Civilian clergy members participate in orientation flight

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Wendy Kuhn | Civilian clergy members from across the region participated in the Ohio National Guard Clergy Orientation Flight, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, Sept. 10, 2015. The flight was part of the Ohio National Guard Clergy Outreach program, which not only builds awareness to the spiritual and personal needs of service members and their families, but also engages civilian clergy members and congregations to help minister to those needs. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Wendy Kuhn/Released)  

RICKENBACKER ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FLIGHT FACILITY, OHIO, UNITED STATES

09.10.2015

Story by Senior Airman Wendy Kuhn 

121st Air Refueling Wing

RICKENBACKER ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FLIGHT FACILITY, Ohio -- Civilian clergy members from across the region participated in the Ohio National Guard Clergy Orientation Flight, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, Sept. 10, 2015. The flight was part of the Ohio National Guard Clergy Outreach program, which not only builds awareness to the spiritual and personal needs of service members and their families, but also engages civilian clergy members and congregations to help minister to those needs.

“We not only get to celebrate the great support we get from this community and that of the clergy throughout Ohio, but it’s also an opportunity to tell the National Guard story,” said Brig. Gen. Dan McDaniel, Ohio National Guard director of Joint Staff. “We get them familiar with who we are, what our mission is and the fact that we’re in the community as well.”

Other key components of the ONG Clergy Outreach program include meetings with military or service provider speakers to educate attendees on the needs of service members and their families and partnerships with Department of Veterans Affairs organizations throughout Ohio.

“This helps us to know the issues and to become more informed about the processes within the military so we know where we should come in,” said Father Steven Bell, pastoral associate, St. Thomas More Newman Center at the Ohio State University. “We are looking to outreach to our veterans and also our students who are in the ROTC or who are current military personnel.”

The day’s events included an overview of the Ohio National Guard, information on how to build a Military Ministry, Army static displays and a KC-135 Stratotanker static display, and flights on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

Among the attendees was also Chaplain Sheryl Colter, a Michigan State Police chaplain. Colter was invited to the event by one of her troopers, who is also an Ohio National Guardsman.

“This was awesome,” said Colter. “I learned a lot about the military experience. Many of my troopers are veterans and this information can help me when I got out on ride-alongs with them and we get into hot situations. It was really an eye-opener for me.”

Lt Col. Kathryn Lowrey, director of Community Outreach for the Ohio National Guard, said she considered the event to be a great success.

“The enthusiasm of clergy attending the event resulted in at least four committing to building a military ministry within their congregation and three denomination leaders offering to help strategize about how to broaden support across Ohio for troops and their families,” said Lowrey. “I was extremely pleased with the response.”

• Date Taken: 09.10.2015
• Date Posted: 10.13.2015 07:22
• Story ID: 178039
• Location: RICKENBACKER ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FLIGHT FACILITY, OHIO, US