USAFE command chaplain speaks at wing prayer breakfasts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  The U.S. Air Forces in Europe command chaplain visited almost every installation within the 501st Combat Support Wing during the week of Jan. 7 as part of the National Prayer Breakfast and site visits.

During her visits to RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton and RAF Menwith Hill, Chaplain (Col.) Cherri Wheeler was the guest speaker at each event where she shared that she was an NCIS addict and how the investigative team used everything available to them to solve a crime. All crimes came down to answering six questions everyone learned in school - who, what, where, when, why and how. She then led everyone on an "investigation, using the characters of NCIS to discover the who, what, where, when, why and how of prayer."

She explained that Abby Sciuto uses the lab to discover the "what," and talked about what prayer is.

"It can be something as simple as dialogue," she said.

The next character discussed was Special Agent Timothy McGee and the fact that he usually discovers the "who" of each crime case. Using McGee as a template, Wheeler discussed the three types of prayer she has discovered - devoted, bargaining and desperate. The chaplain also talked about Donald "Ducky" Mallard and by virtue of him being the medical examiner that he discovers the "when" of the crime and transitioned into when people pray. Next up was Special Agent Ziva David who discovers the "where," and the discussion turned to where people pray. Special Agent in Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs was used to describe why people pray. And finally, there was Senior Special Agent Tony DiNozzo who discovers the how and tied his tactics into how people pray.

After each Prayer Breakfast, Wheeler took the opportunity to visit the local chapel staff one-on-one so she could gain better insight into the inner workings of the 501st CSW organization.

"This trip enabled me to get a better sight picture on the 501st CSW and the unique challenges this wing faces on a daily basis," said Wheeler. "The way the 501st CSW is structured is so much different than say Aviano [Air Base, Italy] or Spangdahlem [Air Base, Germany] so things that may work over there may not be as useful over here - and I don't want to put them in that situation.

"This also allowed me to meet the chapel staffs and get to know them, so when we make decisions on their careers or their offices here, I can ensure we are setting them up to succeed," said the command chaplain.

While the command chaplain looked at the engagements as a way to see what that the wing does, the wing chaplain saw it as more for his staffs.

"When you see someone from the major command take the time to come down to see what you are doing it's a big moral boost," said Chaplain (Maj.) Peter Fischer, 501st CSW wing chaplain. "When they come out to meet the staff that really shows that they care and that goes a long way in helping deal with the day-to-day activities everyone faces."