Fight Night delivers entertaining one-two

Published July 18, 2008
By Cadet First Class Andrew Caulk
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- As the sun goes down, the Memorial Plaza Recreation Area is packed with spectators. While some know the fighters, others come just for the night-time spectacle.

Occurring monthly, fight nights at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing are a way for members of all services here to blow off a little steam or just give their audience some exciting, after-hours entertainment.

A surprising match-up took place July 11 between fighters most people wouldn't expect: Air Force Capt. David Black and Army Capt. Jonathan Ginder; both base chaplains here at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Chaplain Black, the Gospel service chaplain, decided to enter the competition for various reasons.

"Originally this started out as a way for me to support my unit, Force Support, who put on the event," Chaplain Black said. "There's a little bit of an Army versus Air Force rivalry too, but it's more of a way to gain exposure for the chapel and its ministries."

The sister-service chaplain face-off was one of the main events of the evening. The two chaplains appeared fairly evenly matched, but the first round went to Chaplain Ginder who knocked Chaplain Black down at the end of the round. The judges called the second round in favor of Chaplain Black with both fighters executing successful hits. The third round went to Chaplain Black who knocked down the Army chaplain early on. Chaplain Black won the fight by a split decision.

"I agree with the decision but we both had some good hits," Chaplain Ginder said. "It's all about camaraderie and a way to make fitness more fun. We're both proud that we lasted all three rounds."

When they aren't boxing, the chaplains support the wing by facilitating the spiritual needs of the 379th AEW members.

"I definitely put in a lot more hours here than I did back at home station," Chaplain Black said. "With people away from their families, we do a lot more counseling here at the chapel, sometimes more than 60 hours a week."

Because of the challenges of a deployed environment, Chaplain Black stresses the importance of staying in peak physical condition.

"Physical fitness is important to all of us in the military," he said. "Because of how challenging our jobs are due to the extreme climate, fitness is even more important in a deployed location. In addition to being important for my health, fitness is also an incarnation of the ministry."

Setting the example through fitness helps Chaplain Black to set the example in the rest of his work. Even though he has been working to maintain a tradition for himself of 100 percent on his physical fitness tests, he says, "three minutes in the ring is a long time."