Chapel team provides home away from home

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Nieves Camacho
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  

(This feature is part of the "Lights Out" series. These stories focus on the operations Airmen conducted at Incirlik Air Base during the eight day commercial power outage in July 2016.)


During the aftermath of the Turkish military coup, on July 16, commercial power to Incirlik Air Base was cut, causing operations for Airmen at Incirlik to increase, including those from the 39th Air Base Wing chaplain staff.

 

With many amenities not available at the installation, the chapel staff opened its doors to Airmen, acting as a home away from home during the power outage.

 

Without power, most buildings were left without air conditioning, Wi-Fi connectivity and hot water. With conditions the way they were, the chapel team provided an answer.

 

“Immediately, we were one of the few buildings on base with air conditioning and Wi-Fi available,” said Maj. Ronald Faith, 39th ABW chaplain. “We were just taking care of people. They started coming in for that, and then sleeping on the pews. The next day, we gathered about 80 mattresses and put them in for folks scattered throughout the building.”

 

Faith said everything changed after the incident, they split the chaplain staff to work around the clock in 12 hour shifts. They held many meetings to discuss current operations and how they would sustain themselves and the Airmen they were caring for.

 

“After a day or two, people got into a routine,” said Faith. “We had people cooking, going out to work their shifts, and come back here. This became a home away from home.”

 

Chaplains are responsible for managing and supporting spiritual centers on military installations, conducting worship services, and advising leadership spiritual, religious, ethical, moral, morale and quality-of-life issues. Normally, the chapel staff will travel around base from unit to unit, visiting and meeting with Airmen. With the turn of events, Airmen found their way to the chapel.

 

“We saw people that we hadn't seen before and they would say, 'Wow I didn’t know all this existed,'” said Tech. Sgt. Rico Brown, 39th ABW chaplain assistant. “A lot of those people we still keep in touch with. It was good for us and them.”

 

Brown said the circumstances during and after the coup tested the chapel staff’s readiness. They changed some operations, added some different processes, and made some more defined and concrete. Additionally, they gained information for contacts and continuity that will help future missions.


“During the coup, a lot of people found support here,” said Brown. “I think the importance of being spiritually fit, is that being alone in a time where you need comradery, it becomes a necessity. You get isolated, you have everything going on around you and you don't have anybody to vent to. That becomes a lot for one person to handle. We are fighting as a team, why do it alone?”

 

Although some would think it was sullen, Brown said the atmosphere in the chapel during the outage was great. He said people were coming together and the morale was high.

 

“Whether it was talking or cooking food in the kitchen, we definitely had more traffic, which was a great thing,” said Brown. “We had people playing games together using whatever room they could find to get some kind of solace. They found it and made it work, so you had a network of support right here in the middle of the base and it was awesome.”

 

Communication was challenging, but the chapel provided up to date information to everyone who came through their doors.

 

“You can't always tell your family all the details,” said Brown. “For them to see that they had a place to vent or someone that could keep it confidential, I think they found that important to have as a resource.”

 

With the resources the chapel had to offer, Brown witnessed a lot of comradery and growth amongst the Airmen there.

 

“I love seeing people coming together and being able to help them through their problems,” said Brown. “Helping them to get a solution and seeing them ultimately spiritually happy; this is why we do what we do.”

 

Even though the chapel team saw many new faces during the outage, they now continue their work to reach all Airmen, maintain an open line of communication and keep spirits high.

 

“This is the one place you know 100 percent you won’t be judged,” said Brown. “You can come in with any issue, from any walk of life, and know we are going to accept you for who you are and where you want to go. We are going to hear you out and try to provide you with the resources to get there. Whether you need to talk one on one, or just someone to keep you up and hold you up in prayer, we are going to be there for you regardless.”