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Chapel staff visits the wolf pack to boost morale during ORE

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angela Ruiz
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  "It's more than worship, it's getting out there and being with the mighty wolf pack," said Chaplain (Capt.) Alexander Palomaria on the role the Kunsan Chapel plays in exercise and inspections.

During the Beverly Midnight 09-01 Operational Readiness Exercise the 8th Fighter Wing Chapel staff conducted visitations around the wolf pack. During the visitations the chaplains and chaplain assistants visit units in order to the Airmen working there that they are there if anyone needs them.

"We're not just here for Sundays, we're here seven days a week 24/7," said Chaplain Assistant Senior Airman Quyen Luong. "We're out there so that people know us--so we're visible."

Chaplain Palomaria and Airman Luong work the night shift passing out cookies, spiritual pamphlets for those who want them, and a little bit of good conversation and motivation.
"You can tell they were happy to see us they work hard and their tired" said Chaplain Palomaria.

"They were happy to see us," said Chaplain Palomaria. "They work hard and they're tired, but just having someone come out there and appreciate them for what they do means a lot to them. I may not understand their world, but they know that I'm there trying to support them."

On this particular night, the Chapel staff visited a cross section of Kunsan's Airmen as they went to talk to maintainers on the flightline, the medical group and even Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents.

"[OSI] are sort of tucked away; some may say they may be the folks no one wants to associate with because if you're with them you must be in trouble," said Chaplain Palomaria. "But that may not necessarily be the case, OSI agents need to know they are cared about also."

"During the exercises people get kind of cranky working long hours," said Airman Luong, "especially the flightline maintainers working out in the cold. [It's] dirty and I'm sure being in all that gear isn't the most comfortable thing, so we go to see if they need anything--to just make sure everybody's happy."

But keeping the Wolf Pack's spirit's raised sometimes takes its toll on the chaplains and chaplain assistants who occasionally need some encouragement and a morale boost themselves.

"Chaplains aren't immune to loneliness and pain," said Chaplain Palomaria. "Some of it we have because we carry the burden of so many people--we lift their load and we carry it on our backs. I think that's what people expect."

Luckily Chaplain Palomaria finds his ways to unload his stress by setting himself goals to focus on.

"I try to set at least three goals every quarter," he said. "I have spiritual goals, I have professional goals, and personal goals. I think it's important to have these goals."

Though it can often be draining, Airman Luong feels visitation is an important part of the Chapel's mission here at Kunsan. People are separated from their families and need that morale booster from the Chapel staff.

"Visitation is important to our military family," she said. "Our brothers and sisters need to know that we're here for them if they need anything, not for just religious purposes it could just be someone to talk to."

"Ministry is not about four walls on Sunday morning at the 11 o'clock hour," added Chaplain Palomaria. "Ministry is about being a visible reminder of the holy wherever that may be--setting the good example and giving words of encouragement. That's what we do."

The Kunsan Chapel staff's commitment and dedication were recognized recently as they were awarded the Chapel of the year award for Pacific Air Forces, and two members of their staff were recognized as PACAF's NCO of the year, Tech. Sgt. Nick Cataldi, and Company Grade Officer of the year, Chaplain Palomaria.