Religious Program Specialist 2 Class Kregel says goodbye to MCAS Beaufort

Photo By Staff Sgt. Benjamin McDonald | Petty Officer 2nd Class Todd Kregel is a religious program specialist and the lead petty officer for the command chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. In September 2016, he was awarded with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for the heroic achievement of intervening and preventing a suicidal Marine from taking his own life, and possibly the life of his spouse, with a personal pistol. After spending three years aboard MCAS Beaufort, Kregel is set to honorably discharge from the Navy late spring.  

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

03.15.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin McDonald 

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

For Marines and families who have attended functions at the command chapel aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, they see an organized and smooth program run by the Chaplain. However, few realize what goes on behind the scenes. Working quietly in the background
is a religious program specialist. Without their efforts, events like this would not happen. The religious program specialist for MCAS Beaufort is Petty Officer 2nd Class Todd C. Kregel.
Before enlisting in the Navy, Kregel attended State University of New York at Potsdam and earned a B.A. in history and political science and a M.A. in international relations from Troy University. Kregel enlisted in the
United States Navy as a seaman and reported to recruit training on June 19, 2013. Upon graduation, he attended Religious Program School in Columbia, S.C. and was immediately sent to Camp Johnson in Jacksonville, N.C. where he finished his secondary schooling as the honor
graduate for his class.
“My favorite school was my secondary school,” said Kregel. “Getting to spend a week straight in the field and do what Marines do on a daily basis really gave me an appreciation and respect for them. I get the option to wear the uniform and live amongst them without fully being a
Marine. I could not do what they do every day, I love Marines and working with them.”
Kregel reported to the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in December 2013 and served as the staff religious program specialist. A religious program specialist assists chaplains. Religious program specialists provide support to Navy chaplains in developing programs to meet
the needs of Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their families.
“After finishing the required schooling for my rate, I was a basically trained religious program specialist,” said Kregel. “All chaplains are different so when you arrive at your first duty station you start on the job training. For my first year or two, I just learned how to do my job here. I would be in charge of supply and admin for the chapel, but as I grew in rank I assumed more responsibilities.”
Kregel advanced to petty officer 3rd class during the March 2014 exam cycle and to petty officer 2nd class during the March 2015 exam cycle, scoring in the 93rd percentile. After becoming a petty officer 2nd class, Kregel became the leading petty officer and the only enlisted member of the chaplain department for the duration of his enlistment.
“As I learned more and more about my job and picked up in rank I assumed more responsibilities to the point where I became the leading petty officer for the chapel,” said Kregel. “I became the Assistant Command Fitness Leader, Safety Petty Officer, Contract Specialist, Supply
Petty Officer, Property Control Manager, and Religious Offering Fund Custodian. I became the chaplain’s right hand man going almost everywhere he went.”
Another responsibility of Kregel was answering the chapel’s duty phone and helping anyone who calls. In September 2016, he was awarded with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for the heroic achievement of intervening and preventing a suicidal Marine from taking his own life.
“One of the most gratifying things I do here is helping my Marines,” said Kregel. “When a Marine or sailor calls the chapel, they should have someone there ready to help them and that is what I do. All of the Marines here are my Marines, I would do anything in my power to make sure whatever issues they are having gets resolved and
the Marines or sailor is taken care of.”
In November 2016, Kregel was notified by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs that he would be awarded with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his efforts in the Feds Feed Families food drive. Kregel acted as the sole point of contact for MCAS Beaufort, which assisted the Department of Defense in the collection of over 3.3 million pounds of food in 2016.
Upon the completion of his service contract, Kregel hopes to return to school for a Ph. D. and become a college professor. Kregel’s additional personal decorations include the Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Rifle Sharpshooter Ribbon, and Pistol Expert Ribbon.
“It is a little bitter sweet,” said Kregel. “I love the air station and the Marines within it. Some of the Marines here I have served with since I first got here and leaving them will not be easy. However, it is time to move one and go onto something new. The military has taught me so much and I know these skills will help me transition back into the civilian world. I will always consider the Marine Corps and the Marines within it as my family and I will miss them all.”

• Date Taken: 03.15.2017
• Date Posted: 03.16.2017 13:54
• Story ID: 227069
• Location: BEAUFORT, SC, US