

Ziegler added, "We are here to serve all."

The intended purpose of CAF is to strengthen force resilience. Through a more balanced focus on embracing all four pillars of fitness, individuals are better equipped to tackle challenges in both their personal and professional lives.

For more information on the type of services Air Force chaplains provide, visit your local base chaplain's office. To learn more about CAF, visit the Web site at http://www.amc.af.mil/caf/index.asp.

(Note: This is the 14th in series of 24 stories for 2011 by Air Mobility Command Public Affairs highlighting the Comprehensive Airman Fitness culture through a "commitment of caring." Comprehensive Airman Fitness, or CAF, is built on "four pillars" of fitness -- physical, social, mental and spiritual fitness -- and five "Cs" -- caring, committing, communicating, connecting and celebrating. "Comprehensive Airman Fitness reflects our commitment to developing a holistic approach to caring for our people that equips, enables and empowers everyone to grow more physically, socially, mentally and spiritually fit," Gen. Raymond E. Johns, Jr., AMC commander said in June 2010 while addressing CAF to AMC wing commanders. "It's not another program, but rather, a means to enhance mission effectiveness by intentionally investing in one another.")