My Experience as a Military Chaplain
by Chaplain, Captain Gabriel A. Rios, USAF
I completed my Masters of Divinity from ATS Florida campus in December of 2002, and then attended that campus’ first graduation in May of 2003. I needed the degree to become an active duty chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, which I did in March of 2003. I was a chaplain candidate and ATS student from the fall of 1999 until I completed my degree. In our military setting, I’m a chaplain for all (including dependants, Defense Department civilians, and everyone with access to the base) and pastor of some. Currently, I am responsible for leading comprehensive ministry programs supporting 9,940 military, civilians and contractors. I advise leadership in moral, morale, and religious issues, and provide for the free exercise of religion. When there is a faith group not represented on the chapel staff, I ensure that they have the same support I give to those of major faith groups.
I spend a great amount of my time visiting my units (more than eight), which is what I like most. It gives me the opportunity to be close to my military flock and also with civilian employees. Beside the regular unit visits, I take time out during special occasions like Christmas or any other holiday, to visit security forces members working the base gates with hot beverages and goodies. They often work on holidays, while everyone else has the day off. I also have quite a few pre-marital and marital counseling sessions. People to come to counseling for many reasons, and I pray that I can be helpful to them. Counseling with an Air Force chaplain is 100 percent confidential, and under no circumstances can we disclose what the counselee shared with us. It is of great personal satisfaction when people come back and express their gratitude for my help. Another thing that I enjoy is preaching at chapel. We provide a Traditional Protestant service and a Contemporary service. Both congregations are totally different, but both are lovely.
During my career, I have been deployed twice, not to Iraq or Afghanistan, but nevertheless, meaningful and important deployments. During my last six-month deployment, I missed my 23rd wedding anniversary, my daughter’s quinceañera (Hispanic equivalent to the Sweet 16 birthday), my wife’s birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and my son’s birthday. Military life comes with many personal sacrifices, not only for me, but for my family too and serving our great nation is an honor despite it.
I was a CPE resident at an Air Force hospital and an Army hospital, and while there, I experienced face-to-face, the pain our warriors and their family members endure. Their pains and sorrows were really quite unbearable. I saw extensive injuries such as burns and missing limbs. Only by the grace of God, was I able to provide comfort to these warriors and their families.
As our Chaplain Corps motto says, “We are a visible reminder of the Holy.” I am very conscious in my ministry about ways that I can be the source of hope for someone, and that’s all I need to be. I’m not concerned with what I do, but rather of what I am. In this military setting, I pastor people like in any civilian church and I do my best to live according to my favorite ministry statement, “To heal sometimes, to remedy often, to comfort always.”
“To heal sometimes, to remedy often, to comfort always.”
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Thanks military Chaplain captain Rios for sharing your story. This is a blessing to know of ATS military chaplains serving God and Country
Have you had difficulties in preaching in the name of Christ and even praying in the name of Christ. Much has been written about this issue, especially in the Air Force and now in the Navy. My husband was in the Navy and my son in the Air Force. I thank you for your commitment to our country and may God bless you and your family. Both my husband and son have ties to ATS and Asbury U.