NCR Chaplain Corps Staff College of Professional Development 2024
Ch., Maj., Terry McIlvain
The North Central Region (NCR) Chaplain Corps Staff College of Professional Development 2024 of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was directed by Ch., Lt Col, Dan Hudson, PhD, 22-25 April 2024 at the Columban Fathers Retreat Center, Bellevue, NE. The NCR Chaplain, Lt Col, Donald Mikitta hosted the college, while Ch., Lt Col Jill Holm served as the Staff Chaplain. We had the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Chief of Character Development Instructor, Lt Col Shirley Rodriquez, and a former CAP Chief of Chaplains, Ch., David van Horn, MO-117 & former Deputy CAP Chief of Chaplains, Personnel, Ch., Lt Col., Ron Tottingham joined in the event.
Our key training event theme for the college was: “Emergency Management: Meeting the Need at the Point of Need.” An Emergency Management Familiarization Presentation was led by Horace “Trip” Spiller, Chief of Emergency Management for Offutt Air Force Base. While on Offutt Air Base, the participants also visited the 55th Wing Chapel (Bldg. 463) with a wonderful informational tour led by the 55th Wing Chaplain Assistants TSgt Burgos and SSgt Wilson. A group photo was taken on-site with the Chaplain Assistants in this historic building which includes the Strategic Air Command Memorial Wall for those who gave their lives in duty as Airmen. Some other Air Base tours were scheduled, but due to issues that arose beyond the control of those in leadership, those visits were not able to be conducted.
During the rest of the Chaplain Corps Staff College, other presentations were given as follows:
1. “Wing CDI in support of the Wing’s Chaplain’s Mission” by Maj., Anthony S. Evangelista, CDI-CSS, CAP.
2. “Chaplain/CDI Application Process” by Ch., Lt Col Ken Van Loon, CAP.
3. “Character Development Instructor Briefing” by Lt Col, Shirley Rodriguez, CDI-CSS , CAP.
4. “NCR Chaplain” by Ch., Lt Col, Donald Mikitta, CAP.
5. “Chaplains in the Military-The Beginnings” by Ch., Lt Col Daniel Hudson, CAP NCR CCRSC College Director.
6. Chief of Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Corps Briefing was given by Ch., Col Linda Pugsley, CAP via Zoom which included updates on CAPR 40-80 and CAPR 80-1, the “Transmitter” going digital with an emphasis on the Chaplain’s Priority: Spiritual Mission and the Ministry of Presence.
7. “Do You Remember?” by Ch., Lt Col Daniel Hudson, CAP.
8. “NCR Round Table Discussions” by Ch., Lt Col Daniel Hudson, CAP.
The traditional “College Photo” was taken as usual and is included at the end of this report.
The Graduation Banquet was held at the Papillion (NE) Latter Day Saint Stake Center. The Banquet speaker was Chaplain, Lt Colonel Ronald L. Tottingham, CAP, USAF-Civil Air Patrol 1999-2004 and 2008-2016. The Color Guard for the banquet was provided by two area Squadrons including the Offutt AFB Composite Squadron Color Guard and the Bellevue West High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Course Color Guard.
Graduates received certificates of attendance, two students graduated, and Staff College Staff received certificates for their support.
The 2025 event is scheduled to take place on 21-24 April. The location TBA.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with over 64,000 members in 52 Wings and over 1,600 local units in all 50 states as well as Washington D.C. and Porto Rico and numerous overseas United States Air Force installations. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC this year with saving 21 lives in 13 states as of the end of April 2024. (Annual Average: 80 lives per year.) CAP volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The adult members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to about 29,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans, as well as supplying Color Guards at various community events and patriotic civic celebrations.
Strategies for Helping Cadets with Anxiety and Stress at Encampment
By Chaplain (Lt Col) Theodore “TJ” Jenney
Encampment season is fast approaching with all the excitement, challenge, and yes, stress and anxiety for cadets. Encampment staff often ask for a little more training on how to help cadets who sometimes struggle in the stressful encampment environment. Two mental health issues that cadets often struggle with at encampment are separation anxiety and social anxiety. Both are not uncommon at squadron meetings as well as at school, but encampment sometimes takes these struggles to a new level.
Separation anxiety-is anxiety caused from separation from family or close friends beyond the normal hesitation to leave home, and in some sense, is a heightened homesickness. Many cadets have never been away from home for an extended period especially in a more intense and challenging environment like encampment. Separation anxiety can manifest in a spectrum from mild to more serious, even to the point of being a disorder according to the National Institute of Mental Health. However, most of the time cadets at encampment experience mild levels of separation anxiety that often diminish as the week goes on.
Social Anxiety-is anxiety caused from social situations that cause anxiety or fear and a sense of an inability to deal with meeting new people, new dynamics in interaction or social pressure as often present themselves at encampment, as well as many other social situations. Social anxiety can also present in a range of seriousness even to the point of a disorder at which point the National Institute of Mental Health defines it as “an intense persistent fear of being watched and judged by others” the person “feels symptoms of anxiety and fear where they are scrutinized, evaluated, or judged by others” (NIMH). Most of the time at encampment social anxiety is mild but can cause anxiety and stress that make it hard for a cadet to interact with others.
Complicating factors for both separation anxiety and social anxiety may include family dynamics, experience being away from family (possibly for the first time), any experience being bullied, autism, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, health, or hydration.
Most caring adults can offer support and strategies to help cadets cope with separation anxiety or social anxiety or other stress, fears, and anxiety by using this STEP method, as well as calling on individuals with more training such as chaplains, CDI’s, or mental health professionals. Chaplain (Col) John Murdoch and I presented this strategy as a pre-encampment training session prior to the INWG encampment and staff found it quite helpful.
Find more information and best practices by following this link
Step Away-Invite cadet to step away from group by simply saying something like, “You look stressed or anxious in this situation. I wonder if you would like to step away from the group for a moment so we can talk . . .” Just stepping away from the group may relieve some of the anxiety. Walk with them to a nearby place where they can relax; if it is hot try to find a shaded area and make certain they are hydrated.
Time (Talk & Think)–Invite them to take some time to talk and think. Find out what seems to be the most stressful about the circumstances. It may be separation from home or family or dealing with the bootcamp-like stress of encampment. Be sure to listen attentively to what they have to say and try to understand what they are feeling. Remember key phrases like “tell me more” or simply paraphrase what they are saying to see if you have information correct or reflect what they are feeling with phrases such as “it seems like you are feeling . . . is that right?” Assure them that those thoughts and feelings are natural and understandable. Then ask them, “What has been the hardest thing so far at encampment?” Or ask them if there is something at home that is bothering them. Also ask what they were looking forward to most at encampment, such as the O-rides or ropes course, etc.
Talk to the cadet about the strategy of taking it one step at a time and assure them that you or and other caring and trained adults are there for them and want to see them grow and develop. Ask them what might help them make it to the next big goal they have such as the next O-ride or ropes course, etc. Try to reframe the stress or anxiety they are feeling as a way to experience new ways to grow and develop. Have them set some manageable and achievable goals such as making it until the next day or two and reassure them that you are there as a resource to help them.
Evaluate/Encourage-Evaluate the level of anxiety or stress of the cadet to see if you need to involve an individual with more training such as a chaplain, CDI, or medical person. If it is early in the week, remind them that for most cadets the hardest part of the week is the first day or two; afterwards the growth and excitement tend to build while fears and anxieties tend to diminish. If you think they are able to re-engage the larger group encourage them by letting them know that most cadets have feelings of stress and anxiety and many of the cadet leaders or adults had times when they felt the same way. Make certain that they are adequately hydrated and have had enough to eat. Encourage them that a journey of a thousand miles begins one step at a time or something similar.
Plan-Help the cadet put together a plan that is manageable and achievable for goals for events or days. Help them have a strategy for a growth mindset in the face of challenge and let them know the team is there to support them. Making it the entire week may seem overwhelming to some cadets, but you can say something like “what if we set a goal of making it to Wednesday O-rides and then touch base again.” By then they have built confidence and enjoying the experience. Assure them that you are there if they need further support or time in the future. Remind them of the Five Pillars of Wellness and Resilience and ask them which of them might help them the most in this situation. Breathing exercises or quiet reflection may be strategies they may find helpful as well. Help them set a positive attitude and give them positive affirmation. Set a time when to check back with them. And then take them back to the larger group and assure the leader that they are ready for the next step. Add something positive so they do not feel embarrassed as they go back to the group. Remind them you and other caring adults are there to support and assist them.
Notecard summary:
STEP: a journey of a thousand miles begins one step at a time)
Step away from group, then encourage one step at a time; one milestone at a time.
Time to Talk & Think-Time to talk, think, relieve stress and anxiety, and reframe.
Evaluate/Encourage-Evaluate level of challenge and stress. Call assistance if needed. Present positive self-talk and reinforce with encouragement.
Plan-Plan strategies for success and milestone goals: what are they looking forward to most? Help develop a growth mindset and set strategies to deal with stress and anxiety. Emphasize a positive attitude, and positive affirmation. Remind them you and other caring adults are there to help them. Set time to check back with them.
Here is another resource for evaluating a range of issues and the level of seriousness and need to involve a chaplain, counselor, or other trained professional. It uses the Red-Yellow-Green levels familiar to most with Operational Risk Management or ORM.
This is part of a brochure put together in a joint effort of Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (Col.) Linda Puglsey, Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Eric Cooter, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Theodore “TJ” Jenney, and Chaplain (Maj.) Linda Berez initiated in response to the critical need for the mission and availability of chaplains and CDI’s to understood and woven into mission critical situations including on-call crisis care.
(Chaplain (Lt Col) T.J. Jenney has a Ph.D. from Purdue University in Educational Psychology and Higher Education Administration as well as an M.Div. and S.T.M. from Yale University.)
Resources:
National Institute of Mental Health. Separation anxiety disorder. (n.d.).
National Institute of Mental Health. Social anxiety disorder. (n.d.).