| | Other activities included a Saturday learning session co-led by Col. Matthew Phillips, Chief of the Legal Officer Corps, and Chaplain Reutemann entitled "Legal Ethics vs. Moral Ethics: Navigating Decisions With Integrity."
The "Departmental Updates" session provided all Chaplain Corps members present an opportunity to hear about the issues impacting the Corps, including a sneak peak training on CAPCCARS 2.0 provided by Chaplain Berez.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Lawrence Burns of New Mexico Wing and Lt. Col. Uei Lei of the Colorado Wing were honored as the annual Chaplain and CDI of the Year, respectively. You can read about their amazing accomplishments on pg. 24 of the National Conference Program. |
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Finally, on Saturday evening, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James Law, the Northeast Region Chaplain, led a Protestant service and Chaplain Reutemann led a Catholic Mass.
Throughout the conference, chaplains and CDIs staffed the Chaplain Corps table in "The Hanger" (below). |
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Above, from left: Chaplain (Maj.) Dovid Grossman,Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Morison, Maj. Sharon Fuentes, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Theodore “T.J.” Jenney, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Larry Killian, Lt. Col. Shirley Rodriguez, & Chaplain (Col.) John Reutemann Photos courtesy of Civil Air Patrol; photos by 1st Lt R. Schorbach |
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Great Lakes Region Launches Virtual Chaplaincy |
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By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) T.J. Jenney Region Chaplain, Great Lakes Region |
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Great Lakes Region recently launched "Virtual Chaplain," a new tool for chaplains and a new resource for all members. Virtual Chaplain has a website at www.virtualchaplain.net with resources and a place for scheduling appointments with a chaplain. Virtual Chaplain has a 24/7 counseling/crisis number: 1-223-227-2427 (CAF-CAP-CHAP). The number is available by voice or text, and a virtual link for a video link can be provided as well.
Virtual Chaplain incorporates both a website as well as the 24/7 call & text line developed by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) TJ Jenney, Region Chaplain, and Chaplain (Maj.) Kevin Massey, ILWG Chaplain. Team Members also include Chaplain (Maj.) Marvin Bryce, KYWG Chaplain, and Chaplain (Maj.) Tom Mills. A single number serves as a point of contact for voice and text using Zoom phone, and a video link can be provided either by request or by scheduling an appointment in the online calendar. For cadets, a second chaplain is automatically brought online to insure the highest level of cadet protection. |
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Virtual Chaplain is purposed as another tool for ministry and support, and is not meant to supplant or replace the great work of squadron and group chaplains and CDIs who offer excellent in-person chaplain support. However, it is worth offering another avenue to supplement and complement the fine work of Chaplain Corps members.
In addition to offering spiritual support, counseling, and crisis support, virtualchaplain.net also offers a range of spiritual support for twelve different faiths as well as a more general area of “Resilience & Wellness, Spiritual Fitness, and Mindfulness” including virtual chapel areas that offer a place for meditation using video loops including a seashore with a campfire and waves crashing, a forest scene with a bubbling brook, a mountain scene with a prayer wheel, and more.
The official launch of Virtual Chaplain was initiated with the support and encouragement of Great Lakes Region Commander, Col. Curtis Boehmer, who sent out an email to adult and cadet members and parents of the Great Lakes Region introducing and supporting the new resource, and included post on social media. Our team is continuing conversation with CAP/HCX to see if this resource might be useful in other regions or on a national level. Virtual Chaplain is leveraging technology for innovative ministry support for adults and cadets as we strive to be ever caring and ever vigilant. To date, virtualchaplain.net has received more than 3,200 hits on the website, more than 120 active users (about 20% of which are repeat users), and more than 20 phone calls to the 24/7 call line. |
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New Leadership in Chaplain Corps Educational Institutions |
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The Office of the Chief of Chaplains is pleased to announce the appointment of new leaders for the Chaplain Corps’ two educational institutions. After a nationwide application process, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) T.J. Jenney has been appointed as the new Commandant of the Chaplain Corps College, replacing Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Tim Miner; and Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Nancy Smalley has been appointed as the new Director of the Chaplain Corps Emergency Services School (ChESS), replacing Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Marcus Taylor. The appointments are effective 15 September 2026 to coincide with the new academic year. |
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“I am so grateful for the dedication, professionalism, and vision of both Chaplain Miner and Chaplain Taylor for serving as the founding leaders of their respective schools. The entire Chaplain Corps, and indeed our Auxiliary as a whole, is now better equipped because of them,” said Chaplain (Col.) John Reutemann, 22nd Chief of Chaplains. Chaplain Miner will continue serving as the Division Chief of the Chaplain Corps’ Education & Training Division (CAP/HCE), providing functional oversight to both schools, and Chaplain Taylor will continue serving as the Region Chaplain of the Southeast Region.
Chaplain Jenney comes to his new role with a strong background in academia, having earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology & Higher Education Administration from Purdue University where he now also serves on an Air Force-Assigned Mission (AFAM) supporting their ROTC detachment. He previously served on the faculty of both Volunteer University and the Chaplain Corps College, teaching at the in-person Auxiliary Chaplain Course at Maxwell AFB and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Clearance of their Center for Religion, Ethics, and Excellence in Leadership (CREEL).
Chaplain Smalley, who is also a certified Incident Commander, was a member of the very first Training-for-Trainers (T4T) class conducted by ChESS, and has since certified dozens of chaplains and CDIs in Emergency Services qualifications throughout her home Southwest Region and beyond. She brings a blend of academic & pastoral experience to her new role having taught both elementary and middle school, worked as a licensed professional counselor, and served 22 encampments, 5 National Blue Beret activities, and numerous local, state, and federal disasters.
Both Chaplain Jenney and Chaplain Smalley have completed Level V of the Senior Member Professional Development program and have served as chaplains at the squadron, wing, and region echelons. |
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Civil Air Patrol Spiritual Support "Squadron" |
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CAP's Spiritual Support "Squadron" is a free support service available to all CAP members and their families whereby prayer requests are received and prayed for by participating chaplains and CDIs. In addition to personal prayer requests, it has standing orders to pray for an individual CAP Wing each week and an Air Force Major Command and each month.
Civil Air Patrol Wing: Week of September 5 – September 11: New Hampshire Week of September 12 – September 18: New Jersey Week of September 19 – September 25: New Mexico Week of September 26 – October 2: New York Week of October 3 – October 9: North Carolina Week of October 10 – October 16: North Dakota
Air Force Major Commands: August: Air Mobility Command September: USAFR & ANG
Remember, you are not alone. Requests are treated with confidentiality and care. Please send any request to [email protected]. |
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The Virtual Incident Command Post Needs Your Support |
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The Virtual Incident Command Post (vICP) reports detailed information on CAP's daily activities to both CAP's National Command and the First Air Force. Presented below is an end-of-month summary of key information from the larger daily briefing. |
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