Photo By Senior Airman Cody Martin | Chaplain Tom Smith was promoted to the rank of Colonel March 7, 2015, during a formal...... read more read more
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FORT SMITH, Ark. - Chaplain Tom Smith was promoted to the rank of colonel March 7, 2015 at a ceremony held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
After serving as the Wing chaplain for the 123rd Training Wing, Smith served as chaplain for the 188th Wing from December, 1983 to December, 1999 and, after returning from a missionary trip to the island of Leyte in the Philippines, he returned to serve as 188th chaplain from February, 2001 to the present. Smith also currently serves as the Joint Forces Headquarters command chaplain.
“Little did I realize that I would be standing here today as colonel,” said Smith, Joint Force Headquarters chaplain. “Little did I realize I would be asked if I would be interested in the command chaplain for the state of Arkansas and be the first Joint Force Headquarters command chaplain from the Air Guard for the state of Arkansas. Little did I realize that so many of you, and some who have departed, have become family to me.”
Brig. Gen. H.D. McCarty presided over the promotion ceremony and he detailed how important chaplains are within the military.
“One of the reasons chaplains exist is to try to help everyone in the unit recognize the wisdom that is gone before us,” said McCarty. “The great chaplain is the one that proves he loves the people and that he is with them.”
Smith spoke to the gathered public about the importance of the mentorship he received as well as the support provided from his family, as well as his extended family of the members of the 188th.
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At the end of his speech, Smith thanked everyone for attending and thanked God for providing him with this opportunity.
“I thank the Lord for this tremendous honor and responsibility and I hope to fulfill it to the best of my ability,” Smith remarked. “As long as I have breath, I hope that I can continue to point people to the One who can change their life, because he changed mine.”
As Joint Force Headquarters Command chaplain, Smith will be responsible for ensuring the spiritual support for almost 10,000 Airmen and Soldiers within the state of Arkansas.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2015 10:27 |
| Story ID: | 159509 |
| Location: | FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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