An Air Force article highlights the opening of the first US Air Force Chapel on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

The location chosen for the most recent worship space was specific:

The non-denominational Christian worship service’s unique characteristic is its location inside the entry control point where it can reach airmen who otherwise may not be able to attend a worship service.

“The other chapels on base do an outstanding job in meeting the spiritual needs of everyone on base,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Gary Coburn, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing deputy wing chaplain…“We’re targeting the airmen on the flightline who can’t get away from their job for an extended time to worship at one of the other chapels. We want them to know it’s ‘come as you are’, meaning if you’re dirty from working on a jet, it’s okay, come anyway.”

While the war in Afghanistan is more than a decade old, the other chapels on Bagram were operated by other services or nations.

The US military operates in unique environments and tempos.  It is an admirable demonstration of the efforts of the chaplaincy to protect the religious rights of its troops that inspire chaplains to take extraordinary efforts to meet those needs.  Whether services in the field, at 0200 in the morning, or a special facility on the flightline, the chaplains strive to “go where you go.”

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