Religious support team; a partnership to serve

Published Aug. 22, 2014
By Senior Airman Colin Cates
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar- -- The Al Udeid Base chapel provides a valuable outlet for Airmen to strengthen their mental fortitude. As the spiritual backbone of the base, the chapel offers a resource that is unique in its capabilities to offer confidential support. The chaplains themselves have years of experience and training that allows them to adapt to even the most complex issues.

The chaplains and chaplains' assistants form a religious support team, which operates on the frontlines of emotional and mental trauma.

"Religious Support Teams represent a micro model of the macro model of diversity represented in the U.S. Air Force," said Chaplain Dan Foreman, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing deputy chaplain. "Within one RST you have diverse ranks, officer and enlisted; you may have diverse faiths and/or philosophical perspectives; and you have diverse histories and cultures."

A large reason for the success of the chapel's structure hinges on the chaplains' assistant's effectiveness at assessing where help is required across the base and directing people in need to the correct support outlets.

"The fact that all chaplain assistants here came from a prior career field can help our people understand what they are going through. However, having the chaplain with us can also give a professional look on things," said Foreman.

Another part of what makes the chapel extraordinary is their 100 percent confidentiality policy. Meaning that regardless of how sensitive the information is that's disclosed to them, each chaplain is bound to keep the contents of their counseling sessions confidential.

"The RST best supports the need of our people by giving them all an opportunity to speak freely to whoever they feel comfortable with and knowing they have 100 percent confidentiality," said Staff Sgt. Isela Gonzalez, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing chaplain assistant. "Every individual and every career field speaks their own language and if we can offer two different aspects on how to speak their language it is greatly reciprocated."

The RST here are blessed to have 7 teams at a one to one ratio in a deployed setting, because most bases cannot offer the same service to the base population.

Each chaplain and chaplain assistant has different strengths and how they work together to accomplish the mission is what makes the RST concept work well.

"Though there are professional differences between the duties of a chaplain and a chaplain assistant, RST partners, deliver optimal spiritual care by providing for the freedom of religion for all Airmen; ensuring 100 percent privileged communication via pastoral counseling, and provide morale boosts via unit visitations," said Foreman.

"My strength with this career is that I am blessed to be called to do this job," said Foreman. "Having a greater calling to complete a job that God has called me to do is far greater than just having a job."