Chaplain Corps: An Airman’s spiritual resource

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sergio A. Gamboa
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

As new Team Tyndall members settle in and start anew in the local area, the Chaplain Corps hopes they will consider making the Tyndall Chapel a part of their life. While permanent change of station moves are both exciting and stressful, being a part of a Chapel community can often help with the transitioning process in surprising ways.

The Chaplain Corps’ mission is to provide spiritual care and the constitutional right to freely exercise religion, to empower the 325th Fighter Wing to train and project unrivaled combat airpower.

To accomplish their mission, they will glorify God, serve Airmen and pursue excellence with dedication and precision, while upholding Air Force core values and the Checkertail heritage of taking care of each other.

“We run the commander’s religious support program and are charged with carrying that mission out,” said Maj. Leif Espeland, 325th Fighter Wing chaplain. “We manage our resources to best meet the needs of the base populace.”

The Chaplain Corps covers the spiritual pillar, one of four pillars of health, which contributes to the whole-person concept of being mentally, physically, socially and spiritually fit.

Keeping Team Tyndall spiritually fit is the goal of the Chaplain Corps. To accomplish that, they provide different resources to all Airmen, families and Department of Defense civilians, such as religious services, counseling and other available base services.

“Throughout the day we are [at Chapel 2] or out at different units,” said Maj. Brett Hedgepeth, a chaplain with the 325th FW. “We divide our time between office duties and visiting Airmen from different units, because we want to remind them that they have a safe place to come if they have difficulties and we have a 100 percent confidentiality agreement.

“I love spending time with Airmen and enjoy being there for them when they are in difficult times,” Hedgepeth added.

Some of the resources available are:

Religious Education

  •   Catholic education classes
  • Protestant education classes

Fellowship

  •         Catholic Women of the Chapel. Call (850) 283-2993 for information.
  •         Catholic Men of the Chapel. Call (850) 283-2993 for information.
  •         Catholic Youth Faith Formation Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at Bldg. 1305.
  •         Protestant Women of the Chapel Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Bldg. 1305.
  •         Protestant Men of the Chapel Tuesdays at 11 a.m. at Bldg. 1470.
  •         Dorm Bible Study Thursdays at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. First Floor Day Room at Bldg. 1036.

Choirs and Music

  •         Catholic Choir Practice Thursdays at 5 p.m. at Chapel 2.
  •         Contemporary Worship Team. Call (850) 283-2925 for more information.

Catholic Mass is scheduled for Sundays at 9 a.m. and daily Mass is from Monday-Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Chapel 2.

Protestant traditional services are slated for Sundays at 9 a.m. at Chapel 1 and contemporary services are at 11 a.m. at Chapel 2.

For other faith groups not listed, please contact the Chapel Staff at (850) 283-2925.

 

“Our chapel staff is here to help Team Tyndall in whatever they need,” Espeland said. “We have a great team here. We have hit our stride and are ready to help at any time. We are everyone’s chaplain. We want to go out, meet and become part of the Team Tyndall community, trusted community members and are overjoyed at the opportunity to be here.”

Chaplains and Service Leaders

 

Chaplain, Maj. Leif Espeland – 325th Fighter Wing, 325th Medical Group and Air Forces Northern

Chaplain, Maj. Brett Hedgepeth – 44th Fighter Group

Chaplain, Maj. Rudy Olivo – 601st Air Operations Group/101st Air Operations Center

Chaplain, Capt. Robert Tilley – 325th Operations Group, 325th Maintenance Group, Airey NCO Academy, 337th Air Control Squadron and Det. 4, 372nd Training Squadron

Chaplain, Capt. Ronald Lawrence – 325th Mission Support Group, 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, Air Force Civil Engineer Center and Det. 1, 823rd RED HORSE Squadron

Father, Longin Buhake – Director of Catholic Ministries

 

Chaplain Assistants

 

Technical Sgt. Sean F. Moriarty – 325th FW, 325th MDG and AFNORTH

Staff Sgt. Kristine M. Whiteis – 325th OG, 325th MXG, NCOA, 337th ACS and Det. 4, 372nd TRS, 325th MSG, 53rd WEG, AFCEC and Det. 1, 823rd RED HORSE

 

Chapel Program and Services

 

Cindee Hodges – Catholic R.E. and Parish coordinator

Winnie Fehnrich – Protestant R.E. and Parish coordinator

Mandy Dixon – Accounting technician