Chaplains right-hand Airman

  • Published
  • By Airman Alexis C. Schultz
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. – --  

Chaplains have an important mission, and with the help of their assistants, chaplains are able to provide religious support for Airmen and families by keeping themselves available to those who need them most.

The primary mission of a chaplain assistant is to take care of the chaplains by providing security and safety during a combat mission, or taking care of the administrative, logistics and finances during peacetime.

“It’s very synonymous with some of the roles and responsibilities that a first sergeant has,” said Master Sgt. Joseph McCurdy, 2nd Bomb Wing chapel operations superintendent. “A first sergeant fills many roles to support Airmen, and our job really is to do the same thing to keep the chaplain where they’re needed most.”

Chaplain assistants often work alongside the chaplains as a religious support team. East RST is assigned to a different unit and they visit their units throughout the week. They engage with Airmen in their assigned unit and inform them of their rights to spiritual care, free exercise of religion or help boost morale.

“I came into this career field from aircraft maintenance, and one of the things I’ve become proud of is that we are the embodiment of selfless service,” said McCurdy. “We have to take what we believe and set it aside so we can take care of Airmen.”

Chaplain assistants have the same privileged communication within the Chaplain Corp as the Chaplains themselves. Unless the service member gives specific permission, their communication will not be disclosed in a court of law.

“We can’t actually counsel Airmen who come in, but we are entitled to intervention counseling,” said Senior Airman Jasmine Jones, 2nd BW chaplain assistant. “We sit with them, find out what’s going on and encourage them to talk to a chaplain for further counseling.”

An important role for chaplain assistants is taking care of people who have different religious views without passing judgement, explained McCurdy.

“Regardless of who they are, what they believe in or where they’re from, we have to take care of them and we have to do it with authenticity,” said McCurdy.