AFGSC Chaplains host Readiness Conference

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, UNITED STATES

10.12.2022

Story by Airman Nicole Ledbetter 

2nd Bomb Wing

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. – Readiness is defined as the state of being ready, but what does that mean for the Air Force Global Strike Command chaplain corps? Chaplains and religious affairs Airmen from throughout the command gathered at a Readiness Conference Sept. 20 – 21 to redefine what readiness looks like in their mission.

AFGSC leadership invited senior religious support team leads from each wing to help redefine readiness during a period when near peer competitors present a constant concern.

“In the past, we used to always attribute readiness to getting prepared to go somewhere. Now, we want our mindset to be readiness as a lifestyle and readiness all the time,” said Chief Master Sgt. Steven Beasley Jr., senior enlisted leader of AFGSC religious affairs. “Instead of us getting ready, we’re staying ready.”

Redefining readiness was not the only aim of the conference; in fact, there were three overall goals.

The conference's three goals, according to Col. David Kelley, AFGSC Command Chaplain were to create a mindset of what it means to be ready in today's environment, to identify spiritual care requirements in a competitive environment, and to create a way ahead to raise the level of readiness in the chaplains corps.

Applying what they learned would look like religious support teams making their ministry plans more readiness-focused and setting up their teams to be prepared for the uncontested and contested environment, said Beasley.

“Global Strike is responsible for two-thirds of the nation’s nuclear weapons, a critical no-fail mission, so we must be at the forefront of leading the charge,” he said. “But this is going to become an Air Force-wide initiative, especially across the chaplain corps.”

A highlight for Beasley was being able to introduce the chaplain corps to the strategic look of war planning and warfighting. They were able to peek behind the veil and see what AFGSC leaders are talking about at their levels to see a bigger perspective of the war environment.

“We believe the Chaplain Corps adds a capability to our Air Force that no other organization provides,” said Kelley. “Because of that, our role, especially in the current threat environment, is critically important to Airmen's success. A Spiritual, Resilient Airman, in my estimation, is unstoppable and unbeatable.”

• Date Taken: 10.12.2022
• Date Posted: 10.12.2022 10:38
• Story ID: 431121
• Location: BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, US