SJ chaplain corps awarded for keeping Airmen in top spiritual shape

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, North Carolina --  With the Air Force downsizing, both in funding and manning, the 4th Fighter Wing chapel has found a way to rise above these challenges and continue to provide outstanding service to the Airmen of Team Seymour.

Recently, the chapel was awarded the Terence P. Finnegan Award for Outstanding Medium Chapel Organization by Air Combat Command for their dedication to supporting the wing mission and the Airmen who preserve it every day.

"We have an award-winning team here, but they don't do what they do for the awards or recognition," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Dwayne Keener, 4th FW wing chaplain. "They do it for the Airmen and their families because they truly care about them."

According to Keener, three of the five chapel's strategic priorities are: warrior care, advisement to leadership and care for chaplain corps caregivers. The first, he explained, involves engaging with Airmen to provide them with spiritual guidance to keep them mentally healthy and focused on the mission. Chaplains offer 100 percent confidential counseling and opportunities to worship and participate in a faith community; all are a part of warrior care.

In addition, the chapel offers Airmen programs, such as individual and marital counseling, single and couple retreats and deployment aid, the chaplains have also teamed with local retirees on an initiative called ROC Seymour, or Retirees on Call. The program taps into the wealth of knowledge and experience of military veterans and links them with current Airmen and their families to help with their problems, both big and small.

"The ROC team is here to help you," Keener said. "Bring them your problems, challenge them, and see if they can help you. Chances are they're going to be able to in some facet. They're motivated and really just want to get connected with the Airmen."

Along with the retirees, Keener said the more than 400 volunteers the chapel recruited last year were crucial to their success. Collectively, the volunteers tallied more than 47,000 hours in support of the chapel by providing services such as ushering, teaching and spiritual support to the base and community.

According to Keener, the amount of hours the volunteers donated keyed the chapel's victory in overcoming their challenges of manning and financial support.

"Despite the many challenges, everything came out just fine." Keener said. "The volunteers helped out tremendously and we may have crumbled without them. We certainly would not have accomplished as much as we did without them. This award is for them just as much as it is for us."

The chapel's other missions, such as advising leadership and caring for chaplain corps caregivers, also fall in line with the chapel's strategic priorities. Leaders and chaplains alike are not able to properly take care of other Airmen unless they care for themselves first.

The dedication the entire chapel team has shown to these priorities and to the Airmen, Keener said, makes him proud to be part of such an incredible team.

Chaplain (Maj.) Jesus Navarrete, 4th FW chaplain, echoed the same sentiment in receiving the Edwin R. Chess Award for Outstanding Company Grade Chaplain.

"I am very proud to be a part of a special group we have at the chapel," Navarrete said. "Winning these awards means we are taking care of the Airmen and their families. We try our best every day and we enjoy helping others with their needs."

Since winning the award, the chapel has undergone a makeover, welcoming in three new chaplains to the award-winning team. According to Keener, even though he is losing some outstanding Airmen, he looks forward to getting busy with his new group and keeping them at the top of ACC's list.

"I can't wait to see what we can accomplish together this year," Keener said. "With new chaplains come new ideas and new ways to better serve our Airmen and their families. We're all looking forward to keeping Team Seymour in top spiritual shape."