Hey ya’ll! My name is Briana and I started this crazy military ride with my husband almost six years ago. After six years in a different career field in the military, my husband chose to cross train into the field of Religious Affairs or better known as “Chaplain’s assistant”. We are currently stationed at Laughlin, AFB in Del Rio, TX.
WHAT DOES THIS CAREER LOOK LIKE?
The first thought most people have when they hear that my spouse works at the Chapel is that he is a Chaplain but, he is actually a Chaplain’s assistant taking care of all the behind the scenes activities. With my husband in Religious Affairs, he is on call 24/7. He is on call for crisis, counseling, emergencies, support, etc. His career is very rewarding for not only him, but myself as a spouse too. The amount of personal connections that he has the ability to make is phenomenal and he has helped so many people in ways that most cannot even imagine. While he is involved in a lot of background work in the chapel as a whole, he also plans many hands-on activities, support, and great rapport building with people from each squadron around the base. A Religious Affairs Airman works basewide. Upon entering this career field, he went for about two months to tech school where he learned about all the ins and outs of his position, as well as his duty not only in the Chapel, but on the base in general. It was not until one to two weeks before tech school was over that he received his duty station. Two months after graduating from tech school, we arrived at his first duty station.
WHERE CAN MY SPOUSE BE STATIONED?
The fun and adventurous part of this career is that my spouse has the ability to be stationed at any base where there is a chapel. Fun fact: there is a chapel at every single base, in every state, and in every country. This leaves room for adventure, and as people ask where we could go next, the answer is: literally anywhere in the world!
HOW IS THIS CAREER WITH HAVING A FAMILY?
I always love to tell people that Religious Affairs is a great, family oriented career to have! Unless there is a special event or an emergency, my husband is always home for dinner, weekends, holidays, and never misses doctors appointments or my children’s special days at school. It leaves room for grace and understanding as well as flexibility; whereas I know that many other careers in the AF are not able to allow that. While the mission is always top priority, this career leaves room for family to be a priority as well and I am so appreciative of that.
HOW IS THE INTERACTION?
The “Chapel Team” is a close knit group especially if you are stationed at a small base like Laughlin. Here, there are three Chaplains and two assistants. This doesn’t leave much room for spouse interaction as the Chapel team are not their own squadron, whereas they are kind of blended in with a wing instead. This was very different for me as it felt difficult to become involved. It did not take long to learn that my husband would know just about every face on this base through his work and support; thus, making it easy to meet others. I have been supported in ways that I could never imagine from the Chapel Team alone! They give my spouse and I authentic support, advice, and care.
WHAT DO DEPLOYMENTS LOOK LIKE?
Since this career is not my husband’s first career in the military, I cannot speak much on deployments. Actually, we are about to endure our first deployment in this career field and he just hit two years since entering Religious Affairs. However, my spouse has had several short TDY’s ranging from one week to four weeks at a time over the last couple of years. I do know that their deployments are not local and always out of the country.
MY ADVICE
I could not choose a better career in the Airforce for my husband and our family… as if I had much of a choice anyway! This career has sincerely brought the best out of my spouse and who he is. I get to see him grow and care everyday about people that he has never met. Buckle up and enjoy this ride! It is surely rewarding.
MEET BRIANA
