“High” praise and recognition for base chapel

  • Published
  • By J.C. Corcoran
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Air Force Chief of Chaplains has announced the winners of the annual Air Force Chaplain Service Awards program for 2008.

The Edwin R. Chess award for outstanding company grade chaplain was awarded to Hanscom's Chaplain (Capt.) Jeremy Bastian. Chaplain Bastian was recognized for his work in a deployed location, as well as on Hanscom.

During 2008, while deployed as part of Joint Task Force Bravo, the chaplain's work in helping to provide over five tons of aid to Honduran nationals received national press coverage and high praise from the SOUTHCOM commander. Locally, Chaplain Bastian serves as the Suicide Prevention manager and is credited with revitalizing the program and providing briefings to 157 Hanscom community members.

Chaplain Bastian is a deserving recipient, said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Dennis Kitterman, 66th Air Base Wing chaplain. "This is great news. Chaplain Bastian has been a most valuable asset to the chapel and the work he has accomplished, not only here but while deployed, has been just outstanding. This recognition of his efforts is well deserved," he said.

In addition to the Chess Award, organizational Air Force Honors also went to the Hanscom Chapel, which was named the winner of the Robert P. Taylor Award for best small base chapel in the Air Force. Described as a hard-charging and dynamic team that takes care of its people, the Hanscom Chapel was credited with conducting 451 worship services; 662 counseling sessions and 1,531 hours of unit visits across seven New England states, covering 122,000 miles.

The chapel staff is honored to be recognized as the best in the Air Force in its category, said Chaplain Kitterman. "But it's not just about the staff," he said.

"The success of Hansom's Chapel is due to the support we receive from our many volunteers, our attending community and our base leaders. This has truly been a total team Hanscom effort that can be shared by everyone," the chaplain said.

The Air Force Chaplain Service Awards program is designed to recognize, reward and promote excellence throughout the Air Force Chaplain Service. Individual awards are presented based on leadership and job performance, community involvement and significant self-improvement and are judged by a board of representatives outside the Chaplain Service. Team awards are judged by non-Chaplain Service members as well and recognize the impact on wing mission in addition to management, training, ministries and programs offered.