Combat chapel team goes outside wire for duty

Published March 3, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- The chaplain and his assistant for the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group has a one-of-a-kind job. The Airmen they serve perform their duties in combat zones outside the wire... so they do to.

As one of the only 'combat' chapel teams, Chaplain (Capt.) David Haltom and Staff Sgt. Porscha Howard, the chapel team for the 732nd AEG, provide chapel support to Joint Expeditionary Tasked Airmen, who are filling Army positions in unique locations.

"It's been a privilege to spend our time side by side with our combat Airmen in some of the most dangerous and austere environments across the country," said the chaplain. "Sometimes Airmen can get discouraged as they attend to their little corner of the universe. Our position affords us the opportunity to help Airmen see the big picture and realize the incredible impact of their service."

The job for this chapel team may be different from other chapels in deployed locations, but they have the same overall goal ... to support and serve those who need them.

"Our mission is to provide opportunities for religious observance and counseling; however, we're often told that just being physically present is enough," Chaplain Haltom said. "Sometimes a visible reminder of the holy is all that's needed to inspire an Airman to reconnect with their faith or that part of themselves where hope, meaning, and purpose reside."

Chaplain Haltom and Sergeant Howard have seen many interesting things since they arrived in country, but said seeing Airmen spiritually fit to fight is the ultimate reward.

"It is very rewarding serving outside the wire in Iraq," Sergeant Howard said. "The look in the Airmen's eyes with smiles on their faces when they see the chaplain and I in full battle rattle walking up to them, outside the safety of T-walls and gate guards is amazing."

"To say we've been greeted with open arms would be an understatement," Chaplain Haltom said. "We find that we have plenty of shared experiences to joke about during our visits. Life is relationships ... period, and being able to share this brief time in our lives creating and deepening the combat Airmen bond with these warriors is immensely rewarding."

In a recent interview Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, Air Force chief of chaplains, said chaplains tend to be sought out by deployed members.

"In the area of responsibility, the chaplain can't walk from point A to point B without being pulled aside for a question," the general said. "In fact, chaplains often spend seven to 10 hours a day counseling Airmen, hearing them ask, would you pray for me?"

As a chaplain assistant, Sergeant Howard's most important job is to keep Chaplain Haltom safe and as a prior security forces member she was hand selected for the deployment.

"I had spent several months being trained to provide safety for the chaplain," she said. "Chaplain Haltom and I work well together and no matter what may happen he knows I have his back."

This 'combat' chapel duo may have a unique and sometimes dangerous job but they will never doubt the importance of their mission, or the resolve of their faith to pull them through.