Photo By Senior Airman Taryn Onyon | Capt. Joshua Flynn, 31st Mission Support Group chaplain, gives an invocation speech...... read more read more
AVIANO AIR FORCE BASE, Italy. (October 26, 2021) -- Resiliency is defined by the ability to function well in the face of adversity. The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency resiliency model has four pillars: mental, physical, social and spiritual. Balancing these four components helps strengthen your life.
U.S. Air Force Chaplains are religious ministry professionals who support the spiritual resilience of our Airmen all over the world. Captain Joshua Flynn, 31st Mission Support Group chaplain, started his military career in 2001 as a U.S. Army vehicle maintainer.
“I come from a long line of family members that have been in the military,” said Flynn. “I did Army JROTC in high school, and went to basic training in 2001.”
Flynn was enlisted for six years and completed a couple of deployments, one in the states and then volunteered for his deployment in Iraq.
“I think the number one thing that led me to becoming a chaplain was my one year deployment to Iraq where I served as a chaplain’s assistant,” said Flynn. “I got to see how well he took care of the soldiers, especially in a deployed setting and it made me want to do my part and led me to joining the chaplain corps.”
Motivated by the work of his mentor in Iraq, Flynn wanted to emulate that support he saw given to the infantry unit they were deployed with.
“After my enlistment, I spent a few years as a chaplain in the Army and then decided to join the Air Force, so I became a chaplain for the Air Force in 2014.” Said Flynn.
In his twenty years of service, Flynn has experienced a lot of memorable moments.
“The moments that stick out for me the most are helping airmen. Whether it's in the best part of their lives, like being able to officiate someone's wedding, or unfortunately also memorable, but having to walk alongside a commander to do a death notification,” explains Flynn.
Interacting with airmen and soldiers on a daily basis and getting to hear their stories while continuing to serve his country is one of the few satisfying aspect to Flynn’s career.
“I think the one thing I would want airmen and their families to know about what the chaplain corps has to offer is that we have chaplains and religious affairs airmen who are highly trained and confident in their job,” explains Flynn. “To be an outlet for people to exercise their religious rights but also as a safe space to be able to share the things that are going on in their lives.”
| Date Taken: | 10.26.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.29.2021 10:34 |
| Story ID: | 408306 |
| Location: | IT |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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