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JET Airman delivers faith to Camp Wright

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tony Wickman
  • Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan --  On a forward operating base dominated by Army and Navy people, there is one who stands apart. His name is Chaplain (Capt.) Eric Boyer, and he is a U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to FOB Wright.

For the majority of his deployment tour, he was the only Airman on the FOB. That was until a pair of Air Force public affairs people joined the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team at the beginning of September.

"I was the only Airman on the FOB for the longest time," Boyer said. "But, I was accepted to the team when the Soldiers and Sailors saw I was willing to do what they were doing, whether it was doing PT, vehicle checks or going out to the observation posts."

The chaplain is a Baptist minister deployed from the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and a native of Knoxville, Tenn. He is assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-82 Chaplain Corps and was sent forward to FOB Wright.

"My role is to provide spiritual care and religious support for everyone on FOB Wright...Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, civilians and contractors," Boyer said. "Specifically, Chaplain (Lt. Col. Matthew Goff, CJTF-82 command chaplain) put a chaplain here with the forward surgical team because ministry is so important when dealing with the sick and injured. So, by default I also became the FOB chaplain."

According to Boyer, who arrived in May and is scheduled to rotate home soon, the deployment has been a fulfilling experience.

"It's very rewarding, perhaps the most rewarding, yet challenging, experience of my career. One of the bonds you establish is the common experiences of hardship," Boyer said. "When people are injured or hurt, they most need and desire spiritual encouragement. That is why it is important for me to be here."

The chaplain provides three services per week--a prayer service, a bible study and a Sunday service. Boyer calls his service on the FOB a "ministry of presence."

"I go around and visit people in their work areas. I make the rounds and check on the physical, emotional and spiritual health of the people on the FOB," Boyer said. "Also, we don't have any PX or BX, so the chaplain gets a lot of hygiene and food packages that I can share with the people on Camp Wright. It's another part of my service to help people here."

Boyer said being on the FOB and going on missions with the maneuver elements is both a duty and a calling.

"This is where the people are who need spiritual care," Boyer said. "I also try to be a safe place for our troops because they have a lot to deal with. For some it's spiritual, for others it's a person they can share their burden with. I'm a safe place for them to let down their guard."

According to Goff, Boyer has been "the epitome of the selfless servant."

"He has done everything we've asked him to do and more in providing religious support and encouragement not only to the personnel on FOB Wright, but also to other troop locations throughout the area," Goff said. "He demonstrates the heart of what every chaplain should be."