Photo By Airman 1st Class Noah Noonan | U.S. Air Force Col. Kleet Barclay, command chaplain of Air Combat Command, learns more...... read more read more
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – The Air Combat Command (ACC) Religious Support Team visited Airmen across Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, April 13–14, 2026, to witness their unique mission firsthand.
Chaplain (Col.) Kleet Barclay, ACC command chaplain, and Senior Master Sgt. Jerrad Liulamaga, Joint Base Langley-Eustis Religious Affairs superintendent, started the visit with the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG) Airmen and their leadership to better understand the challenges and needs of defenders operating in dynamic and often austere environments.
“Having the Command Chapel team here was informative and beneficial. They were interactive and engaging,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Jonathon Dawson, 93d Air Ground Operations Wing chaplain, “They reminded us that spiritual health development and resilience are a core part of preparing ourselves for the challenges we face every day, but more especially downrange. We are grateful that they took time out of their busy schedules to come and see us. It means a lot.”
The 820th BDG Airmen showcased a range of force-protection capabilities, from military working dog demonstrations to the tactical employment of small unmanned aerial systems and various weapon systems.
“Our role is to ensure that every Airman has access to the spiritual support they need, no matter where they are,” said Liulamaga. “It’s all about supporting the force in a holistic way, so they can focus on the mission with confidence.”
The demonstrations provided Barclay and Liulamaga crucial insight into the high-tempo operational realities of the unit, aiding him further in aligning chapel support with the specific needs of the warfighters.
“The partnership with the chaplain corps is a vital force multiplier," Col. Megan Hall, 820th Base Defense Group Commander, “They help us ensure our Airmen are spiritually resilient and connected, which allows them to stay focused and execute their mission of defending the force anytime, anywhere. We were honored to host Chaplain Barclay and have the opportunity to showcase the incredible skill and lethality that our ‘Safeside’ Airmen bring to the fight.”
During his visit, Barclay stressed that supporting Airmen's spiritual resilience is a key component of readiness and further enables them to thrive in challenging operational environments.
“Seeing the complex, high-stakes mission of the 820th Base Defense Group up close is truly impressive,” Barclay said. “It definitely reinforces our commitment to delivering adaptive and relevant religious support that meets the needs of these incredible warriors. In a contested environment, spiritual fitness isn’t a secondary concern; it’s a core component of our survivability and combat effectiveness. Our job is to ensure every Airman is spiritually prepared for whatever challenges they will face.”
On the second day of their visit, Barclay and Liulamaga toured Moody AFB’s chapel facilities to help further demonstrate the chapel corps’ role in strengthening trust, cohesion and mission effectiveness across both the 23d Wing and 93d AGOW.
“Our role is to ensure Airmen have the spiritual resources they need to thrive, both at home and deployed,” said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Scott Foust, 23d Wg chaplain. “Visits like this strengthen partnerships across the wing and up to our major command, while highlighting how faith and morale are directly tied to operational readiness.”
Barclay and Liulamaga went on to share meals with Airmen and recognized individual contributions awarding challenge coins to Tech. Sgt. Carlos Catalan, Capt. Calvin Kim and Capt. Kenneth Thomas for their leadership, dedication and commitment to moral and spiritual support.
“Our Airmen operate in demanding environments, where resilience is critical to mission success,” said Col. Sean Hall, 23d Wing commander. “The support provided by our chaplains and religious affairs Airmen ensures our force remains ready, grounded and focused, no matter the challenges they face.”
The visit underscored Moody’s continuous effort to integrate religious support capabilities with operational priorities, ensuring Airmen and their families have the resources needed to remain a ready and resilient force.
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2026 15:56 |
| Story ID: | 565497 |
| Location: | MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ACC Command Chaplain Visits Moody, Emphasizes Spiritual Readiness, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
