The 920th Rescue Wing welcomes chaplain candidates

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sarah Pullen
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 920th Rescue Wing's unique search and rescue mission was on display when Air Force chaplain candidates from around the world visited the Space Coast on Aug. 7.

The candidates are part of the Air Force Chaplain Candidate Program that travels to five Air Force installations annually as part of their intensive candidate internship.

The visits offer the candidates the opportunity to learn about the different missions of the Air Force and decide if the military is a good fit.

"The program provides the candidates a safe place to learn and discover if they can be diverse in their denomination beliefs to meet the needs of the military, "said Maj. Zenon Bochnak, an Air Force chaplain.

Members of the program are commissioned as second lieutenants upon beginning the course and will be required to obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement to continue on to the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard or active duty chaplaincy program.

"The course is intense to ensure that we have the best qualified chaplains in the Air Force," Said Lt. Col. Charles Towery, officer in charge of the Chaplain Intensive Candidate Internship.

During the candidates visit to Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., they attended a mission briefing by the 920th RQW commander to learn about the exclusive search and rescue mission.

"We get to see the effects of war a little more closely than others normally do," said Col. Jeffrey L. Macrander, commander, 920th RQW. "It is important we have qualified chaplains to help our Airmen stay focused and handle the stresses we face."

Following the briefing, 920th Operations Support Flight introduced the candidates to different life support gear that keep personnel on the HH-60G Pave Hawk and the HC-130 safe and properly protected.

"Sometimes Airmen don't understand how important their jobs are," said Tech. Sgt. Sara M. Bolin, aircrew flight equipment journeyman assigned to the 920th OSF. "People only think about what they do and forget we all have an impact in each other's lives, much like our chaplains."

The group also visited with the 308th Rescue Squadron, toured the Patrick flightline and visited Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Fla.

"It was great to visit with the different bases and learn about their missions," said 2nd Lt. Joseph E. Dunham, chaplain candidate. "The Chaplain Candidate Program gave me an opportunity to understand the military life more."