TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Air Force Chaplain Corps recently launched an Air Force-wide campaign that will be infused throughout the year. The campaign, Faithworks, is designed to educate Airmen over the evidence regarding the positive relationship between spirituality, religion and health, and to encourage Air Force leaders to see faith as a resource.
The Chaplain Corps initiative leverages evidence that spiritual fitness benefits Airmen and the mission by giving commanders more of what they seek for their Airmen. Things like healthy relationships, time and stress management skills keep Airmen spiritually, physically, mentally and socially resilient. Building those domains brings an Airman to full potential, hardy and ready. The evidence also lessens things such as violence, sexual assaults and even suicides.
According to Ch. (Capt.) Kory Capps, Faithworks was disseminated after research provided that both spirituality and religion are integral in improving health throughout all Comprehensive Airman Fitness pillars. Wing Chaplain, Ch. (Lt. Col.) Sammy Tucker further explained how the Tinker Chaplain Corps appropriated the mission objective into their ministry plan for the year.
“We want to encourage people, regardless of their religious affiliation, that having faith in something greater than themselves proves to be a source of strength, hope and resilience in coping with the vigorous and demanding task of defending our nation,” Tucker said. “The base will hear and see our message of Faithworks in many ways, from flags flying on the chapel grounds to posters emphasizing how we use faith each and every day, without realizing it.”
The domain of spiritual fitness is defined as the ability to adhere to beliefs, principles or values needed to persevere and prevail in accomplishing the mission. Capps said their main thrust at Tinker will be conveying the impact that faith, spirituality and religion have on Airmen.
“Our sermon series started Jan. 28 and will run through the end of February,” Capps said. “Additionally, we’ve started briefing the squadrons. I recently did a briefing with the 552nd Air Control Wing, for example. There, I put a tool in their hands and described the research on hope and how we build hope into our people. The concept is taking that tool and helping people from all walks of life.”
It’s not just about having spiritually fit military Airmen, but embracing a culture that is inclusive to civilian Airmen as well, and all those who support the mission. Fulfilling the charge of developing Airmen and strengthening their spiritual pillar to fly, fight and win, the Chaplain Corps initiative also serves as an opportunity to build morale for the warfighter and those who support the warfighting effort.
The Faithworks sermon series will lead off the new year, but the initiative will carry on through commander’s calls, briefings and any CAF days or events. It’s not about targeting one specific audience, Capps added, but rather opening that conversation to challenge all to consider the role that faith plays in developing that spiritually fit Airman – the Airman who impacts the United States Air Force and is the model definition of resiliency in all its forms.
“If faith is how I define it, as acting on something in which you trust and believe, then imagine how great the change in our perspective could be,” Tucker said. “Be encouraged to keep faith in all aspects of your lives in our great mission to fly, fight and win the battles for our nation’s freedoms.”
For more information, call the chapel at 734-2111.