Spiritual pillar with a strong foundation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Solomon Cook
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Of the four pillars of Comprehensive Airmen Fitness, the spiritual pillar is one that can be a private journey or a public one. For those who would like to have guidance in this walk, there is a place where that assistance can be found - the Tyndall Chaplain Corps.

Located within the Base Chapel, Airmen and their families are able to come to worship as well as receive guidance and counsel. Keeping with the family aspect and the "one team, one fight" concept, the Chaplain Corps currently has a total force integrated team, comprised of active duty, Air Guard and reserve chaplains to ensure that all Airmen's needs are met.

"In today's Air Force, on the active duty side, we do not have the manning we once had within the Chaplain Corps," said Ismael Rodriguez, 325th Fighter Wing chaplain. "During times like this we look for assistance from our brothers and sisters from the guard and reserve. This is done through a mechanism known as 'Title 10.' With this, we can reach out and get the appropriate personnel to fill the slots that we need to get the mission done."

Armed Forces United States Code Title 10 is a document outlaying the use of Air Guard and reserve Airmen in an active duty capacity - to include chaplains.

"After force shaping and sequestration, it left the Chaplain Corps at a lower level of manpower than what was needed," Rodriguez said. "Through Title 10 we can request and receive the needed personnel. The beauty of this is bringing guard and reserve together within an active duty capacity. We all wear the same uniform, and with this added measure, you truly cannot tell the difference between us."

Total Force integration within the Chaplain Corps may be viewed as the norm for how the Air Force and other branches handle undermanning on a microscale.

"Ten years ago, it was unheard of for a chaplain in the reserve or guard to serve on active duty for as long as I am," said Capt. Brett Hedgepeth, 325th FW chaplain. "I have orders for active duty for three years. Additionally, I just returned from a deployment, another example of traditional reservist changing in their normal capacities."

Instances like this are a fiscal reality, and it's a good thing. It augments the Air Force as a whole, adding more real world experience to active duty, Air Guard and reserve chaplains, Hedgepeth added.

With the added manning within the Tyndall Chaplain Corps, personnel can be certain that the spiritual needs of Airmen and their families will be taken care of by the professionals of the 325th FW Chapel.