1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:14,989 --> 00:00:17,379 Hello everybody and welcome to another 3 00:00:17,379 --> 00:00:19,546 episode of Tinker Talks podcast . I am 4 00:00:19,546 --> 00:00:22,219 your host Markhybers , and today I am 5 00:00:22,219 --> 00:00:24,340 joined by our brand new installation 6 00:00:24,340 --> 00:00:26,860 chaplain , that's Major Andy Peck , uh , 7 00:00:26,979 --> 00:00:28,930 but for the , for this point going 8 00:00:28,930 --> 00:00:31,263 forward , uh , it is just chaplain Peck , 9 00:00:31,263 --> 00:00:33,374 correct ? Yes sir . Welcome everybody 10 00:00:33,374 --> 00:00:35,319 and thanks for joining us for this 11 00:00:35,319 --> 00:00:37,374 episode . Uh , we think coming along 12 00:00:37,374 --> 00:00:39,430 the holiday season and , uh , with a 13 00:00:39,430 --> 00:00:41,541 brand new chaplain here on baseball a 14 00:00:41,541 --> 00:00:43,541 couple months now , it's a , it's a 15 00:00:43,541 --> 00:00:45,708 good time to kind of introduce you and 16 00:00:45,708 --> 00:00:47,819 And get into the holidays and and our 17 00:00:47,819 --> 00:00:49,819 chaplain corps and and a little bit 18 00:00:49,819 --> 00:00:51,763 about you , sir . So thank you for 19 00:00:51,763 --> 00:00:51,419 joining me . Absolutely , thanks for 20 00:00:51,419 --> 00:00:53,530 having me . Awesome . So , uh , we'll 21 00:00:53,530 --> 00:00:57,049 jump right in in . Uh , a very brief 22 00:00:57,299 --> 00:00:59,521 because , because you could probably go 23 00:00:59,521 --> 00:01:01,632 on about this for quite a while , but 24 00:01:01,632 --> 00:01:03,799 could you just give us a little bit of 25 00:01:03,799 --> 00:01:03,540 background about who you are , how you 26 00:01:03,540 --> 00:01:05,762 got to this point in your career , uh , 27 00:01:05,762 --> 00:01:07,873 in the Air Force ? Sure , thank you . 28 00:01:07,873 --> 00:01:09,984 Well , uh , first of all , thanks for 29 00:01:09,984 --> 00:01:12,040 having me . I really appreciate it . 30 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,207 And , yeah , um , my wife and my three 31 00:01:14,207 --> 00:01:16,262 boys and I got here on July 1st , so 32 00:01:16,262 --> 00:01:16,110 it's been , been a little about 5 33 00:01:16,110 --> 00:01:18,370 months or so since we got here . Um , 34 00:01:18,639 --> 00:01:20,917 my background is I'm an Air Force brat . 35 00:01:20,949 --> 00:01:23,569 Uh , my dad was an F4 navigator , uh , 36 00:01:23,580 --> 00:01:25,858 weapon systems operator , a backseater . 37 00:01:26,110 --> 00:01:28,221 And I was born in Bitberg , Germany , 38 00:01:28,221 --> 00:01:30,388 and then lived at Air Force bases kind 39 00:01:30,388 --> 00:01:32,610 of all over the country . But , uh , to 40 00:01:32,610 --> 00:01:34,666 walk you through briefly , uh , uh , 41 00:01:34,666 --> 00:01:36,832 started at Bitburgh and Spanalum , and 42 00:01:36,832 --> 00:01:38,900 then Shaw , Seymour Johnson , uh , 43 00:01:38,949 --> 00:01:41,080 Langley . Uh , did a little time at 44 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,239 Tyndall . Uh , my dad started working 45 00:01:43,239 --> 00:01:45,239 joint with the army , lived at Fort 46 00:01:45,239 --> 00:01:46,906 Leavenworth , Kansas . Uh , I 47 00:01:46,906 --> 00:01:48,961 eventually moved over to Kansas City 48 00:01:48,961 --> 00:01:51,239 and went to high school in Kansas City . 49 00:01:51,239 --> 00:01:53,461 So , um , when people say , hey , where 50 00:01:53,461 --> 00:01:55,683 are you from ? my short story is Kansas 51 00:01:55,683 --> 00:01:57,683 City , Missouri . The long story is 52 00:01:57,683 --> 00:01:59,850 walking them through all the bases and 53 00:01:59,850 --> 00:02:01,906 everything that I've lived at , um , 54 00:02:01,906 --> 00:02:04,017 but , uh , felt the call to full-time 55 00:02:04,017 --> 00:02:06,239 ministry , um , when , uh , let's see , 56 00:02:06,239 --> 00:02:08,350 a few years after college , uh , went 57 00:02:08,350 --> 00:02:10,628 to the University of Missouri Columbia , 58 00:02:10,628 --> 00:02:12,850 Mizzou . And , um , had gotten involved 59 00:02:12,850 --> 00:02:14,795 in my , my local church , um , but 60 00:02:14,795 --> 00:02:16,683 really felt the call to full-time 61 00:02:16,683 --> 00:02:18,683 ministry went to my , my pastor and 62 00:02:18,683 --> 00:02:20,795 they put me on staff at the church as 63 00:02:20,795 --> 00:02:22,906 one of the associate pastors , served 64 00:02:22,906 --> 00:02:25,017 there for a few years and then , uh , 65 00:02:25,017 --> 00:02:26,906 went over to Kansas City to go to 66 00:02:26,906 --> 00:02:29,128 seminary . I went to Midwestern Baptist 67 00:02:29,128 --> 00:02:31,183 Theological Seminary . And I'll tell 68 00:02:31,183 --> 00:02:33,350 you a little bit more about that later 69 00:02:33,350 --> 00:02:32,699 when I talk about the chaplain 70 00:02:32,699 --> 00:02:35,460 candidate process , um , but worked at 71 00:02:35,460 --> 00:02:37,404 a homeless shelter , uh , the City 72 00:02:37,404 --> 00:02:39,349 Union Mission , uh , uh , a gospel 73 00:02:39,349 --> 00:02:41,580 centered , uh , rescue mission , and I 74 00:02:41,580 --> 00:02:43,636 was a youth pastor at a , at a local 75 00:02:43,636 --> 00:02:45,691 church there and then also delivered 76 00:02:45,691 --> 00:02:48,690 pizzas for Papa John's and , um , so , 77 00:02:48,770 --> 00:02:50,714 so that was kind of my time during 78 00:02:50,714 --> 00:02:52,970 seminary . And then I went down to 79 00:02:52,970 --> 00:02:55,339 Norman , Oklahoma and served as an 80 00:02:55,339 --> 00:02:57,283 associate pastor of Bethel Baptist 81 00:02:57,283 --> 00:03:00,679 Church in Norman from 2010 to 2014 , um , 82 00:03:00,740 --> 00:03:02,740 and during that time I was actually 83 00:03:02,740 --> 00:03:04,740 reserve chaplain , uh , IMA reserve 84 00:03:04,740 --> 00:03:06,962 chaplain who served here at Tinker . So 85 00:03:06,962 --> 00:03:09,240 this was my very first assignment back , 86 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,462 uh . Over a decade ago , um , so I have 87 00:03:11,462 --> 00:03:13,684 a lot of fond memories . I , I promoted 88 00:03:13,684 --> 00:03:15,684 to captain right here on this stage 89 00:03:15,684 --> 00:03:17,684 where we're sitting and promoted to 90 00:03:17,684 --> 00:03:19,907 first lieutenant in our fellowship hall 91 00:03:19,907 --> 00:03:21,851 down the hall . Um , and , uh , my 92 00:03:21,851 --> 00:03:24,073 first supervisor continued to be one of 93 00:03:24,073 --> 00:03:26,296 my , my big mentors and continues to be 94 00:03:26,296 --> 00:03:28,407 one of my mentors , uh , today . So , 95 00:03:28,407 --> 00:03:30,750 um , and then to fast forward just a 96 00:03:30,750 --> 00:03:33,600 little , um . Went from being a reserve 97 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,149 chaplain to getting a phone call asking 98 00:03:36,149 --> 00:03:39,059 if I would go active duty and , uh , 99 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,302 went to Kirtland Air Force Base over in 100 00:03:41,302 --> 00:03:43,759 Albuquerque , um , then was almost 5 101 00:03:43,759 --> 00:03:46,039 years there and then over to Scott Air 102 00:03:46,039 --> 00:03:48,270 Force Base , um , still as a captain , 103 00:03:48,639 --> 00:03:51,160 um , was there for 2 years , uh , then 104 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,382 headed over to Moody Air Force Base and 105 00:03:53,382 --> 00:03:55,604 Air Combat Command and I was the deputy 106 00:03:55,604 --> 00:03:57,882 wing chaplain , uh , for the 23rd wing . 107 00:03:57,882 --> 00:03:59,882 And then , uh , got the call , uh , 108 00:03:59,882 --> 00:04:02,049 last February that I was coming here . 109 00:04:02,049 --> 00:04:04,216 So I got here in July and I'm the wing 110 00:04:04,216 --> 00:04:06,382 chaplain for the seventy-second . It's 111 00:04:06,382 --> 00:04:08,493 awesome . It's a good little career a 112 00:04:08,493 --> 00:04:10,716 couple times through , uh , a couple of 113 00:04:10,716 --> 00:04:12,827 the same bases . So your father an F4 114 00:04:12,827 --> 00:04:16,440 backseater , uh , was your mom 115 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,607 involved with the church in any way or 116 00:04:18,607 --> 00:04:20,829 did you become decide to get into doing 117 00:04:20,829 --> 00:04:22,718 God's work because your dad was a 118 00:04:22,718 --> 00:04:24,773 backseater and , you know , I mean , 119 00:04:24,773 --> 00:04:26,829 how did that all it seems like a . A 120 00:04:26,829 --> 00:04:28,884 totally different path than what you 121 00:04:28,884 --> 00:04:30,996 might have been headed towards . No , 122 00:04:30,996 --> 00:04:33,218 that's a good question . Um , so as far 123 00:04:33,218 --> 00:04:35,496 as growing up in the church and things , 124 00:04:35,496 --> 00:04:35,320 we did go to , go to church , uh , 125 00:04:35,450 --> 00:04:37,283 typically where wherever we were 126 00:04:37,283 --> 00:04:39,617 occasionally it was a chapel , you know , 127 00:04:39,617 --> 00:04:41,839 sometimes we're on army installations , 128 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,006 sometimes we'd go to the army chapel , 129 00:04:44,006 --> 00:04:46,339 usually it was like a local church , um , 130 00:04:46,339 --> 00:04:46,234 but honestly . Even though we went to a 131 00:04:46,234 --> 00:04:48,674 lot of services , uh , most of the time 132 00:04:48,875 --> 00:04:51,225 in our home we didn't really talk about 133 00:04:51,554 --> 00:04:54,704 God , Jesus , the Bible very much , um , 134 00:04:54,714 --> 00:04:57,114 so for me it was , uh , like my high 135 00:04:57,114 --> 00:04:59,684 school youth group , um , uh , my my 136 00:04:59,684 --> 00:05:01,906 stepdad during high school , uh , was a 137 00:05:01,906 --> 00:05:03,795 strong Christian . Um , I saw him 138 00:05:03,795 --> 00:05:05,962 reading the Bible , uh , and , and his 139 00:05:05,962 --> 00:05:08,128 Bible open on his desk and I thought , 140 00:05:08,128 --> 00:05:10,351 wow , he , he reads the Bible , and I , 141 00:05:10,351 --> 00:05:12,573 and , and so it really challenged me to 142 00:05:12,573 --> 00:05:14,795 how serious am I taking my faith . Um , 143 00:05:14,795 --> 00:05:14,079 when I got to college , I got involved 144 00:05:14,079 --> 00:05:16,135 in the campus ministry called Crew , 145 00:05:16,135 --> 00:05:18,357 and , um , through Crew , I , I started 146 00:05:18,357 --> 00:05:20,579 to be discipled and , and , and trained 147 00:05:20,579 --> 00:05:22,746 on how to , how to really live out the 148 00:05:22,746 --> 00:05:24,801 Christian life , right ? Not just to 149 00:05:24,801 --> 00:05:27,023 call myself a Christian but to actually 150 00:05:27,023 --> 00:05:26,959 live it out to make a , you know , to 151 00:05:26,959 --> 00:05:29,459 make a difference on campus so . Um , 152 00:05:29,489 --> 00:05:31,767 also went to a , a summer project with , 153 00:05:31,767 --> 00:05:33,767 with Crew down in Orlando , um , at 154 00:05:33,767 --> 00:05:35,929 Crews world headquarters , and , uh , 155 00:05:35,940 --> 00:05:37,996 and , and through that project was , 156 00:05:37,996 --> 00:05:40,162 was discipled and , and trained on how 157 00:05:40,162 --> 00:05:42,273 to , how to live a fruitful Christian 158 00:05:42,273 --> 00:05:44,440 life . It really made a big difference 159 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,440 in , in my life . And so when I got 160 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,551 back to my campus , uh , my sophomore 161 00:05:48,551 --> 00:05:50,773 year after that initial , uh , summer . 162 00:05:50,773 --> 00:05:52,940 Um , I started to take my , my faith a 163 00:05:52,940 --> 00:05:54,996 lot more seriously , started leading 164 00:05:54,996 --> 00:05:57,162 Bible studies , started meeting one on 165 00:05:57,162 --> 00:05:59,273 one , with guys especially , um , and 166 00:05:59,273 --> 00:06:01,218 helping them , you know , grow and 167 00:06:01,218 --> 00:06:01,149 learn about their faith , right ? 168 00:06:01,269 --> 00:06:03,158 Awesome , how to kind of become a 169 00:06:03,158 --> 00:06:05,436 better man . And so before we carry on , 170 00:06:05,470 --> 00:06:07,470 like I , I've got to say like we're 171 00:06:07,470 --> 00:06:09,869 doing this in a just a great scenery 172 00:06:09,869 --> 00:06:12,149 like , you know , we have , we have the 173 00:06:12,149 --> 00:06:14,205 background here for the holidays and 174 00:06:14,205 --> 00:06:16,316 the , uh , this is just a beautiful , 175 00:06:16,316 --> 00:06:18,205 beautiful background for us to be 176 00:06:18,205 --> 00:06:20,380 sitting in . Um , I , I agree . Um , 177 00:06:20,500 --> 00:06:22,500 our , our Tinker chapel is a , is a 178 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:24,833 beautiful facility . I've been here for , 179 00:06:24,833 --> 00:06:27,000 gosh , probably about 70 years or so , 180 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,111 um , but probably renovated from time 181 00:06:29,111 --> 00:06:30,889 to time , and it is a beautiful 182 00:06:30,889 --> 00:06:30,820 facility and we're , we're blessed to 183 00:06:30,820 --> 00:06:32,931 have such a nice , nice place for our 184 00:06:32,931 --> 00:06:35,019 services . I've seen there , I , I 185 00:06:35,019 --> 00:06:37,186 can't remember right off the top of my 186 00:06:37,186 --> 00:06:39,408 head , but I have seen pictures of some 187 00:06:39,408 --> 00:06:41,519 famous , very famous people have been 188 00:06:41,519 --> 00:06:44,500 married in this , in this church , so . 189 00:06:45,010 --> 00:06:47,177 Uh , this does have a lot of history . 190 00:06:47,177 --> 00:06:49,343 I know I've seen a lot of old pictures 191 00:06:49,343 --> 00:06:51,399 of it when it was first going up and 192 00:06:51,399 --> 00:06:53,454 outdoors , and it's , it's changed a 193 00:06:53,454 --> 00:06:55,621 little bit outside , probably a little 194 00:06:55,621 --> 00:06:57,732 bit inside too , but yes , you know , 195 00:06:57,732 --> 00:06:57,549 the manger is probably a little bit 196 00:06:57,549 --> 00:06:59,899 newer than it was 70 years ago , but 197 00:07:00,549 --> 00:07:02,716 kind of a cool , a cool area for us to 198 00:07:02,716 --> 00:07:05,989 be sitting in and , um , so . 199 00:07:06,820 --> 00:07:09,098 Can you tell me a little bit about the , 200 00:07:09,098 --> 00:07:11,579 the challenge , uh , it is to to be an 201 00:07:11,579 --> 00:07:15,179 Air Force chaplain , um , you , you 202 00:07:15,179 --> 00:07:17,619 kinda have to be very careful in your 203 00:07:17,619 --> 00:07:20,399 non-denominational approach like is , 204 00:07:20,459 --> 00:07:22,899 is that , is it hard sometimes because 205 00:07:22,899 --> 00:07:25,109 I , I'm , I'm assuming that you have 206 00:07:25,109 --> 00:07:27,276 one faith , or I guess Christian , but 207 00:07:27,276 --> 00:07:29,165 you talked about going to Baptist 208 00:07:29,165 --> 00:07:31,276 church when you were young . And so , 209 00:07:31,276 --> 00:07:33,165 you know , in the Air Force where 210 00:07:33,165 --> 00:07:32,820 you're , you're definitely , you're out 211 00:07:32,820 --> 00:07:36,579 giving . God's word to a very different 212 00:07:36,579 --> 00:07:38,940 broader group of people . So tell me 213 00:07:38,940 --> 00:07:41,107 about that a little bit . Is that , is 214 00:07:41,107 --> 00:07:43,329 that hard for chaplains or for you or ? 215 00:07:43,329 --> 00:07:45,551 Yeah , no , I appreciate the question . 216 00:07:45,551 --> 00:07:47,829 Um , so as chaplains we are , you know , 217 00:07:47,829 --> 00:07:49,996 we're kind of like dually affiliated , 218 00:07:49,996 --> 00:07:52,218 right ? Um , we are commissioned by the 219 00:07:52,218 --> 00:07:54,384 by the Air Force , um , but then , you 220 00:07:54,384 --> 00:07:56,384 know , we are still our ourselves , 221 00:07:56,384 --> 00:07:58,329 right ? And while we're protecting 222 00:07:58,329 --> 00:08:00,551 everybody else's free exercise of their 223 00:08:00,551 --> 00:08:02,329 religion , we , we all have our 224 00:08:02,329 --> 00:08:04,496 personal faith as well . Um , and more 225 00:08:04,496 --> 00:08:06,273 than a personal faith , to be a 226 00:08:06,273 --> 00:08:08,384 chaplain , you have to be endorsed by 227 00:08:08,384 --> 00:08:10,496 denomination , right ? A denomination 228 00:08:10,496 --> 00:08:12,440 has to say , yes , we endorse this 229 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,869 person . Um , to function as a chaplain , 230 00:08:15,130 --> 00:08:18,959 uh , under our banner , um , and so if 231 00:08:18,959 --> 00:08:21,679 that denomination says they're not 232 00:08:21,679 --> 00:08:23,901 acting faithfully , you know , to the , 233 00:08:23,901 --> 00:08:26,012 to our , not just their convictions , 234 00:08:26,012 --> 00:08:28,012 but our convictions , they can pull 235 00:08:28,012 --> 00:08:30,012 their endorsement and then I can no 236 00:08:30,012 --> 00:08:32,123 longer , you know , continue to serve 237 00:08:32,123 --> 00:08:34,012 as a chaplain unless I find a new 238 00:08:34,012 --> 00:08:36,123 endorser . So there's , there is kind 239 00:08:36,123 --> 00:08:38,290 of like that , that push pull where we 240 00:08:38,290 --> 00:08:37,989 have to be faithful to both , um , 241 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,333 faithful to the Air Force as an officer , 242 00:08:40,333 --> 00:08:42,500 but faithful to our denomination . But 243 00:08:42,650 --> 00:08:44,817 like I'd say more to the point of your 244 00:08:44,817 --> 00:08:46,928 question , um , at least for me and I 245 00:08:46,928 --> 00:08:49,130 would say for most every chaplain , we 246 00:08:49,130 --> 00:08:51,297 are chaplains because we love people , 247 00:08:51,297 --> 00:08:53,241 right ? We want to make a positive 248 00:08:53,241 --> 00:08:55,408 impact on people's lives , um , and so 249 00:08:55,408 --> 00:08:57,574 while we have personal convictions and 250 00:08:57,574 --> 00:08:59,630 faith convictions like we just wanna 251 00:08:59,630 --> 00:09:01,574 serve people , we wanna help bless 252 00:09:01,574 --> 00:09:03,352 marriages , we wanna see people 253 00:09:03,352 --> 00:09:05,352 choosing life , you know , in their 254 00:09:05,352 --> 00:09:08,309 relationships and um . And so my goal 255 00:09:08,309 --> 00:09:10,419 right in being a chaplain is not to 256 00:09:10,419 --> 00:09:13,549 like to make people more like me in my 257 00:09:13,549 --> 00:09:15,989 denominational sense , um , but it is 258 00:09:15,989 --> 00:09:17,878 to make a positive impact on , on 259 00:09:17,878 --> 00:09:20,710 people and the truth is that in 260 00:09:20,710 --> 00:09:22,488 protecting the free exercise of 261 00:09:22,488 --> 00:09:25,229 people's religion , um , for me as an 262 00:09:25,229 --> 00:09:27,285 endorsed Southern Baptist chaplain , 263 00:09:27,390 --> 00:09:30,869 there's a number of people , um , that 264 00:09:30,869 --> 00:09:32,702 are , that come from a Christian 265 00:09:32,702 --> 00:09:34,536 background so when they come for 266 00:09:34,536 --> 00:09:34,390 counseling and I say , hey , what's 267 00:09:34,390 --> 00:09:36,640 your faith background ? Many people , 268 00:09:36,770 --> 00:09:38,937 right , um , are gonna say , oh yeah , 269 00:09:38,937 --> 00:09:41,159 I grew up in church or , or , oh yeah , 270 00:09:41,159 --> 00:09:43,270 I'm a Christian , you know , and they 271 00:09:43,270 --> 00:09:45,326 want to grow in their faith . They , 272 00:09:45,326 --> 00:09:47,326 they want to , um , They want to be 273 00:09:47,326 --> 00:09:49,492 helped along , right ? And , and , and 274 00:09:49,492 --> 00:09:51,714 as they try to to follow Jesus and so I 275 00:09:51,714 --> 00:09:53,770 am able to , to help them . But with 276 00:09:53,770 --> 00:09:56,048 that said , Uh , I'm here for everyone . 277 00:09:56,048 --> 00:09:58,270 All of our chaplains are , are here for 278 00:09:58,270 --> 00:10:00,326 everyone regardless of their , their 279 00:10:00,326 --> 00:10:02,437 background , right ? And I do find it 280 00:10:02,437 --> 00:10:04,270 interesting that , uh , a lot of 281 00:10:04,270 --> 00:10:06,159 outside entities and , and in all 282 00:10:06,159 --> 00:10:08,048 fairness , you know , most of the 283 00:10:08,048 --> 00:10:09,770 non-military world don't quite 284 00:10:09,770 --> 00:10:11,992 understand . The military side and what 285 00:10:11,992 --> 00:10:13,992 we do , like it's a whole different 286 00:10:13,992 --> 00:10:16,219 animal on on this side , but it just it 287 00:10:16,229 --> 00:10:18,679 it struck me as , as how much and how 288 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,000 little people know when you recently 289 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,719 had an opportunity to , uh , give the 290 00:10:23,719 --> 00:10:25,719 invocation at a pro basketball game 291 00:10:25,719 --> 00:10:29,299 here locally , um . And I remember the 292 00:10:29,299 --> 00:10:31,243 conversation I was having back and 293 00:10:31,243 --> 00:10:33,466 forth with them was that they were very 294 00:10:33,466 --> 00:10:35,632 careful about , hey , make sure that , 295 00:10:35,632 --> 00:10:34,700 you know , it's , it's 296 00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:36,756 non-denominational and like , well , 297 00:10:36,979 --> 00:10:39,340 you know , that's sure , that's like 298 00:10:39,340 --> 00:10:41,507 right up right up our chaplain's alley 299 00:10:41,507 --> 00:10:43,673 that's an everyday thing for them so . 300 00:10:44,159 --> 00:10:46,270 It's kind of , it's kind of cool that 301 00:10:46,270 --> 00:10:48,437 you guys are already operating in that 302 00:10:48,437 --> 00:10:50,659 way , but I think a lot of people don't 303 00:10:50,659 --> 00:10:52,992 quite realize that . Yeah , well , yeah , 304 00:10:52,992 --> 00:10:52,390 I would say that , you know , and part 305 00:10:52,390 --> 00:10:54,349 of our training as chaplains is 306 00:10:54,349 --> 00:10:56,405 understanding our audience , right ? 307 00:10:56,405 --> 00:10:58,460 Like where , where are we right when 308 00:10:58,460 --> 00:11:00,738 I'm speaking , when I'm asked to speak , 309 00:11:00,738 --> 00:11:02,960 um . Where am I when I've been asked to 310 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,071 say a prayer , right ? Um , am I here 311 00:11:05,071 --> 00:11:07,238 at this pulpit in a Protestant worship 312 00:11:07,238 --> 00:11:09,182 service ? Um , because if so , I'm 313 00:11:09,182 --> 00:11:11,293 probably gonna preach and , and , and 314 00:11:11,293 --> 00:11:13,571 pray very similar to how I would in an , 315 00:11:13,571 --> 00:11:15,682 uh , uh , a church , right off base , 316 00:11:15,869 --> 00:11:19,159 um . But if I'm at an all call , right , 317 00:11:19,239 --> 00:11:21,406 if I'm in a commander's call or if I'm 318 00:11:21,406 --> 00:11:24,280 at a , an annual award ceremony , it's 319 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,280 just a different , it's a different 320 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:28,336 audience . We also as chaplains , we 321 00:11:28,336 --> 00:11:30,391 look at our , did people voluntarily 322 00:11:30,391 --> 00:11:32,400 come to what this event is or were 323 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,080 people , um , told that they will be at 324 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,080 this event and so we , we try to be 325 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:38,969 sensitive to , to that when we're 326 00:11:38,969 --> 00:11:41,191 crafting our comments and our prayers , 327 00:11:41,191 --> 00:11:42,858 right ? Well , for sure , you 328 00:11:42,858 --> 00:11:45,024 gatherings like at the , the , I think 329 00:11:45,024 --> 00:11:47,136 the Wednesday night , maybe the . You 330 00:11:47,136 --> 00:11:49,358 do a lot of food gatherings with people 331 00:11:49,358 --> 00:11:51,524 on the base , but , uh , it seems that 332 00:11:51,524 --> 00:11:53,358 it's always like one of the most 333 00:11:53,358 --> 00:11:55,524 popular things around , which is great 334 00:11:55,524 --> 00:11:58,840 to know . Um , I , every old war movie 335 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:00,673 that I watched that , you know , 336 00:12:00,673 --> 00:12:02,840 there's some tie with with chaplains , 337 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,007 you know , military chaplains out on a 338 00:12:05,007 --> 00:12:07,118 battlefield and doing that like to me 339 00:12:07,118 --> 00:12:09,118 it's just such a neat . It's such a 340 00:12:09,118 --> 00:12:11,429 neat thing to see the incorporation of 341 00:12:11,429 --> 00:12:13,373 chaplains and how they play such a 342 00:12:13,373 --> 00:12:15,651 critical role , even , even , you know , 343 00:12:15,669 --> 00:12:17,836 in a situation like that , you're on a 344 00:12:17,836 --> 00:12:19,836 battlefield and you're dealing with 345 00:12:19,836 --> 00:12:21,725 very difficult situations and and 346 00:12:21,725 --> 00:12:23,891 people that are doing a very different 347 00:12:23,891 --> 00:12:26,113 job than you're doing , but how crucial 348 00:12:26,113 --> 00:12:28,225 you are to their headspace and , uh , 349 00:12:28,225 --> 00:12:30,169 and what they do out there to stay 350 00:12:30,169 --> 00:12:32,280 focused and stay alive so . Tough job 351 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,280 for sure . Well , I'm sure carrying 352 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:36,502 God's words is tough job anyway , but , 353 00:12:36,502 --> 00:12:38,725 uh , a lot of weight on the shoulders . 354 00:12:38,725 --> 00:12:40,780 It's , it's an it's an honor and you 355 00:12:40,780 --> 00:12:42,725 know , to your comments , uh , the 356 00:12:42,725 --> 00:12:42,580 chaplain Corps has been around , you 357 00:12:42,580 --> 00:12:44,302 know , since , uh , before the 358 00:12:44,302 --> 00:12:46,302 Revolutionary War . So it's not a , 359 00:12:46,302 --> 00:12:48,524 it's not a new entity , um . Um , and , 360 00:12:48,619 --> 00:12:50,786 uh , so yeah , we're , we're , I , I'm 361 00:12:50,786 --> 00:12:52,841 a part of a long legacy , right , of 362 00:12:52,841 --> 00:12:54,897 people that have served , served our 363 00:12:54,897 --> 00:12:56,786 troops and airmen and sailors and 364 00:12:56,786 --> 00:12:58,952 guardians , um , and , and , and coast 365 00:12:58,952 --> 00:13:01,119 guardsmen that have served , so it's a 366 00:13:01,119 --> 00:13:03,008 blessing and we talked just for a 367 00:13:03,008 --> 00:13:05,169 second about , um . Colonel Rosetta 368 00:13:05,169 --> 00:13:07,599 being a part of your hiring process and 369 00:13:07,599 --> 00:13:09,710 do you think she's satisfied with her 370 00:13:09,710 --> 00:13:11,840 pick ? You would , you would have to 371 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,173 ask her , but , uh , it's a blessing to , 372 00:13:14,173 --> 00:13:16,396 to work with her . I see Oklahoma Woman 373 00:13:16,396 --> 00:13:18,396 of the year . I , I believe she was 374 00:13:18,396 --> 00:13:20,515 named last Friday , so . It was that 375 00:13:20,715 --> 00:13:22,835 what an honor for us and her and and 376 00:13:22,835 --> 00:13:24,905 our base that our boss gets to have 377 00:13:24,905 --> 00:13:27,594 that , that big honor . As far as I 378 00:13:27,594 --> 00:13:30,474 know , she's the only one from Tinker 379 00:13:30,474 --> 00:13:32,594 that's been selected for that honor . 380 00:13:32,715 --> 00:13:34,882 So it's awesome , good for her and all 381 00:13:34,882 --> 00:13:37,104 of us , but , uh , yes , I'm actually , 382 00:13:37,104 --> 00:13:39,048 I'm just wondering if she actually 383 00:13:39,048 --> 00:13:41,159 watches . I wanna see if she gives me 384 00:13:41,159 --> 00:13:43,271 some feedback on that question . Um , 385 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,650 so , moving a little bit further on , 386 00:13:45,820 --> 00:13:49,159 um , As far as the chapel services 387 00:13:49,159 --> 00:13:52,030 and and what you all offer as a core , 388 00:13:52,359 --> 00:13:54,303 uh , what types of services do you 389 00:13:54,303 --> 00:13:57,150 offer ? And not only I guess you offer 390 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,607 services for everybody , the civilians 391 00:13:59,809 --> 00:14:01,920 and and our active duty and reserve , 392 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,016 correct ? Tell me a little bit about 393 00:14:04,016 --> 00:14:06,119 that . OK . So as far as religious 394 00:14:06,119 --> 00:14:08,341 services , if that's what you're asking 395 00:14:08,341 --> 00:14:10,341 about , um , we have Protestant and 396 00:14:10,341 --> 00:14:12,452 Catholic worship services , um , that 397 00:14:12,452 --> 00:14:14,508 are offered here and then daily mass 398 00:14:14,508 --> 00:14:16,452 different times of the week , um , 399 00:14:16,452 --> 00:14:18,397 which you can check our our Tinker 400 00:14:18,397 --> 00:14:20,619 Chapel Facebook page for specific , you 401 00:14:20,619 --> 00:14:22,786 know , service times , um , but , um . 402 00:14:22,979 --> 00:14:24,757 Those , those are the religious 403 00:14:24,757 --> 00:14:26,923 services that we offer . What we do as 404 00:14:26,923 --> 00:14:28,868 a chaplain Corps is we , we say we 405 00:14:28,868 --> 00:14:31,035 provide or provide for right again the 406 00:14:31,035 --> 00:14:33,146 free exercise of religion . So , um , 407 00:14:33,146 --> 00:14:35,020 while we do know that a large 408 00:14:35,020 --> 00:14:38,140 percentage of our military and civilian 409 00:14:38,140 --> 00:14:40,140 population , we're gonna meet their 410 00:14:40,140 --> 00:14:42,307 needs by those Protestant and Catholic 411 00:14:42,307 --> 00:14:44,307 services , not everyone falls under 412 00:14:44,307 --> 00:14:46,084 those umbrellas , right , those 413 00:14:46,084 --> 00:14:47,973 categories . So that's one of the 414 00:14:47,973 --> 00:14:50,196 reasons that our connections with local 415 00:14:50,196 --> 00:14:52,084 clergy off base , uh , you know , 416 00:14:52,084 --> 00:14:54,307 synagogues , um , and , and , and other 417 00:14:54,307 --> 00:14:56,640 religious entities is so important . Um , 418 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:58,807 and so if we're not offering it here , 419 00:14:58,807 --> 00:15:00,973 then we're happy to help get an get an 420 00:15:00,973 --> 00:15:03,140 airman or a civilian connected to like 421 00:15:03,140 --> 00:15:02,940 an off-base place , which we're really 422 00:15:02,940 --> 00:15:05,059 blessed in Oklahoma City to have so 423 00:15:05,059 --> 00:15:06,837 many , uh , different religious 424 00:15:06,837 --> 00:15:09,003 services available , right ? And it is 425 00:15:09,003 --> 00:15:11,226 good offering all these services to all 426 00:15:11,226 --> 00:15:13,281 people , I guess that really kind of 427 00:15:13,281 --> 00:15:15,359 cements the the one team . One fight 428 00:15:15,359 --> 00:15:18,510 like we're all one cohesive unit , uh , 429 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,520 even coming right down to something 430 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,631 like getting religious services , you 431 00:15:22,631 --> 00:15:24,853 know , you guys are here , everybody is 432 00:15:24,853 --> 00:15:26,964 a part of this bigger fight . Um , so 433 00:15:27,030 --> 00:15:29,252 we're in the holidays now . You can see 434 00:15:29,252 --> 00:15:31,197 all around us , you know , we're , 435 00:15:31,197 --> 00:15:33,252 we're definitely here at the holiday 436 00:15:33,252 --> 00:15:35,299 season . How do you assist airmen 437 00:15:35,299 --> 00:15:37,619 during the holidays ? Is , is there an 438 00:15:37,619 --> 00:15:39,841 uptick in your demand ? Because I think 439 00:15:39,841 --> 00:15:42,008 some of the services that you offer to 440 00:15:42,008 --> 00:15:44,230 is you do go out into different units , 441 00:15:44,230 --> 00:15:46,452 like , like our unit can request that a 442 00:15:46,452 --> 00:15:48,675 chaplain come in and either do a prayer 443 00:15:48,675 --> 00:15:50,730 service with us or just listen to to 444 00:15:50,730 --> 00:15:53,200 people talk . Um , so how does that 445 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,367 work for you guys during the holiday ? 446 00:15:55,367 --> 00:15:57,533 Is there an uptick ? Do you try to get 447 00:15:57,533 --> 00:15:59,644 out a little bit more , or do you get 448 00:15:59,644 --> 00:15:59,599 more requests to go out and do things 449 00:15:59,599 --> 00:16:01,932 with airmen at this time of year ? Yeah , 450 00:16:01,932 --> 00:16:04,155 no , uh , great question . So , um , in 451 00:16:04,155 --> 00:16:06,043 anticipation of your question , I 452 00:16:06,043 --> 00:16:08,210 looked up some statistics . So there's 453 00:16:08,210 --> 00:16:10,321 a 2021 poll on behalf of the American 454 00:16:10,321 --> 00:16:12,266 Psychiatric Association found that 455 00:16:12,266 --> 00:16:14,321 Americans are 5 times more likely to 456 00:16:14,321 --> 00:16:16,488 report . That their stress level , can 457 00:16:16,488 --> 00:16:18,432 you imagine , increases during the 458 00:16:18,432 --> 00:16:20,432 holidays and then 47% of adults say 459 00:16:20,432 --> 00:16:22,672 that they feel anxious uh because they 460 00:16:22,672 --> 00:16:24,793 miss family members . So definitely 461 00:16:24,793 --> 00:16:27,015 during the holidays there , there is an 462 00:16:27,015 --> 00:16:29,023 increase in stress and , and some 463 00:16:29,023 --> 00:16:31,593 sometimes difficult emotions . Um , to 464 00:16:31,593 --> 00:16:33,953 be honest , you know , you would think 465 00:16:33,953 --> 00:16:36,175 that , oh , like we , we'll have a line 466 00:16:36,175 --> 00:16:38,231 at the door of people coming to seek 467 00:16:38,231 --> 00:16:40,342 counseling . I would say I haven't in 468 00:16:40,342 --> 00:16:42,453 my 15 years in the chaplain Corps . I 469 00:16:42,453 --> 00:16:42,065 haven't really seen that over the 470 00:16:42,065 --> 00:16:44,287 holidays , even though you might expect 471 00:16:44,287 --> 00:16:47,666 it . But , um , but we do see sometimes 472 00:16:47,666 --> 00:16:49,944 after the holidays , you know , people , 473 00:16:49,944 --> 00:16:52,055 people come back from the holidays or 474 00:16:52,055 --> 00:16:54,222 come back from traveling or maybe some 475 00:16:54,222 --> 00:16:56,333 difficult uh interactions with family 476 00:16:56,333 --> 00:16:58,499 members or something , and that's when 477 00:16:58,499 --> 00:17:00,666 they'll start maybe reaching out for , 478 00:17:00,666 --> 00:17:00,495 for counseling and things like that . 479 00:17:00,919 --> 00:17:03,229 Um , but as far as what we do , yeah , 480 00:17:03,369 --> 00:17:05,369 we are , a lot of our chaplains are 481 00:17:05,369 --> 00:17:07,313 embedded . They're out in , in the 482 00:17:07,313 --> 00:17:09,425 units and so they're really close and 483 00:17:09,425 --> 00:17:11,758 accessible for airmen , uh , to talk to , 484 00:17:11,758 --> 00:17:13,813 stop by , do counseling . People can 485 00:17:13,813 --> 00:17:16,036 call the chapel , uh , you know , and , 486 00:17:16,036 --> 00:17:17,980 or they can just stop by . Um , we 487 00:17:17,980 --> 00:17:20,229 actually have a , a duty chaplain cell 488 00:17:20,229 --> 00:17:22,396 phone . Um , I , I'll , I'll give it . 489 00:17:22,396 --> 00:17:26,000 It's 405-481-1390 . 490 00:17:26,244 --> 00:17:29,234 81-1390 and airmen can call or text 491 00:17:29,234 --> 00:17:31,178 that number if they have something 492 00:17:31,178 --> 00:17:33,012 going on . They don't have to go 493 00:17:33,012 --> 00:17:35,290 through any entities at all . But , um , 494 00:17:35,290 --> 00:17:37,567 if for some reason they were like , oh , 495 00:17:37,567 --> 00:17:37,185 I don't , I didn't write that down 496 00:17:37,185 --> 00:17:39,241 during the podcast , they can always 497 00:17:39,241 --> 00:17:41,074 call the command post . Uh , the 498 00:17:41,074 --> 00:17:45,025 command post is 405-734-7313 . And 499 00:17:45,025 --> 00:17:47,635 24/7 , the command post will connect an 500 00:17:47,635 --> 00:17:50,464 airman with a chaplain , you know , 501 00:17:50,505 --> 00:17:53,400 anytime day or night , um . But as far 502 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,567 as services and things that we offer , 503 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,927 um , you know , we advise leadership . 504 00:17:57,927 --> 00:18:00,093 That's one of our core competencies as 505 00:18:00,093 --> 00:18:01,871 chaplains . So , um , uh , uh , 506 00:18:01,871 --> 00:18:03,704 mid-level or , or higher level , 507 00:18:04,199 --> 00:18:06,421 anybody that , that feels like , like , 508 00:18:06,421 --> 00:18:08,477 how do I best take care of my unit ? 509 00:18:08,477 --> 00:18:10,532 You know , how do I serve the . Best 510 00:18:10,532 --> 00:18:10,290 serve the airmen that I'm , uh , that 511 00:18:10,290 --> 00:18:12,346 I'm working with , uh , or man , you 512 00:18:12,346 --> 00:18:14,401 know , I feel like morale's a little 513 00:18:14,401 --> 00:18:16,568 bit low . They can always , you know , 514 00:18:16,568 --> 00:18:18,679 call us in , hey , chaplain , what do 515 00:18:18,679 --> 00:18:17,719 you , what do you think's going on , 516 00:18:17,869 --> 00:18:20,036 right ? So that's one of the ways that 517 00:18:20,036 --> 00:18:21,925 we can , uh , we , we would never 518 00:18:21,925 --> 00:18:24,091 divulge , you know , something that we 519 00:18:24,091 --> 00:18:26,369 learned like in a confidential setting . 520 00:18:26,369 --> 00:18:26,310 But if there's something we're hearing , 521 00:18:26,439 --> 00:18:28,661 right , like as an aggregate from a lot 522 00:18:28,661 --> 00:18:30,883 of different airmen , like , hey , uh , 523 00:18:30,883 --> 00:18:32,939 we really feel like this issue , you 524 00:18:32,939 --> 00:18:35,106 know , or this issue keeps coming up a 525 00:18:35,106 --> 00:18:37,217 lot , we can tell that leader , hey , 526 00:18:37,217 --> 00:18:39,550 we're hearing a lot about this going on , 527 00:18:39,550 --> 00:18:39,520 right , without divulging any sort of 528 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,420 confidentiality , um . Aside from that , 529 00:18:42,430 --> 00:18:44,541 we do religious accommodation . So if 530 00:18:44,541 --> 00:18:46,652 an airman maybe has a faith tradition 531 00:18:46,652 --> 00:18:48,819 that they , they practice or they want 532 00:18:48,819 --> 00:18:50,541 to go to their local church or 533 00:18:50,541 --> 00:18:53,540 synagogue or mosque or whatever during 534 00:18:53,540 --> 00:18:55,540 the holidays or another time of the 535 00:18:55,540 --> 00:18:57,596 year , and they've already requested 536 00:18:57,596 --> 00:18:59,818 that from , let's say their supervision 537 00:18:59,818 --> 00:19:01,707 and maybe gotten some pushback or 538 00:19:01,707 --> 00:19:03,984 something . We would encourage them to , 539 00:19:03,984 --> 00:19:03,859 you know , to give us a call . We would 540 00:19:03,859 --> 00:19:06,081 love to advocate for them , work with , 541 00:19:06,081 --> 00:19:08,081 you know , work with their leader , 542 00:19:08,081 --> 00:19:10,359 help them understand the importance of , 543 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,526 of accommodating our airmen , um , and 544 00:19:12,526 --> 00:19:14,692 usually that's all it takes is maybe a 545 00:19:14,692 --> 00:19:16,915 phone call or an email , uh , sometimes 546 00:19:16,915 --> 00:19:19,137 sometimes it needs like a more formal , 547 00:19:19,137 --> 00:19:21,359 you know , uh , religious accommodation 548 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:20,810 that's there's a process for that and 549 00:19:20,810 --> 00:19:23,300 we can walk people through that , um . 550 00:19:24,069 --> 00:19:27,609 And then also , um , we offer retreats , 551 00:19:27,780 --> 00:19:30,410 um , so both , uh , resiliency based , 552 00:19:30,660 --> 00:19:32,882 um , but also faith-based retreats kind 553 00:19:32,882 --> 00:19:35,104 of throughout the year . So that's just 554 00:19:35,104 --> 00:19:37,104 kind of a smattering of some of the 555 00:19:37,104 --> 00:19:39,216 different things that we offer , um , 556 00:19:39,216 --> 00:19:38,979 through the chapel . That's awesome . 557 00:19:39,020 --> 00:19:41,939 And so the one thing you guys offer a 558 00:19:41,939 --> 00:19:44,459 lot in , in way of helping our airmen 559 00:19:44,859 --> 00:19:46,859 through difficult times , stressful 560 00:19:46,859 --> 00:19:49,081 times , but where do you , where do you 561 00:19:49,081 --> 00:19:51,599 turn to to get your help ? like . I 562 00:19:51,599 --> 00:19:53,766 suppose that's a fair question because 563 00:19:53,766 --> 00:19:55,877 if you're taking on a lot of it , you 564 00:19:55,877 --> 00:19:58,099 know , there's got to be an , an outlet 565 00:19:58,099 --> 00:20:00,321 for our chaplains . Like , where do our 566 00:20:00,321 --> 00:20:02,266 chaplains go ? Do you turn to each 567 00:20:02,266 --> 00:20:04,266 other ? Yeah , um , no , that's a , 568 00:20:04,266 --> 00:20:06,377 that's a great question . Um . Well , 569 00:20:06,377 --> 00:20:08,488 to be honest , throughout my 15 years 570 00:20:08,488 --> 00:20:10,655 in the chaplain Corps , I've turned to 571 00:20:10,655 --> 00:20:10,280 almost all the different helping 572 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,489 agencies that we refer people to . I 573 00:20:12,489 --> 00:20:14,489 have turned to those for , for help 574 00:20:14,489 --> 00:20:16,156 myself , you know , sometimes 575 00:20:16,156 --> 00:20:18,378 individually , sometimes for maybe help 576 00:20:18,378 --> 00:20:18,339 with my marriage . I've been married 18 577 00:20:18,339 --> 00:20:20,770 years . It takes work . It takes work , 578 00:20:20,839 --> 00:20:22,617 and we go through seasons where 579 00:20:22,617 --> 00:20:24,617 sometimes it's . It's , it's smooth 580 00:20:24,617 --> 00:20:26,950 sailing and sometimes it's rough waters , 581 00:20:26,950 --> 00:20:29,117 uh , and we need help . So I would say 582 00:20:29,117 --> 00:20:31,117 yes , some occasionally , uh , I'll 583 00:20:31,117 --> 00:20:33,172 turn to other chaplains , uh , maybe 584 00:20:33,172 --> 00:20:35,339 here , but oftentimes maybe outside of 585 00:20:35,339 --> 00:20:35,324 like my immediate , you know , chapel 586 00:20:35,324 --> 00:20:37,324 team , maybe a former supervisor or 587 00:20:37,324 --> 00:20:39,380 something , reach out to them , um , 588 00:20:39,380 --> 00:20:41,602 because I can have confidentiality with 589 00:20:41,602 --> 00:20:43,713 them . Um , but I've turned to family 590 00:20:43,713 --> 00:20:45,824 advocacy , uh , their FAST program to 591 00:20:45,824 --> 00:20:48,046 get some , some marriage therapy . I've 592 00:20:48,046 --> 00:20:50,102 called Military OneSource , um , and 593 00:20:50,102 --> 00:20:52,268 been referred to , you know , downtown 594 00:20:52,268 --> 00:20:54,380 counselors . Uh , I've worked with my 595 00:20:54,380 --> 00:20:56,380 wife sometimes . We've , we've used 596 00:20:56,380 --> 00:20:56,300 just , uh , like a referral through 597 00:20:56,300 --> 00:20:58,133 mental health to get , uh , some 598 00:20:58,133 --> 00:21:00,339 marriage counseling off base . Um , 599 00:21:00,819 --> 00:21:02,875 we've , I've talked to MFAx before , 600 00:21:02,875 --> 00:21:04,986 military and family life counselors . 601 00:21:04,986 --> 00:21:06,949 Um , so , uh , personally , I've 602 00:21:06,949 --> 00:21:09,227 utilized almost all the different , uh , 603 00:21:09,227 --> 00:21:11,910 services that we offer airmen . Um , 604 00:21:12,250 --> 00:21:14,250 and I feel like that gives me , you 605 00:21:14,250 --> 00:21:16,250 know , when I'm referring someone , 606 00:21:16,250 --> 00:21:18,472 they say , well , I don't really , I've 607 00:21:18,472 --> 00:21:18,430 never called military one source to say , 608 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,464 I say , hey , here's how it goes , 609 00:21:20,464 --> 00:21:22,520 here's what it's gonna look like . I 610 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,409 can kind of walk them , walk them 611 00:21:24,409 --> 00:21:24,199 through that . I think that's pretty 612 00:21:24,199 --> 00:21:26,421 crucial and certainly , you know , goes 613 00:21:26,421 --> 00:21:29,000 without saying that there's no life 614 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,510 that's just absolutely perfect , um , 615 00:21:31,750 --> 00:21:34,420 knowing that you . Everybody needs to 616 00:21:34,420 --> 00:21:36,642 turn to a source at some point in their 617 00:21:36,642 --> 00:21:38,864 life , like don't take it on , but also 618 00:21:38,864 --> 00:21:40,642 I think you pointed it out that 619 00:21:40,642 --> 00:21:42,587 incredibly beneficial that you can 620 00:21:42,587 --> 00:21:44,642 actually walk somebody through these 621 00:21:44,642 --> 00:21:46,642 these resources because you've used 622 00:21:46,642 --> 00:21:49,459 them yourself , so it's a big help . um 623 00:21:49,459 --> 00:21:51,515 I do know that there's a , there's a 624 00:21:51,515 --> 00:21:54,089 big recruiting event coming up in March . 625 00:21:54,489 --> 00:21:56,545 Uh , tell me a little bit about that 626 00:21:56,545 --> 00:21:58,767 because I , I don't know that in all my 627 00:21:58,767 --> 00:22:00,933 time here I've ever really been dialed 628 00:22:00,933 --> 00:22:03,045 into to this type of a , a recruiting 629 00:22:03,045 --> 00:22:05,211 event and it may happen every year . I 630 00:22:05,211 --> 00:22:07,378 just , I've never really been aware of 631 00:22:07,378 --> 00:22:07,030 it . Yeah , no , I appreciate you 632 00:22:07,030 --> 00:22:09,839 asking . So on March 7th of 2025 we're 633 00:22:09,839 --> 00:22:11,728 gonna have what we're calling the 634 00:22:11,728 --> 00:22:14,900 military chaplaincy . Explo 2025 , a 635 00:22:14,900 --> 00:22:17,380 day in the life and basically it is a 636 00:22:17,380 --> 00:22:19,436 kind of a one of a kind first of its 637 00:22:19,436 --> 00:22:21,420 kind event . It's a collaboration 638 00:22:21,420 --> 00:22:23,587 between Altus Air Force Base , Van Air 639 00:22:23,587 --> 00:22:25,920 Force Base , Tinker Air Force Base , uh , 640 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:27,976 the wing chaplains at those places , 641 00:22:27,976 --> 00:22:29,809 but then also , uh , some of the 642 00:22:29,809 --> 00:22:29,380 chaplains and chaplain Corps members 643 00:22:29,380 --> 00:22:31,680 over at Fort Sill . Air Force Chaplain 644 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:33,736 Corps recruiting , Army recruiting , 645 00:22:33,736 --> 00:22:35,680 Navy recruiting , so it's , it's a 646 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:37,624 really big event , um , that we're 647 00:22:37,624 --> 00:22:39,624 gonna host over at the Tinker Event 648 00:22:39,624 --> 00:22:41,736 Center . Uh , we're hoping for , uh , 649 00:22:41,736 --> 00:22:43,680 hundreds , hundreds of perspective 650 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,847 chaplain Corps members to to come from 651 00:22:45,847 --> 00:22:48,069 all over the state of Oklahoma and then 652 00:22:48,069 --> 00:22:50,291 surrounding states , um , and , and the 653 00:22:50,291 --> 00:22:52,402 idea is to just give people . A taste 654 00:22:52,402 --> 00:22:54,124 of what is it like some of the 655 00:22:54,124 --> 00:22:56,347 questions we've been talking about here 656 00:22:56,347 --> 00:22:58,402 today , but what is it like to be in 657 00:22:58,402 --> 00:22:58,385 the chaplain Corps ? Um , so we're 658 00:22:58,385 --> 00:23:01,064 gonna have like a TED Talk style 659 00:23:01,064 --> 00:23:03,344 testimonies of , you know , experiences 660 00:23:03,344 --> 00:23:05,455 that chaplains have had and religious 661 00:23:05,455 --> 00:23:07,677 affairs airmen have had in the chaplain 662 00:23:07,677 --> 00:23:09,677 corps so that people can say , oh , 663 00:23:09,677 --> 00:23:11,844 like that's what it's like to be , you 664 00:23:11,844 --> 00:23:14,066 know , in the chaplain Corps . Um , and 665 00:23:14,066 --> 00:23:16,288 we're gonna talk about really practical 666 00:23:16,288 --> 00:23:16,030 stuff like , like what's the pay , 667 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,248 right ? Like maybe for a civilian 668 00:23:18,248 --> 00:23:20,248 pastor who's just considering it or 669 00:23:20,248 --> 00:23:22,248 heard about chaplaincy , what's the 670 00:23:22,248 --> 00:23:24,248 difference between like the average 671 00:23:24,248 --> 00:23:26,192 civilian pay of a , of a pastor or 672 00:23:26,192 --> 00:23:28,359 clergy member and then if they were to 673 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:30,581 join the military and become , uh , for 674 00:23:30,581 --> 00:23:32,748 a chaplain to become an officer and to 675 00:23:32,748 --> 00:23:35,420 get , um , to , to do that . Um , one 676 00:23:35,420 --> 00:23:37,364 of the , the goals as well , we're 677 00:23:37,364 --> 00:23:39,364 gonna work , we're planning to work 678 00:23:39,364 --> 00:23:41,699 with the 552 to have an E3 AWAC static 679 00:23:41,699 --> 00:23:44,099 display that the prospective chaplains 680 00:23:44,099 --> 00:23:46,155 and religious affairs , uh , members 681 00:23:46,155 --> 00:23:48,266 can walk through . Um , and then do a 682 00:23:48,266 --> 00:23:50,377 massive feeding event where we invite 683 00:23:50,377 --> 00:23:52,599 airmen , uh , to come out to the flight 684 00:23:52,599 --> 00:23:54,939 line and then give these folks a chance 685 00:23:54,939 --> 00:23:57,272 to just interact with airmen , you know , 686 00:23:57,339 --> 00:23:59,395 um , the most powerful and important 687 00:23:59,395 --> 00:24:01,283 weapon system that we have in the 688 00:24:01,283 --> 00:24:03,579 military is our , it's our airmen and 689 00:24:03,579 --> 00:24:05,635 soldiers and Marines and everybody , 690 00:24:05,635 --> 00:24:07,857 it's our people , right ? And so , um , 691 00:24:07,857 --> 00:24:09,880 we just thought if we can just let 692 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:11,936 people have even just 5 minutes with 693 00:24:11,936 --> 00:24:14,047 one of our awesome , uh , airmen here 694 00:24:14,047 --> 00:24:16,199 on Tinker that they'll probably help 695 00:24:16,199 --> 00:24:18,421 them kind of catch that bug from like , 696 00:24:18,421 --> 00:24:20,588 wow , that , I want to do that because 697 00:24:20,588 --> 00:24:22,810 there is such an incredible opportunity 698 00:24:22,810 --> 00:24:25,032 to , you know , to bring light and life 699 00:24:25,032 --> 00:24:27,255 into the lives of , of people , uh , on 700 00:24:27,255 --> 00:24:29,366 Tinker . Sounds like a pretty amazing 701 00:24:29,366 --> 00:24:31,900 event . Um , and that takes me back to , 702 00:24:31,930 --> 00:24:33,930 I think , a question I didn't ask , 703 00:24:33,930 --> 00:24:35,930 like , you came from an IMA reserve 704 00:24:35,930 --> 00:24:37,930 world . And I don't remember if you 705 00:24:37,930 --> 00:24:40,097 touched on it , but what made you jump 706 00:24:40,097 --> 00:24:42,263 over to the active duty side and , and 707 00:24:42,263 --> 00:24:44,263 how big a shock was that to you and 708 00:24:44,263 --> 00:24:46,579 your , your family at that point in 709 00:24:46,579 --> 00:24:48,746 time ? Yeah , no , thanks for asking . 710 00:24:48,746 --> 00:24:50,635 So , um , when I was a student at 711 00:24:50,635 --> 00:24:52,579 Midwestern Seminary and getting my 712 00:24:52,579 --> 00:24:54,801 master of Divinity , every chaplain has 713 00:24:54,801 --> 00:24:56,912 to have an MD or master of Divinity . 714 00:24:56,912 --> 00:24:59,023 Um , one day I was , uh , in front of 715 00:24:59,023 --> 00:25:01,079 the chapel , our little chapel , and 716 00:25:01,079 --> 00:25:03,301 there weren't many people around , or I 717 00:25:03,301 --> 00:25:02,390 don't think there was anybody around , 718 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:04,560 and there was one of those old wire 719 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:06,616 racks , you know , that had like old 720 00:25:06,616 --> 00:25:08,838 brochures , old pamphlets . You've seen 721 00:25:08,838 --> 00:25:10,949 those before . And so I was just kind 722 00:25:10,949 --> 00:25:13,116 of like perusing . I had some time and 723 00:25:13,116 --> 00:25:15,338 I pulled , I saw , you know , Air Force 724 00:25:15,338 --> 00:25:17,449 chaplain candidate program and I so I 725 00:25:17,449 --> 00:25:17,439 pulled that out and I thought , oh , I , 726 00:25:17,630 --> 00:25:19,797 I've not really heard of this before . 727 00:25:19,797 --> 00:25:21,852 What's this all about ? Opened it up 728 00:25:21,852 --> 00:25:24,074 and learned that there was this program 729 00:25:24,074 --> 00:25:23,920 where I could become a chaplain 730 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,031 candidate . In the Air Force and then 731 00:25:26,031 --> 00:25:28,270 it funneled directly into the reserves 732 00:25:28,699 --> 00:25:30,699 and part of that chaplain candidate 733 00:25:30,699 --> 00:25:32,810 program is that I could , uh , during 734 00:25:32,810 --> 00:25:35,619 the summers of my seminary education I 735 00:25:35,619 --> 00:25:37,730 could get , uh , at the time go to uh 736 00:25:37,730 --> 00:25:40,008 commissioned officer training now , uh , 737 00:25:40,008 --> 00:25:42,175 chaplains will just go to , uh , OTS , 738 00:25:42,175 --> 00:25:44,397 you know , with , with everybody else , 739 00:25:44,397 --> 00:25:46,730 um , and then get exposed to chaplaincy , 740 00:25:46,730 --> 00:25:48,897 do two internships as a chaplain , and 741 00:25:48,897 --> 00:25:51,020 at the end of my seminary time still 742 00:25:51,020 --> 00:25:52,853 have the opportunity to make the 743 00:25:52,853 --> 00:25:55,020 decision , is this for me or not . And 744 00:25:55,020 --> 00:25:57,131 so for me it was like , wow , I could 745 00:25:57,131 --> 00:25:59,199 kind of like dip my toes into , you 746 00:25:59,199 --> 00:26:01,366 know , life in the Air Force , life as 747 00:26:01,366 --> 00:26:03,477 a chaplain , um , but then still have 748 00:26:03,477 --> 00:26:05,900 that that decision point . Um , so for 749 00:26:05,900 --> 00:26:08,011 me , once I started doing it , once I 750 00:26:08,011 --> 00:26:09,900 started doing the internships and 751 00:26:09,900 --> 00:26:11,622 actually my first full regular 752 00:26:11,622 --> 00:26:13,789 internship as a chaplain candidate was 753 00:26:13,789 --> 00:26:16,011 here at Tinker Air Force Base , uh , in 754 00:26:16,011 --> 00:26:18,067 the summer of 2010 . Uh , but once I 755 00:26:18,067 --> 00:26:20,233 did that , I was like , I , I , I love 756 00:26:20,233 --> 00:26:22,511 this , you know , and this is what I'm , 757 00:26:22,511 --> 00:26:24,678 I'm meant to do . Um , so I came in as 758 00:26:24,678 --> 00:26:26,789 a reserve chaplain , as I shared with 759 00:26:26,789 --> 00:26:28,844 you , did that for 4 years , got the 760 00:26:28,844 --> 00:26:30,844 phone call , hey , would you do a 3 761 00:26:30,844 --> 00:26:33,067 year active duty stint ? Um , it was an 762 00:26:33,067 --> 00:26:35,122 old a program called extended active 763 00:26:35,122 --> 00:26:37,233 duty . They later changed the name to 764 00:26:37,233 --> 00:26:39,456 VPAD voluntary period of limited active 765 00:26:39,456 --> 00:26:41,733 duty . Um , and so I , uh , I said yes , 766 00:26:41,733 --> 00:26:44,011 uh , two months later , they said , OK , 767 00:26:44,011 --> 00:26:46,178 you're , you're in , we'll call you in 768 00:26:46,178 --> 00:26:45,609 a week , let you know where you're 769 00:26:45,609 --> 00:26:47,650 going somewhere in the world . OK . 770 00:26:47,969 --> 00:26:49,913 Call me a week later , said you're 771 00:26:49,913 --> 00:26:52,136 going to Kirtland Air Force Base . Um , 772 00:26:52,136 --> 00:26:54,413 Truth in Lending , they had said , hey , 773 00:26:54,413 --> 00:26:56,636 where do you want to go ? You know , we 774 00:26:56,636 --> 00:26:55,760 got all these different positions and , 775 00:26:55,770 --> 00:26:57,770 oh , we said , oh , well , we could 776 00:26:57,770 --> 00:26:59,492 maybe go up in the Northeast , 777 00:26:59,492 --> 00:27:01,492 experience Boston , maybe go to the 778 00:27:01,492 --> 00:27:03,770 southeast . That's where my , you know , 779 00:27:03,770 --> 00:27:06,048 my dad lives , love to be close to him . 780 00:27:06,048 --> 00:27:05,609 They said , OK , we'll work on that . 781 00:27:05,770 --> 00:27:07,770 And then they called and said , All 782 00:27:07,770 --> 00:27:09,826 right , you're going to Kirtland Air 783 00:27:09,826 --> 00:27:12,103 Force Base in Albuquerque , New Mexico . 784 00:27:12,103 --> 00:27:14,326 So that's just a little window into how 785 00:27:14,326 --> 00:27:16,437 the Air Force does assignments . Um , 786 00:27:16,437 --> 00:27:18,326 but we had it out there and , and 787 00:27:18,326 --> 00:27:20,548 active duty and to your point , I loved 788 00:27:20,548 --> 00:27:22,714 it . I loved it . It was so incredibly 789 00:27:22,714 --> 00:27:24,826 challenging . Um , when I got there , 790 00:27:24,826 --> 00:27:27,048 my first time , you know , as an active 791 00:27:27,048 --> 00:27:29,214 duty chaplain , and they said , you're 792 00:27:29,214 --> 00:27:31,270 going to be the chaplain for . Three 793 00:27:31,270 --> 00:27:33,214 different groups , um , which is , 794 00:27:33,214 --> 00:27:35,326 which was like 10 different squadrons 795 00:27:35,326 --> 00:27:37,548 and you're gonna be the dorm and single 796 00:27:37,548 --> 00:27:39,714 airman chaplain , and you're gonna run 797 00:27:39,714 --> 00:27:41,826 our airmen Ministry Center , which is 798 00:27:41,826 --> 00:27:43,659 called Gravity out , uh , out at 799 00:27:43,659 --> 00:27:45,603 Kirtland . So it was an incredible 800 00:27:45,603 --> 00:27:47,714 challenge of like how do I balance my 801 00:27:47,714 --> 00:27:49,659 time ? How do I serve all of these 802 00:27:49,659 --> 00:27:51,603 leaders , how do I minister to all 803 00:27:51,603 --> 00:27:53,826 these airmen , but I just , I , I , I , 804 00:27:53,826 --> 00:27:56,699 I loved it , um . And I want to share , 805 00:27:56,770 --> 00:27:59,000 uh , somewhat briefly when I was at 806 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,510 Kirtland , um , we found out that my 807 00:28:01,510 --> 00:28:03,399 wife uh was diagnosed with breast 808 00:28:03,399 --> 00:28:06,339 cancer when I was out there and , uh , 809 00:28:06,430 --> 00:28:08,708 which is a very difficult , uh , right , 810 00:28:08,708 --> 00:28:10,819 phone call . It was a phone call to , 811 00:28:10,819 --> 00:28:12,541 to get from the doctor and she 812 00:28:12,541 --> 00:28:14,486 immediately started undergoing her 813 00:28:14,486 --> 00:28:16,430 treatment , um , uh , you know , 5 814 00:28:16,430 --> 00:28:18,652 rounds of chemotherapy , uh , surgery , 815 00:28:18,652 --> 00:28:20,874 uh , 25 rounds of radiation . But right 816 00:28:20,874 --> 00:28:22,874 in the middle of that was when my 3 817 00:28:22,874 --> 00:28:24,986 year , uh , period of active duty was 818 00:28:24,986 --> 00:28:28,849 supposed to end . And without asking me , 819 00:28:29,020 --> 00:28:31,660 um , my leadership , uh , said , you 820 00:28:31,660 --> 00:28:33,716 know what , we're gonna take care of 821 00:28:33,716 --> 00:28:35,882 Andy . And so they went to the highest 822 00:28:35,882 --> 00:28:38,104 levels of the Air Force to say , how do 823 00:28:38,104 --> 00:28:40,160 we make sure that he's not having to 824 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,271 get out of the Air Force , you know , 825 00:28:42,271 --> 00:28:44,160 or go back to the reserves in the 826 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,104 middle of his wife's , uh , breast 827 00:28:46,104 --> 00:28:48,438 cancer treatment . Um , so they told me , 828 00:28:48,438 --> 00:28:50,660 number one , hey , your job right now , 829 00:28:50,660 --> 00:28:50,469 number one is to take care of your 830 00:28:50,469 --> 00:28:52,670 family , be there for your wife . And 831 00:28:52,670 --> 00:28:55,699 when you can continue to be on base and , 832 00:28:55,709 --> 00:28:57,820 you know , preaching our services and 833 00:28:57,820 --> 00:28:59,709 counsel , then do that , but your 834 00:28:59,709 --> 00:29:02,150 priority is your , your wife . Um , and 835 00:29:02,150 --> 00:29:04,317 so I really appreciated that sort of , 836 00:29:04,317 --> 00:29:06,829 uh , empowerment to the my mission was , 837 00:29:06,989 --> 00:29:10,630 was my family . Um , secondly , uh , it , 838 00:29:10,709 --> 00:29:12,931 it worked and so all of that advocacy , 839 00:29:12,989 --> 00:29:15,211 uh , thank you publicly to all of those 840 00:29:15,211 --> 00:29:17,433 folks that went to bat for our family , 841 00:29:17,433 --> 00:29:19,433 but they were able to get my 3 year 842 00:29:19,433 --> 00:29:21,489 orders extended to 5 years , um , so 843 00:29:21,489 --> 00:29:23,489 that during the course of my wife's 844 00:29:23,489 --> 00:29:25,378 treatment , there was no break in 845 00:29:25,378 --> 00:29:27,378 service . We had Tricare right that 846 00:29:27,378 --> 00:29:29,545 entire time . We could , we could have 847 00:29:29,545 --> 00:29:31,711 the , the , the best care possible and 848 00:29:31,711 --> 00:29:33,989 had zero out of pocket expenses during . 849 00:29:33,989 --> 00:29:36,211 That really difficult time . And so I , 850 00:29:36,211 --> 00:29:38,100 I will be forever grateful to the 851 00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:40,267 military , to the Air Force , uh , and 852 00:29:40,267 --> 00:29:42,489 then to my supervision , my deputy wing 853 00:29:42,489 --> 00:29:44,600 chaplain , my wing chaplain . Uh , my 854 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:46,656 wing commander all the way up to the 855 00:29:46,656 --> 00:29:48,989 chief of chaplains that fought for , uh , 856 00:29:48,989 --> 00:29:51,211 our family . And so , um , when I think 857 00:29:51,211 --> 00:29:53,433 of a recruiting event , right , to tell 858 00:29:53,433 --> 00:29:55,600 people about chaplaincy , it's easy to 859 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:57,822 tell people why I , I think it would be 860 00:29:57,822 --> 00:29:59,878 a good idea for them to consider the 861 00:29:59,878 --> 00:30:01,822 chaplaincy because I know that how 862 00:30:01,822 --> 00:30:03,822 people get taken care of in the Air 863 00:30:03,822 --> 00:30:05,878 Force . I know the sort of me . care 864 00:30:05,878 --> 00:30:08,100 that we can get through the Air Force , 865 00:30:08,100 --> 00:30:10,156 um , the insurance that's provided , 866 00:30:10,156 --> 00:30:12,489 the pay , the benefits , um , but again , 867 00:30:12,489 --> 00:30:14,656 even that aspect of like , hey , right 868 00:30:14,656 --> 00:30:17,295 now during this season , uh , take care 869 00:30:17,295 --> 00:30:19,462 of your family first and then minister 870 00:30:19,462 --> 00:30:21,895 here when you're able , um , I'll never 871 00:30:21,895 --> 00:30:24,117 forget it . It's an amazing story and , 872 00:30:24,117 --> 00:30:26,339 and I think it goes without saying that 873 00:30:26,614 --> 00:30:28,814 anybody that's thinking about future 874 00:30:28,814 --> 00:30:30,758 leadership , you know , this is an 875 00:30:30,758 --> 00:30:34,349 excellent story of How great 876 00:30:34,349 --> 00:30:37,430 leaders can truly shape somebody's 877 00:30:37,430 --> 00:30:39,910 future . Like you truly have such an 878 00:30:39,910 --> 00:30:42,021 impact on the way you lead people and 879 00:30:42,021 --> 00:30:44,132 take care of . And the one thing that 880 00:30:44,132 --> 00:30:46,188 I've always found so great about the 881 00:30:46,188 --> 00:30:48,243 military , um . In all my career and 882 00:30:48,243 --> 00:30:50,299 it's been pretty long between active 883 00:30:50,299 --> 00:30:52,849 duty reserve and civilian , uh , is how 884 00:30:52,849 --> 00:30:55,449 well and skilled and trained our 885 00:30:55,449 --> 00:30:57,616 leaders are and when they get to those 886 00:30:57,616 --> 00:31:00,209 higher levels like they really are the 887 00:31:00,209 --> 00:31:02,320 cream of the crop at making sure that 888 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:04,542 they're identifying needs like that and 889 00:31:04,542 --> 00:31:06,653 taking care of their people like it's 890 00:31:06,653 --> 00:31:08,820 just it's a different level , uh , and 891 00:31:08,820 --> 00:31:10,876 it just , it's just amazing how they 892 00:31:10,876 --> 00:31:13,369 have that such ability to shape 893 00:31:13,369 --> 00:31:15,536 somebody's life . Like , I mean they , 894 00:31:15,536 --> 00:31:19,119 they truly . Changed your whole entire 895 00:31:22,420 --> 00:31:24,642 life . I'm , I'm thinking of a quote as 896 00:31:24,642 --> 00:31:26,753 you were speaking , um , my pastor in 897 00:31:26,753 --> 00:31:28,587 college , uh , I , I , even as a 898 00:31:28,587 --> 00:31:30,642 college student , um , I was , I was 899 00:31:30,642 --> 00:31:32,698 reaching out and helping other , you 900 00:31:32,698 --> 00:31:34,920 know , college students , um , and then 901 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:34,209 right after college when I went on 902 00:31:34,209 --> 00:31:36,153 staff with the church , um , I was 903 00:31:36,153 --> 00:31:38,376 helping some different college students 904 00:31:38,376 --> 00:31:37,930 that were going through really 905 00:31:37,930 --> 00:31:40,930 difficult times and , uh , much like 906 00:31:40,930 --> 00:31:43,152 sometimes we're helping airmen that are 907 00:31:43,152 --> 00:31:45,374 going through a really difficult time . 908 00:31:45,374 --> 00:31:45,250 But during that season , my pastor 909 00:31:45,250 --> 00:31:47,250 shared with me , he said , Andy , a 910 00:31:47,250 --> 00:31:49,472 faith that is , that has been forged by 911 00:31:49,472 --> 00:31:52,410 being shaken is not easily shaken . A 912 00:31:52,410 --> 00:31:54,299 faith that's been forged by being 913 00:31:54,299 --> 00:31:57,689 shaken is not easily shaken . Um , and 914 00:31:57,689 --> 00:31:59,856 that's , that , that's something I try 915 00:31:59,856 --> 00:32:01,911 to encourage airmen with . Hey , you 916 00:32:01,911 --> 00:32:01,670 might be going through a really 917 00:32:01,670 --> 00:32:04,000 difficult time right now . But think 918 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,319 about it's hard it's hard , but think 919 00:32:06,319 --> 00:32:08,152 about the resilience that God is 920 00:32:08,152 --> 00:32:10,920 building in you because you're going 921 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,142 through this event and maybe how you're 922 00:32:13,142 --> 00:32:15,364 gonna be able to serve and help another 923 00:32:15,364 --> 00:32:17,309 airman because of what you've been 924 00:32:17,309 --> 00:32:19,364 through , right ? Maybe you're going 925 00:32:19,364 --> 00:32:18,640 through a tough time with your marriage , 926 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:20,902 maybe you're going through a tough time 927 00:32:20,902 --> 00:32:23,013 at work , but you're gonna be able to 928 00:32:23,013 --> 00:32:25,180 help and minister to maybe a wingman , 929 00:32:25,180 --> 00:32:27,180 right , because of what you've been 930 00:32:27,180 --> 00:32:29,513 through in a way that you couldn't have . 931 00:32:29,513 --> 00:32:31,569 Before I can minister to people that 932 00:32:31,569 --> 00:32:33,736 are maybe going through a season of uh 933 00:32:33,736 --> 00:32:35,624 health difficulty right or cancer 934 00:32:35,624 --> 00:32:38,089 specifically in a different way now uh 935 00:32:38,089 --> 00:32:40,256 than I could prior to when my wife had 936 00:32:40,256 --> 00:32:42,422 breast cancer . Everybody's experience 937 00:32:42,422 --> 00:32:44,849 is unique , but that's something I , 938 00:32:44,930 --> 00:32:47,263 you know , I , I've , I've been through . 939 00:32:47,263 --> 00:32:49,097 We actually had a training event 940 00:32:49,097 --> 00:32:51,152 yesterday down at Shepherd Air Force 941 00:32:51,152 --> 00:32:53,319 Base , uh , joint training we had Army 942 00:32:53,319 --> 00:32:53,089 chaplains , Air Force chaplains , 943 00:32:53,130 --> 00:32:56,189 religious affairs , airmen , um . And 944 00:32:56,189 --> 00:32:58,467 uh but I was able to connect with , uh , 945 00:32:58,467 --> 00:33:00,689 an army chaplain whose wife just a year 946 00:33:00,689 --> 00:33:02,856 and a half ago had been diagnosed with 947 00:33:02,856 --> 00:33:04,800 breast cancer and we had that like 948 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:06,800 connection . I was like , wow , you 949 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:08,578 know , um , maybe we could talk 950 00:33:08,578 --> 00:33:10,633 sometime because , uh , just to know 951 00:33:10,633 --> 00:33:12,745 that while there's another chaplain , 952 00:33:12,745 --> 00:33:14,633 um , who'd been through a similar 953 00:33:14,633 --> 00:33:14,339 experience was , was comforting to me , 954 00:33:14,630 --> 00:33:16,989 so awesome perspective , um , and you 955 00:33:16,989 --> 00:33:18,878 talk about the challenges and and 956 00:33:18,878 --> 00:33:21,569 challenging times , so . What could you 957 00:33:21,569 --> 00:33:24,969 offer airmen during this season or any 958 00:33:24,969 --> 00:33:27,080 season really , but , uh , what could 959 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:29,136 you offer them in the way of getting 960 00:33:29,136 --> 00:33:31,800 through difficult times and , and 961 00:33:32,170 --> 00:33:34,729 keeping resilient now ? All right , so 962 00:33:34,729 --> 00:33:36,896 I got a lot . I got a lot I would like 963 00:33:36,896 --> 00:33:39,173 to share . Um , I'll have a sip of tea . 964 00:33:39,209 --> 00:33:41,153 Yeah , sit back . So , uh , one is 965 00:33:41,153 --> 00:33:44,319 self-care , OK . Take care of yourself , 966 00:33:44,810 --> 00:33:48,040 um . And , uh , have situational 967 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:50,096 awareness , have essay on yourself . 968 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,049 How are you doing ? What's your , 969 00:33:52,049 --> 00:33:54,160 what's your stress level ? Um , is it 970 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:56,438 too high ? Do you need to take a break ? 971 00:33:56,438 --> 00:33:58,660 Um , I would encourage airmen , if they 972 00:33:58,660 --> 00:34:00,660 can take leave , which we're really 973 00:34:00,660 --> 00:34:02,882 blessed in the military to get about 30 974 00:34:02,882 --> 00:34:05,049 days a year , right , of leave , man , 975 00:34:05,049 --> 00:34:04,800 don't , don't save it up to to the 976 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:06,856 point where you've got use or lose , 977 00:34:06,856 --> 00:34:08,856 you know , I mean , it , it happens 978 00:34:08,856 --> 00:34:10,967 sometimes and we , we work hard , but 979 00:34:10,967 --> 00:34:13,189 man , take your , take your leave , you 980 00:34:13,189 --> 00:34:12,489 know , take a week off , take 2 weeks 981 00:34:12,489 --> 00:34:15,669 off . Go home if you can . Um , go 982 00:34:15,669 --> 00:34:17,891 spend time with a friend . If you don't 983 00:34:17,891 --> 00:34:20,002 have family to go home to , to , go , 984 00:34:20,002 --> 00:34:19,659 go spend time with a friend . Maybe , 985 00:34:19,709 --> 00:34:21,709 uh , maybe somebody that you met in 986 00:34:21,709 --> 00:34:23,931 tech school or something , go reconnect 987 00:34:23,931 --> 00:34:26,098 with them . So that's one is just , is 988 00:34:26,098 --> 00:34:28,376 take time for yourself , um . And then , 989 00:34:28,376 --> 00:34:30,431 uh , uh , the next one , which might 990 00:34:30,431 --> 00:34:32,542 seem , uh , contrary , but it's not , 991 00:34:32,542 --> 00:34:34,709 is be selfless . OK , look at others . 992 00:34:34,709 --> 00:34:36,876 Um , I'll share a verse from , from my 993 00:34:36,876 --> 00:34:38,820 faith tradition that the Christian 994 00:34:38,820 --> 00:34:40,987 tradition , Philippians chapter 23 and 995 00:34:40,987 --> 00:34:42,931 verses 3 and 4 . Do nothing out of 996 00:34:42,931 --> 00:34:44,876 selfish ambition or vain conceit . 997 00:34:44,876 --> 00:34:46,909 Rather , in humility , value others 998 00:34:46,909 --> 00:34:49,350 above yourselves , not looking to your 999 00:34:49,350 --> 00:34:51,517 own interests , but each of you to the 1000 00:34:51,517 --> 00:34:54,219 interests of others . So in that light 1001 00:34:54,219 --> 00:34:56,219 of being selfless , like during the 1002 00:34:56,219 --> 00:34:58,330 holiday season , you could be tempted 1003 00:34:58,330 --> 00:35:00,497 or a person could be tempted to woe is 1004 00:35:00,497 --> 00:35:02,497 me , right ? I don't have , I can't 1005 00:35:02,497 --> 00:35:04,719 take leave . I'm not being offered that 1006 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:06,663 by my leadership or I don't have , 1007 00:35:06,663 --> 00:35:08,497 maybe my parents aren't together 1008 00:35:08,497 --> 00:35:10,552 anymore or , you know , my dad . off 1009 00:35:10,552 --> 00:35:12,663 when I was little and my mom's really 1010 00:35:12,663 --> 00:35:14,886 not in a place where I can go stay with 1011 00:35:14,886 --> 00:35:16,830 her . Woe is me . And what I would 1012 00:35:16,830 --> 00:35:19,052 encourage people to do is to take their 1013 00:35:19,052 --> 00:35:21,163 focus instead of thinking what was me 1014 00:35:21,163 --> 00:35:23,386 and go , how can I encourage the people 1015 00:35:23,386 --> 00:35:25,275 around me ? Who else is around me 1016 00:35:25,275 --> 00:35:27,386 that's maybe in a similar situation ? 1017 00:35:27,386 --> 00:35:29,441 Um , so maybe you set up a , a lunch 1018 00:35:29,441 --> 00:35:31,441 with a friend or maybe you set up a 1019 00:35:31,441 --> 00:35:33,719 dinner at your house or maybe you just , 1020 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:35,608 you schedule a meet up at a local 1021 00:35:35,608 --> 00:35:35,179 restaurant because nobody wants to cook , 1022 00:35:35,310 --> 00:35:37,469 you know , um , but you , you be the 1023 00:35:37,469 --> 00:35:39,949 instigator , you be the initiator , um , 1024 00:35:40,030 --> 00:35:42,197 that sets up a gathering where you get 1025 00:35:42,197 --> 00:35:44,252 people together and maybe it's not a 1026 00:35:44,252 --> 00:35:46,363 group of people , maybe it's just one 1027 00:35:46,363 --> 00:35:48,419 person , but like , just know that , 1028 00:35:48,419 --> 00:35:50,641 that you can have an impact on just one 1029 00:35:50,641 --> 00:35:53,149 other person's life , um , this holiday 1030 00:35:53,149 --> 00:35:55,370 season . And what I find is when we 1031 00:35:55,370 --> 00:35:57,370 take the focus and attention off of 1032 00:35:57,370 --> 00:35:59,537 ourselves and we seek to be a blessing 1033 00:35:59,537 --> 00:36:01,537 to other people , in the end , what 1034 00:36:01,537 --> 00:36:03,703 happens , you know it , right ? We get 1035 00:36:03,703 --> 00:36:05,926 blessed , we , we get encouraged , we , 1036 00:36:05,926 --> 00:36:07,926 we get , uh , more joy in our lives 1037 00:36:07,926 --> 00:36:10,092 because we're sharing with others . So 1038 00:36:10,092 --> 00:36:12,449 self-care , be selfless , um , along 1039 00:36:12,449 --> 00:36:14,560 those lines as . Well , you know , it 1040 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:16,671 might sound cliche , but you could go 1041 00:36:16,671 --> 00:36:18,782 serve at a homeless shelter , right ? 1042 00:36:18,782 --> 00:36:20,893 Like we live in a city , a really big 1043 00:36:20,893 --> 00:36:23,060 city here in Oklahoma City . So , um , 1044 00:36:23,060 --> 00:36:22,139 there's a lot of different 1045 00:36:22,139 --> 00:36:24,195 opportunities , uh , to , you know , 1046 00:36:24,195 --> 00:36:26,250 maybe you go help sort clothing at a 1047 00:36:26,250 --> 00:36:28,472 thrift store for free , you know , or , 1048 00:36:28,472 --> 00:36:30,639 uh , you go down to the Salvation Army 1049 00:36:30,639 --> 00:36:30,459 and help out down there . So there's a 1050 00:36:30,459 --> 00:36:32,515 lot of different ways that you could 1051 00:36:32,515 --> 00:36:34,403 help and serve . Another piece of 1052 00:36:34,403 --> 00:36:36,348 advice is to don't drink away your 1053 00:36:36,348 --> 00:36:38,348 sorrows , right ? Um , you might be 1054 00:36:38,348 --> 00:36:40,459 tempted to , you know what , like , I 1055 00:36:40,459 --> 00:36:42,570 don't know what else to do . I'm just 1056 00:36:42,570 --> 00:36:42,459 gonna sit here and drink and play video 1057 00:36:42,459 --> 00:36:44,780 games or , or , or whatever , um , but 1058 00:36:44,780 --> 00:36:46,891 there's some other healthy things you 1059 00:36:46,891 --> 00:36:49,224 can do instead like exercise , eat well , 1060 00:36:49,224 --> 00:36:51,689 um , get good sleep , um , and then , 1061 00:36:51,810 --> 00:36:54,143 uh , just kind of balance in everything , 1062 00:36:54,143 --> 00:36:56,739 you know . Um , I , I , I just had to 1063 00:36:56,739 --> 00:36:58,572 note like , don't let your sleep 1064 00:36:58,572 --> 00:37:00,350 schedule get too off during the 1065 00:37:00,350 --> 00:37:02,461 holidays . Maybe you do get some time 1066 00:37:02,461 --> 00:37:02,020 off or you take leave or you're on a 1067 00:37:02,020 --> 00:37:04,131 minimal manning schedule or something 1068 00:37:04,131 --> 00:37:06,353 like that . Um , you know , maybe don't 1069 00:37:06,353 --> 00:37:08,353 stay up till like 3 a.m. or 40 a.m. 1070 00:37:08,353 --> 00:37:10,520 playing video games . Like try to keep 1071 00:37:10,520 --> 00:37:12,520 a consistent sleep schedule because 1072 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:14,576 sleep is really important . Um , you 1073 00:37:14,576 --> 00:37:16,687 can , uh , anyone listening can , can 1074 00:37:16,687 --> 00:37:18,798 look that up , um , but our sleep and 1075 00:37:18,798 --> 00:37:18,659 our sleep schedule is really important 1076 00:37:18,659 --> 00:37:20,979 to our mental health . Um , another one 1077 00:37:20,979 --> 00:37:23,257 is to check in with friends and family . 1078 00:37:23,257 --> 00:37:25,368 Um , so if you , if you can , uh , do 1079 00:37:25,368 --> 00:37:27,590 that , again , like I said , go home if 1080 00:37:27,590 --> 00:37:29,757 you can . Um , and then I wrote down , 1081 00:37:29,757 --> 00:37:32,159 be kind , be loving , be forgiving , 1082 00:37:32,330 --> 00:37:34,330 and then release bitterness towards 1083 00:37:34,330 --> 00:37:36,497 those who have hurt you , treat others 1084 00:37:36,497 --> 00:37:38,608 the way that you want to be treated . 1085 00:37:38,608 --> 00:37:40,719 Um , don't let pride get in the way . 1086 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:42,830 Take the first step in restoring your 1087 00:37:42,830 --> 00:37:45,052 relationship with that family member or 1088 00:37:45,052 --> 00:37:47,250 friend who you are estranged from . So 1089 00:37:47,250 --> 00:37:49,780 often , Um , again , this will , I 1090 00:37:49,780 --> 00:37:51,780 think , connect with people . We're 1091 00:37:51,780 --> 00:37:53,836 waiting for the other person to take 1092 00:37:53,836 --> 00:37:56,113 that first step , right ? Say , oh man , 1093 00:37:56,113 --> 00:37:58,447 I haven't talked to my mom in this long , 1094 00:37:58,447 --> 00:37:58,239 or I haven't talked to my dad and , or 1095 00:37:58,239 --> 00:38:00,295 I , I've been really had a difficult 1096 00:38:00,295 --> 00:38:02,628 relationship with my brother . Say , oh , 1097 00:38:02,628 --> 00:38:04,628 well , you know , what do you think 1098 00:38:04,628 --> 00:38:06,850 it'll take ? Waiting for that apology , 1099 00:38:06,850 --> 00:38:08,906 you know , waiting for him to call , 1100 00:38:08,906 --> 00:38:10,850 you know , um , but not even maybe 1101 00:38:10,850 --> 00:38:13,017 expecting it because it's been so many 1102 00:38:13,017 --> 00:38:15,128 years . My encouragement to to people 1103 00:38:15,128 --> 00:38:17,295 is , again , be selfless , be humble , 1104 00:38:17,489 --> 00:38:19,879 don't let pride get in the way of you 1105 00:38:19,879 --> 00:38:22,530 restoring or helping try to restore 1106 00:38:22,530 --> 00:38:24,649 that relationship . You may not feel 1107 00:38:24,649 --> 00:38:26,489 like you need to be the one who 1108 00:38:26,489 --> 00:38:30,489 apologizes , um , but often it is . You 1109 00:38:30,489 --> 00:38:32,378 making an apology , it's like the 1110 00:38:32,378 --> 00:38:34,610 grease , uh , that gets the wheels 1111 00:38:34,610 --> 00:38:36,777 turning again in a relationship . So I 1112 00:38:36,777 --> 00:38:38,888 just encourage people have humility , 1113 00:38:39,300 --> 00:38:41,850 you know , take the humble pill , make 1114 00:38:41,850 --> 00:38:44,280 the phone call , uh , write the letter , 1115 00:38:44,570 --> 00:38:46,903 um , and just say , hey , you know what ? 1116 00:38:46,903 --> 00:38:49,181 I , I apologize that it's been so long , 1117 00:38:49,181 --> 00:38:51,237 you know , I apologize that I've let 1118 00:38:51,237 --> 00:38:52,959 this issue come between us . I 1119 00:38:52,959 --> 00:38:55,014 apologize for that thing that I said 1120 00:38:55,014 --> 00:38:57,070 that hurt you , um . And so that's , 1121 00:38:57,070 --> 00:38:59,348 that's a big one because relationships , 1122 00:38:59,348 --> 00:38:59,169 right ? When , when people think about 1123 00:38:59,169 --> 00:39:01,336 the holidays and it being hard , a lot 1124 00:39:01,336 --> 00:39:03,280 of times it is those like strained 1125 00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:05,336 relationships . So take action , you 1126 00:39:05,336 --> 00:39:07,447 know , do , do your part in restoring 1127 00:39:07,447 --> 00:39:10,530 that relationship , um , and then have 1128 00:39:10,530 --> 00:39:12,863 11 last thing and that's just seek help , 1129 00:39:13,010 --> 00:39:15,659 right ? Sometimes we kind of . Get to 1130 00:39:15,659 --> 00:39:17,881 the end of ourselves and we say I , I , 1131 00:39:17,881 --> 00:39:19,881 I don't know how to , right ? I , I 1132 00:39:19,881 --> 00:39:22,048 wouldn't know where to start as far as 1133 00:39:22,048 --> 00:39:24,215 like making that apology to a person . 1134 00:39:24,215 --> 00:39:26,326 So that's why I'd say get help , um , 1135 00:39:26,326 --> 00:39:28,659 talk to one of your chaplains , OK ? Um , 1136 00:39:28,659 --> 00:39:30,715 we've kind of touched on it a little 1137 00:39:30,715 --> 00:39:33,048 bit , but we offer 100% confidentiality , 1138 00:39:33,048 --> 00:39:35,270 privileged communication . And so there 1139 00:39:35,270 --> 00:39:37,492 is nothing someone can share with us in 1140 00:39:37,492 --> 00:39:39,715 confidence that we will ever share with 1141 00:39:39,715 --> 00:39:41,937 another person , you know , to , to out 1142 00:39:41,937 --> 00:39:43,992 them . Like , it's not going back to 1143 00:39:43,992 --> 00:39:43,770 their commander . It's not gonna be 1144 00:39:43,770 --> 00:39:45,770 shared with their spouse if they're 1145 00:39:45,770 --> 00:39:47,770 married . It is 100% confidential . 1146 00:39:47,770 --> 00:39:49,826 That's a special relationship . That 1147 00:39:49,826 --> 00:39:51,659 we're able to have with folks as 1148 00:39:51,659 --> 00:39:53,881 chaplain Corps members , um , reach out 1149 00:39:53,881 --> 00:39:56,159 to MFAx , reach out to family advocacy , 1150 00:39:56,159 --> 00:39:58,270 mental health , military one source , 1151 00:39:58,270 --> 00:40:00,381 and then the national suicide hotline 1152 00:40:00,381 --> 00:40:02,548 is 988 , right ? They made that number 1153 00:40:02,548 --> 00:40:04,770 here in the last couple of years , so , 1154 00:40:04,770 --> 00:40:06,937 um , encourage people to reach out for 1155 00:40:06,937 --> 00:40:09,103 help . Yes sir , and I , I think those 1156 00:40:09,103 --> 00:40:11,048 are some excellent points . Um , I 1157 00:40:11,048 --> 00:40:13,270 think that's a great place where we can 1158 00:40:13,270 --> 00:40:15,492 wrap this up , um , and I do wanna just 1159 00:40:15,492 --> 00:40:17,714 hit on very quickly before we , we wrap 1160 00:40:17,714 --> 00:40:19,714 up and get out of here , but , uh . 1161 00:40:19,714 --> 00:40:21,826 When you're talking about go get help 1162 00:40:21,826 --> 00:40:23,770 and people come out and get help . 1163 00:40:23,770 --> 00:40:25,881 Everybody needs to understand and and 1164 00:40:25,881 --> 00:40:27,992 we don't have to go into detail about 1165 00:40:27,992 --> 00:40:27,709 it we could just leave it here but 1166 00:40:27,709 --> 00:40:30,530 there's no recourse there's no reprisal 1167 00:40:30,530 --> 00:40:32,590 for any person in our military or 1168 00:40:32,590 --> 00:40:34,701 civilians that are gonna reach out to 1169 00:40:34,701 --> 00:40:36,812 get help they need . But , um , we'll 1170 00:40:36,812 --> 00:40:38,923 leave it with that because I think we 1171 00:40:38,923 --> 00:40:41,146 could probably roll on for another hour 1172 00:40:41,146 --> 00:40:43,257 on just that topic alone . But , uh , 1173 00:40:43,257 --> 00:40:45,423 Chaplin , it was great to sit down and 1174 00:40:45,423 --> 00:40:47,757 talk to you today . uh , the background , 1175 00:40:47,757 --> 00:40:49,979 everything is great here . Uh , welcome 1176 00:40:49,979 --> 00:40:49,489 to Tinker , even though it's not your 1177 00:40:49,489 --> 00:40:51,489 first time , and it's been a half a 1178 00:40:51,489 --> 00:40:53,656 year , but , uh , I'm sure glad we got 1179 00:40:53,656 --> 00:40:55,767 a chance to sit down with you . Thank 1180 00:40:55,767 --> 00:40:55,370 you so much , sir . Thank you very much 1181 00:40:55,370 --> 00:40:57,370 for having me and Merry Christmas . 1182 00:40:57,370 --> 00:40:59,148 Happy holidays , everyone who's 1183 00:40:59,148 --> 00:41:01,370 listening to this around the holidays . 1184 00:41:01,370 --> 00:41:00,729 Yes , sir . And with that , that's 1185 00:41:00,729 --> 00:41:02,785 gonna wrap up another edition of the 1186 00:41:02,785 --> 00:41:05,370 Tinker Talks podcast episode . Thanks 1187 00:41:05,370 --> 00:41:07,370 for joining us . Please remember to 1188 00:41:07,370 --> 00:41:09,426 make sure to check us out on all our 1189 00:41:09,426 --> 00:41:11,592 socials . That's Tinker Air Force Base 1190 00:41:11,592 --> 00:41:13,426 on Facebook and Instagram and at 1191 00:41:13,426 --> 00:41:16,729 team_inker on X . And until next time . 1192 00:41:17,290 --> 00:41:19,401 Stay careful out there , be healthy , 1193 00:41:19,401 --> 00:41:21,457 wise , and , uh , get help if you do 1194 00:41:21,457 --> 00:41:23,679 need it and , uh , go get some downtime 1195 00:41:23,679 --> 00:41:25,901 and because we're gonna go get after it 1196 00:41:25,901 --> 00:41:28,123 next year . Thank you . Amen . Tinker , 1197 00:41:28,123 --> 00:41:27,889 Tinker strong .