AFSC 5R0X1, Religious Affairs Citations
Master Sergeant Melissa R. Galyear distinguished herself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as Superintendent, Chapel Operations, 932d Airlift Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois from 13 October 2015 to 20 August 2019. During this period, the professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Sergeant Galyear resulted in major contributions to the effectiveness and success of the men and women of the 932d Airlift Wing. Sergeant Galyear justified manpower authorizations for an additional Religious Support team resulting in a fifty percent increase in Chaplain Corps personnel and corresponding ability to serve. Additionally, she secured and prepared a chapel satellite office in the Maintenance Group area, increasing Religious Support presence. Further, she managed all chapel operations while providing over two hundred hours of mentoring and crisis intervention counseling, facilitating 33 invocations and 130 unit visits, and providing for religious accommodation throughout the Wing. Finally, Sergeant Galyear developed the 932d chapel Annual Ministry Plan which was recognized by the Air Force Reserve Command Chaplain as "Outstanding". The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Galyear reflect great credit upon herself, the 932d Airlift Wing and the United States Air Force.
Lieutenant Colonel Charlott B. Uriarte distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Installation Chaplain, 61st Air Base Group, Space and Missiles Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. During this period, Chaplain Uriarte's flawless oversight of over one million dollars in chapel funds and management of five separate facilities, resulted in her team's seamless execution of 457 services, 977 invocation and teaching requests, 41 resiliency and marriage events, 15 death notifications, and four 13-week financial courses. In addition, she coordinated with all base helping agencies to establish a Resiliency Center addressing the needs of Los Angeles' 200,000 authorized personnel and worked with Air Force Material Command and the Legal and Public Affairs offices to launch a base Religious Resolution Team. Moreover, her tireless efforts, analysis, and cross-agency collaboration led to seven contract modifications, the acquisition of 179 manning assist days, and assumption of security manager duties. Finally, her effective co-instruction for the Air Force Chaplain Corps College, supported a last minute tasking and facilitated religious freedom, spiritual fitness, and teamwork for new Deputy Wing Chaplains. The distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Uriarte reflect credit upon herself, the 61st Air Base Group and the United States Air Force.
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher A Lopez distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Deputy Wing Chaplain, 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. During this period, Chaplain Lopez served for six months as Wing Chaplain and executed a 450,000 dollar budget and realigned three chapel branches to maximize team talent, leading to 7,000 unit visit hours, 1,100 counseling sessions, and 11 averted suicides. Additionally, Chaplain Lopez established three new outreaches (Moms Connect, Dinner and Date Night, and Annual Marriage Conference), fortifying more than 2,400 Airmen and family members. Furthermore, due to manning shortages, he pioneered six new processes resulting in the saving of 3,000 man hours. In addition, his Resource Operating Instruction was selected by the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center as the blueprint for the entire Chaplain Corps. Finally, Chaplain Lopez's leadership resulted in the chapel winning 13 individual and organizational awards including the Air Education and Training Command's Large Chapel Team of the Year and the Biloxi Military Volunteer Group of the Year. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel Lopez reflect credit upon himself, the 81st Training Wing, and the United States Air Force.
Captain Charles E. Fenning distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee Chaplain, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, from XXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXX. During this period, his devotion to duty was an invaluable contribution to the development of a strong, effective ministry team that provided outstanding support to the Chapel and Religious Services mission. During Operation DESERT SHIELD, he volunteered for eight weeks of service at Wilford Hall Medical Center, becoming an integral part of the total healing team and providing pastoral support for over one thousand wounded service members. In addition, he supported base Civil Engineers on mobility exercises on multiple occasions, holding field worship services under austere conditions and participating with them in chemical warfare training. The distinctive accomplishments of Chaplain Fenning reflect credit upon himself, the 436th Airlift Wing, and the United States Air Force.
Major Marvin A. Blythe distinguished himself by meritorious service as Chaplain, 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico from XXXXX XXXXX to XXXXX XXXXX. During this period, Major Blythe contributed immeasurably to a variety of Chapel and Wing successes. His more than one hundred hours of unit visitation and support was lauded by the 58th Special Operations Wing Commander for increasing the morale of his operators through ethical advisement and ministry. Additionally, as project officer for the 377th Air Base Wing Clergy day, Chaplain Blythe demonstrated outstanding organizational leadership, positively impacting 70 community clergy members through education on joint community responses to H1N1 and the needs of deployed family members in our local faith communities. Further, Major Blythe coordinated with five southwest Chapel singles programs to design a lifetime experience for 120 Airmen at the Grand Canyon. The distinctive accomplishments of Major Blythe reflect credit upon himself, the 377th Air Base Wing and the United States Air Force.
Master Sergeant Josephine Carrillo distinguished herself by outstanding achievement as Chaplain's Assistant while assigned to the 165th Airlift Wing, Savannah-Hilton Head Airport, Savannah, Georgia from XXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXX. During this period, Sergeant Carrillo deployed in support of the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Flight (CASF), Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to serve as the Chaplain's Assistant. In this vital capacity, she ministered to and assisted the needs of more than 1,300 wounded warriors, served over one hundred patients and staff through counseling and intervention, and provided reintegration briefings for approximately 550 transient patients. Moreover, she led a team of 14 to prepare regular meals for wounded warrior family members on a continuous basis, reducing expenses and expanding access to loved ones. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Master Sergeant Carrillo reflect great credit upon herself, the 165th Airlift Wing, and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Brett A. Buras distinguished himself by meritorious service as administrative assistant to the Chaplain, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, from XXXXX XXXXX to XXXXX XXXXX. During this period, Sergeant Buras' outstanding professionaism, enthusiasm, and leadership aided and sustained Chapel operations by serving as an administrative assistant during the deployment of one chaplain and two chapel assistants. Sergeant Buras assisted in counseling, scheduling, chapel outreach efforts, and facility maintenance, including ensuring compliance with fire safety standards. Additionally Sergeant Buras revised and updated over 30 unit manning documents and prepared two after action reports for Tyndall's Marriage Care Retreats which were ultimately delivered to Headquarters Air Education and Training Command and contributed to the provision of funding for future conferences. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Buras reflect great credit upon himself, the 325th Fighter Wing, and the United States Air Force.