MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --
In support of the two-week exercise, Green Flag-West 17-03, Moody’s base chapel participated, observed and encouraged 200 Airmen during their A-10C Thunderbolt II maintenance efforts at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 18-23.
Several units from the 23d Maintenance Group and Nellis’ 823d Maintenance Squadron prepared for future deployments during the air-land integration combat training event. As a result of the chapel team’s support, the 23d MXG leadership wants to continue building a partnership with the base’s religious support teams to provide counsel for resiliency and religious aid to their maintainers.
“The maintenance of our aircraft is equally as important as the maintenance of our Airmen’s personal needs,” Lt. Col. Bobby Buckner, 23d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. “If they are going through an adverse situation, they can’t be 100 percent focused on the aircraft and the aggressive flying schedule. We need them at their best, especially during the heightened tempos [during temporary duty and downrange].”
According to Buckner, the chaplain team’s prior engagements and familiarity with the Airmen impacted Green Flag’s success.
“We’re choosing to care for our Airmen by continuously building the mindset of forging an expeditionary relationship,” said Buckner. “During deployments, units can expect several major life events. Whether it’s a family member dealing with an accident, surgery or experiencing medical problems, it’s beneficial that they have their leadership and the base chaplains to help overcome these obstacles. The chaplains help us provide comfort for the group and individual needs. It also helps they are building bonds by being in the fight as they talk to our maintainers while servicing the aircraft.”
For Chaplain (1st Lt.) Gerald Stout, 23d Wing chaplain, the chance to build a foundation of trust was key to future engagements. As the chaplains provided unit engagement activities and a resiliency hike, experiencing flight line operations while alongside the Airmen solidified their purpose of bridging the gap.
“Our biggest impact is from face-to-face interaction,” said Stout. “Approximately 70 percent of our counseling comes from this support. Within 48 hours of this service is how we mostly see the Airmen again on a one-on-one level. This is why we provide unit engagement activities as an icebreaker and once Airmen decide to come back, they can count on a familiar face to provide care, trust and continuity.
“This connection is important, especially in a world where people are reluctant to seek help,” Stout added. “This reluctance can be alleviated because of the care and the confidentially we ensure. That coupled with the hands-on approach of entering their world while they work gets them to potentially give us stress indicators and how we can assist them in their work environment.”
According to Senior Airman Felicia Anderson, 74th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, the ability to engage with the chaplains on the ramp while the 23d MXG launched 55 sorties gave her a new perspective of their frontline resources.
“What I took from the experience looking back was having the chapel team turn stressful days of maintenance around by taking a second to step back and breathe,” said Anderson. “The chapel team helped make us all laugh and brought in food when workers on shift couldn't leave to eat. The last weekend there, they took us out hiking and we spoke about how even the people that can achieve the most still need to, at times, get away to get your head back on track; and that's exactly what we all did.
“Sometimes being away from home station can prove to be frustrating in itself,” Anderson added. “Leaving your comfort zone is challenging, but it's something those of us striving to complete these missions, get used to. During Green Flag, having our spirits uplifted refocused us on the mission and helped us get the jets ready to finish our training. It was a great experience.”
As the chapel team concluded their visit with a resiliency hike, they were appreciative of experiencing the launch sequences and getting to know the Airmen.
“The feedback we got is that they enjoyed us accommodating their needs,” said Master Sgt. Jessica Gramlick, 23d WG chaplain assistant. “They were very open and wanted to talk when we asked about their day and their jobs. They articulated their day-to-day routines and then became comfortable with personal experiences. This partnership can be a great asset for us and we hope it is for the Airmen as well. I think we accomplished the goal of encouraging them and getting them to understand we’re there for their needs.”
With the 23d MXG’s major pre-deployment window nearing closer, Buckner and the chapel team are figuring out how to better care for the Airmen by building resiliency before they take off.
“We’re happy to start preparing to gear up for the fight,” said Buckner. “Continuing the whole Airman concept downrange is important. Green Flag highlighted this success because we enabled our people by changing the culture of [temporary duty assignments] by ensuring that we excel, volunteer and enhance our job skills. This was easier to attain with the chaplain’s services and we’re excited about this partnership.”