LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Four members of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Chaplain office earned top honors at the Air Force ISR Agency's 2013 Chaplain Corps Annual Award winners.
The individual winners are:
Chaplain Corps Gerrald Cullins Award for Outstanding Chaplain Assistant Senior NCO
Master Sgt. Aaron A. Smith, Jr.
Chaplain Corps Charles R. Meier Award for Outstanding Chaplain Assistant NCO
Tech. Sgt. Chemiese D. Hall
Chaplain Corps Outstanding Religious Support Team Award
Capt. Robert Duplease and Tech. Sgt. Lyle Ruthford
The Chaplain Corps awards program recognizes individuals and teams for outstanding contributions in leadership, job performance, self-improvement and base or community involvement.
"I couldn't be prouder of our religious support teams," said Maj. Daniel Waterman, 480th ISR Wing chaplain. "It is very fitting to honor these individuals and teams for their achievements."
The 480th ISR Wing Chaplain Corps program is unlike similar programs across the Air Force because the chaplains and their assistants are assigned to groups rather than the host base.
The wing is global in nature with groups located around the world, operating classified combat missions from home station. Additionally, they conduct marriage and singles retreats, teach coping and resiliency skills and make themselves available to the work centers 24 hours a day.
The chaplains are readily available to work with intelligence analysts who serve as "eyes in the sky" for combat troops half a world away, interpreting images and data from surveillance aircraft. The chaplain's job is to help the Airmen remain mentally tough and deal with combat stress. Since the chaplains hold a high-level security clearance, the Airmen can talk to them about details of the job.
"While our mission in the ISR world is a bit different than traditional chapel-based ministry, we use their energy and creativity to rise to the challenge each day," said Waterman.
Capt. Timothy Sessions, the imbedded chaplain at the 480th ISR Group, Fort Gordon, Ga., was especially proud when his chaplain assistant was selected for an award.
"I am extremely proud of Sergeant Hall for earning the Charles R. Meier Award," said Sessions. "She made an immediate positive impact in the lives of Airmen and in our Chaplain Corps ministry programs. This recognition is well deserved."
The hard work of chaplains and chaplain assistants is not the only contributor to success, according to Duplease. He attributed part of the success to support from commanders.
"Awards like this are a reflection of our group and wing leadership's investment in the development and care of our ISR warriors and family members," said Duplease. "This award is truly appreciated, but attributable directly to our leaders, who've set the conditions for success and made the accomplishments possible."
The winners will move on to compete at the Air Force level.