MEXICO CITY (MEXICO)
Vance Air Force Base [Enid OK]
November 28, 2006
By Staff Sgt. Amanda Mills
Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. — The 71st Flying Training Wing Chapel received two Air Education and Training Command awards March 3.
The chapel claimed the Outstanding Small Chapel Organization award and Chaplain (Capt.) Samuel Bridges took the Outstanding Company Grade Chaplain award.
“This award really says more about Vance than just the chapel,” said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Steven Nicolai, 71st FTW wing chaplain. “Many of the accomplishments in the package were performed by Team Vance. There are certain things chaplains and chaplain assistants do, but the events themselves receive great support from across the base and are implemented by chapel and Vance volunteers.”
After receiving the award, Chaplain Nicolai said he contacted the previous wing chaplain (Father Raul Sanchez), and thanked him for setting the chapel on a good path in 2004. The current staff, however, is almost entirely new.
“Five of seven active-duty staff members were new last year,” he said. “We’ve all done a great job of pulling together and coming online with a common vision of why we’re here.
“Everything we’re doing is part of the Global War on Terrorism. Human wellness includes taking care of the whole person. The U.S. Air Force Chaplain Service is here to remind everyone we are better prepared for our wartime mission when we take care of the spiritual dimension of our lives.”
According to the nomination, the chapel led Team Vance’s Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training program, training more than 90 leaders and supervisors in intervention skills to combat an Air Force-wide suicide problem. The chapel also initiated a chapel deployment ministry program, sending personalized spiritual care packages and letters to more than 30 deployed people during 2004, and provided critical base support to more than 60 groups that use the chapel annex for more than 2,300 hours annually.
“This is a wonderful accomplishment,” said Tech. Sgt. Timothy Storer, chapel NCO in charge. “Kudos go to the chaplain’s assistants, Senior Airman Stephen Huffman, Airman 1st Class Jessica Parker, and Airman Monica Casperson, they’ve really put forth a team effort. A lot of work was also completed by the chapel’s volunteers basewide.”
Ernie Sarver, a volunteer since May, found a home in Enid and Vance Air Force Base. He has been in every branch of the military except the Coast Guard and even served a stint in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is also a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
“After the military, I returned to where I grew up, but it wasn’t what I wanted,” Mr. Sarver said. “I was offered a job in Enid in 1973, and I haven’t left. I love volunteering at the chapel now and will also be here as long as I can.”
Chaplain Bridges attributed his award to his supervisors and mentors.
“2004 was my first full year as a chaplain,” he said. “Father Sanchez and Chaplain (Lance) Hoggatt (former Vance AFB chaplains) gave me a lot of room to grow, and Chaplain (Mark) Rowan, my deployed supervisor, gave me every opportunity to learn and excel, along with Chaplain Nicolai, who submitted me for this award.
“I’ve been blessed with great supervisors, and wonderful people to serve. This has been a great start to my second Air Force career.”
Chaplain Bridges was a spiritual foundation for 2,000 members of the 379th Expeditionary Mission Support Group and 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Group while deployed in 2004, according to his nomination. His more than 80 hours of counseling included a suicidal member who was then given immediate medical care, as well as six “hurting” Airmen who were returned to duty-ready status. At Vance Air Force Base, Chaplain Bridges has been a valuable spiritual and moral resource for commanders and first sergeants as well as source of calm and comfort during crisis situations in the Vance community.
From here, both packages go forward to compete at the Air Force level. The staff is excited about this honor and is hopeful about the future outcome for both awards.
(Editor’s note: The chapel is having new carpet laid and new pews made with $56,000 in command funds they recently received. This is the first major renovation to the sanctuary in more than 30 years. Worship services this Sunday will be in the auditorium. Catholic Mass begins at 9:30 a.m. Hospitality fellowship for Catholics and Protestants begins at 10:30 a.m. General Protestant worship begins at 11 a.m. Community chapel activity center activities are not affected.)