AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --
Spirituality is one of the four pillars that the
Comprehensive Airman Fitness Resiliency Program is comprised of. The Al Udeid
Air Base Chapel had the opportunity to apply that pillar by sending a religious
support team to Mazar-i-Sharif Airfield, Afghanistan.
The chaplains and chaplains' assistants form a RST, which
operates on the frontlines of dealing with emotional and mental trauma.
“The RST was deployed to Mazar-i-Sharif Airfield to provide
free exercise of religion and/or religious accommodation for 379th Air
Expeditionary Wing Detachment 1 personnel,” said Chaplain Dan Foreman, 379th
Air Expeditionary Wing deputy chaplain. “In addition, due to some personnel
being extended, we wanted to posture for improved morale by providing dynamic
chaplain teams.”
The team made its presence known by offering morning and
evening services, along with making daily visits to Service members' work
stations and recreation areas.
“Our day began at six in the morning with a Catholic Mass in
the morale tent and in the evening, we had a Catholic Mass at the German
Chapel,” said Tech. Sgt. Gautambhai Patel, 379th Expeditionary Wing Chaplain’s assistant.
“We ended our day at the United Service Organization tent, which was the best
spot to meet everyone and interact.”
“One of the best experiences we liked on this trip was
interacting with everyone from Airmen and Soldiers to members from Germany,
Finland, Croatia, and the Latvian chaplaincy,” said Chaplain Romeo Catungal, 379th
Air Expeditionary Wing chaplain. “As an
RST team we learned a lot about each person’s role in the military structure
and how we share to accomplish the mission.“
The RST displays a theme of servitude that runs fluidly
through everyone they encounter. The chaplains and chaplains' assistants
tirelessly work to prioritize the spiritual needs of all Service members with
everything they do.
“The trip was a success and the chapel is looking forward to
continuing this mission of deploying teams there until the end of October,”
said Catungal. “We wanted everyone to
know we care and are here to provide support in any way we can.”