Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Reserve Col. Stephen B. Boyd, a pastor for over 10 years with the Los Altos...... read more read more
by Spc. Jennifer Sardam, ESGR FWD Team
QATAR - U.S. Army Reserve Col. Stephen B. Boyd is currently deployed as the Area Support Group-Qatar installation chaplain in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). OIF is the official name given to military operations assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure; training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority; and defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.
Active-duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces are deployed under the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. USCENTCOM is the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests and assets in 27 nations stretching from the Horn of Africa, through the Arabian Gulf region, and into Central Asia.
In Vallejo, Calif., Boyd is a chaplain in the 114th Chaplain Detachment, 1397th Transportation Terminal Brigade, under the 63rd Regional Readiness Command. There, he and other chaplains assist in soldier readiness processing by counseling servicemembers as they mobilize and giving pre-mobilization briefs to servicemembers and their families. Chaplains like Boyd also help to bring families back together during the redeployment and reunion process by providing resources such as marriage enrichment retreats to help improve communication skills.
The colonel has served in the military for 28 years, and this is his first deployment as a reservist. In his civilian occupation, Boyd has been a pastor for Los Altos United Church of Christ, in Long Beach, Calif., for over 10 years.
Although the pastor enjoys his military role "working with the soldiers," he looks forward to reuniting with his "diverse, small congregation of about 130 members" at home. "This, I knew had to happen," confirmed Boyd, "but it will be good to go back."
Today, more than 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is the primary resource for information about the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA. This federal law allows Boyd and other mobilized reserve component members to retain their rights, when the deployment concludes.
Established in 1972, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a DoD agency, provides free USERRA education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at (800) 336-4590.
In spite of the challenges of being deployed far from home, Boyd said that being part of OIF is meaningful to him because "I felt after all of these years I needed to come over here and do this."
In Boyd's opinion, the challenges are useful to his military and civilian roles as a spiritual advisor.
"I've always thought of the military as my reality check, because it's more diverse and challenging because of where they [servicemembers] are on their spiritual and lifetime journeys. This place is not complacent."
He also feels that serving his nation will translate into being better able to serve the members of his church when he returns.
"I told them [my congregation] two things when I left," commented Boyd. "I was going to be their missionary for the soldiers, and I wanted to come back a better person and a better minister."
Boyd, who calls Long Beach, home, is married to Roberta. They have two children, daughter Stephanie, 30, and son Jared, 28.
ESGR
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2006 17:08 |
| Story ID: | 6304 |
| Location: | QA |
| Web Views: | 213 |
| Downloads: | 40 |
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