Fostering religious expression: An inside look at the base’s Religious Support Team

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — Religious airmen of all faiths have a friend in a crucial team that provides a multitude of services at Robins Air Force Base.

Senior Installation Chaplain Lt. Col. Christopher Reeder and NCOIC of Religious Affairs TSgt. Shantwiauna McKenzie make up senior leadership for the Religious Support Team, comprised of Chaplains and Religious Affairs Airmen.

Chaplains provide crisis response services, pastoral care, visitation and advice for senior leadership, just to name a few of their functions. As military members, chaplains also respond to national readiness mobilization, emergency ministry, and also minister during warfare, contingencies, national emergencies and military exercises.

Religious Affairs Airmen are enlisted and trained in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, managing religious programs and chapel administration. According to McKenzie, they also help bridge the gap between junior enlisted airmen and chaplains, allowing airmen to feel more comfortable speaking with them.

Additionally, the RST serves as advisors to commanders, and can be used as a guide to ensure their airmen are taken care of.

To qualify, chaplains must be have a Masters in divinity, or equivalent, be an ordained minister and have two years of ministry experience.

RAA has multiple levels of vetting for adverse actions, basic training and crisis intervention and diversity training, with additional processes for senior leadership.

On base, the RST runs a resource called The Refuge, a ministry center and community hub for airmen, similar to those you may see on a college campus.

Sponsored and operated by the base’s chapel, the center provides a free coffee bar, events, such as their annual car show, painting, open-mic, movie and game nights, encouraging community interaction.

“[It’s] really just getting after that spiritual, social fitness, to get the airmen out of their dorms or back on base after duty hours to spend time together and create that community,” McKenzie said.

A typical day in the life for the RST is anything but routine, according to Reeder, who said he normally has a plan but it changes quickly. For example, recently, a chapel staff meeting moved for a crisis response. Team building days required moving as well due to invocations that needed attention.

“Things like that happen, and we’re glad to be there for those things, but we’re constantly having to move our vector,” Reeder said.

The team must be flexible, with McKenzie adding the flexibility is not just on logistics and schedules but emotionally as well. With confidentiality promised to those who call on them, the team truly sees emotional highs and lows.

“That means that we get a lot of calls, and we never know what’s going to be on the other side of the door when it opens, or on the other side of the phone when we pick up. So, there are a lot of highs and lows schedule wise, and also emotionally. I think it’s fair to say you never know what a day is going to look like when it starts,” McKenzie said.

A small team, they are also responsible for additional squadron duties, leading them to creativity with their resources, time and people. Through all of their functions, Reeder said fostering religious expression is of utmost importance, whether it be through worship, preaching or serving airmen of all faiths.

McKenzie agreed, saying the RST’s primary function is to protect and support first amendment rights to religion for airmen and their families; Unique to the RST is a religious and spiritual approach to their duties.

Reeder is the chaplain leader, while McKenzie is primary advisor for religious matters for the installation and RAA, working together to make decisions that affect policy and direction for the RST.

As a laid-back leader, Reeder said that serving as leadership to the team and taking on a mentorship role is fulfilling for him as well, as he allows chaplains to learn and develop skills, adding later that his line of work is his God-given calling.

“What is really fulfilling is taking care of the team. I really enjoy taking care of these folks. In a sense, they’re kind of my ministry, taking care of this team. And that could be through giving them opportunities to excel, push them forward, try to put them up for awards, or trying to just help them do their job or trying to find a way to give them some time off,” Reeder said.

McKenzie mentioned she is more of a balanced leader, saying she enjoys helping airmen and being invited and trusted with their highest and lowest points in life, an honor and something she holds dear. She added when her time came for retraining, she wanted to pursue a line of work that was more interactive and impactful.

“Personally, there are airmen that I have helped walk through a season of darkness, and now that I see them thriving on the other side, that keeps me going,” McKenzie said.

To keep up with The Refuge, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ROBINS.THE.REFUGE/

The RST can be contacted at (478) 926-2821.

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