Spiritually fit to fight, Air Force chaplains care for deployed Airmen

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- The Holy Cross adorning the patrol cap signifies non-combatant status and responsibility of a chaplain. Air Force chaplains are charged with the spiritual welfare of their Airmen. In a largely Islamic deployed environment where stress is high, that charge does not change. Chaplains assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing work hard to ensure that their Airmen are spiritually "fit to fight." (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

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Welcome to Bagram Air Field

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Ch. (Capt.) Andrew McIntosh, Task Force Medical, tells new Airmen about what the chaplains have to offer here Oct. 2. The Air Force chaplains begin their ministry for the Airmen as soon as they arrive to make sure they are spiritually fit to fight. Chaplain McIntosh is a Southern Baptist deployed from the 11th Wing, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

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Mind, body and soul

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Ch. (Capt.) Brian Nierman, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, reads a prayer here Oct. 3. Chaplain Nierman takes the concept of "worshiping with your mind, body and soul" to a new height by conducting religious physical training sessions to encourage Airmen to take their spiritual health as seriously as their physical health. Chaplain Nierman is endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is deployed from the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

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On the ground and in the air, Air Force chaplains are there

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Ch. Carlton Bivens looks out the door of a UH-60 Black Hawk flying over Lahgman Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2008. Chaplain Bivens is assigned to the 755 Air Expeditionary Group and regularly makes trips to visit and minister to the Airmen assigned throughout Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

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Communion

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Ch. (Capt.) Brian Nierman, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, administers Holy Communion here Oct. 5. Air Force chaplains work hard to meet the spiritual needs of the coalition forces deployed to Bagram Air Field. Chaplain Nierman is endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is deployed from the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

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Sing a joyful noise

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Craig Shelton plays guitar during a worship service here Oct. 5. The chaplains here at Bagram depend on volunteers like Shelton to lead the praise music for worship services. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

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Always there

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Ch. (Lt. Col.) Carl Yost, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, prays for and comforts Army Sgt. 1st Class Cedric Gray here Oct. 2. Chaplain Yost helped the injured soldier stay calm while the hospital staff tended to his wounds. Chaplain Yost is of the Evangelical Luteran Churches of America, deployed from the 315th Air Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and hails from Huntersville, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

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Building international bonds

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Ch. (Capt.) Andrew McIntosh, Task Force Medical, thows a soccer ball here Oct. 3. Chaplain McIntosh participates in the weekly multi-national soccer match, deepening his bond with the coalition forces that work with the Task Force Medical. Chaplain McIntosh is a Southern Baptist deployed from the 11th Wing, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

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Spiritually fit to fight, Air Force chaplains care for deployed Airmen

Published Oct. 7, 2008

Spiritually fit to fight, Air Force chaplains care for deployed Airmen

Welcome to Bagram Air Field

Mind, body and soul

On the ground and in the air, Air Force chaplains are there

Communion

Sing a joyful noise

Always there

Building international bonds