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Preparing for worship services

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- Master Sgt. Trudy Burnett, the Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of chaplain services, prepares communion for the Protestant service. Worship services are held on Sundays during primary UTAs in Building 596 room 116, beginning at 11 a.m. for the Protestant service and 12:15 p.m. for the Catholic service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Carl Berry)

Chaplain assistants serve spiritual needs

Published Sept. 24, 2008
By Senior Airman Carl Berry
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- To serve as visible reminders of the Holy, this is the mission statement of the 434th Air Refueling Wing's chaplain assistants, one of the components of the chaplain services.

"I wanted to become a chaplain assistant to help military members and their families that are in need," said Master Sgt. Trudy Burnett, 434th ARW chief chaplain assistant.

To become a chaplain assistant, service member's must be an active-duty Airman, an Air Force Reservist or Air National Guardsman and be eligible for retraining.

Some of the duties that a chaplain assistant performs are administrative support, base visitation record keeping, worship service set up, religious education program facilitator and base-wide surveying, said Sergeant Burnett.

Unlike chaplains, who are non-combatants, chaplain assistants are combatants and must be qualified to carry and use firearms, she said. Training consists of a six-week technical training school named Silver Flag Readiness Training.

This training puts an emphasis on the chaplain service team concept,said the sergeant. The chaplain service team concept is a program designed to have chaplain assistant's work with the chaplains, she added.

"This team approach reinforces that by working together we are better able to serve Air Force members and their families anywhere, any place and any time, she said.

"I truly believe being a chaplain assistant is the most rewarding job in the Air Force, because you're able to help people in need and see their transition," said Sergeant Burnett. "We give our Air Force members and their families the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of religion."

The chaplain's office is currently looking to fill two chaplain assistant positions. Anyone interested in becoming a chaplain assistant should contact the chaplain's office at Ext. 4030.

Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer