Clergy Day

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Mark Roberts, 341st Missile Wing command chaplain, describes to local clergy the services the Malmstrom Air Force Base chapel provides to Airmen and their families. Approximately 25 religious leaders from the Great Falls, Mont., community attended Clergy Day May 13. (U.S. Air Force photo / John Turner)

Clergy Day

Chaplain (Capt.) Robert Mohr, 341st Missile Wing chaplain, describes the operation of the Airman Ministry Center—commonly known as the Detour Center—to approximately 25 religious leaders from the Great Falls, Mont., area during Clergy Day activities May 13. The Detour Center is sponsored by the 341st MW Chaplain Corps and provides a means for chaplains to interact with Airmen in the grades of E-1 through E-4. (U.S. Air Force photo / John Turner)

Clergy Day

Dave Price (left) talks with Staff Sgt. David Nierzwicki, 341st Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and Zsabi, 341st SFS military working dog, May 13 following a dog team demonstration that was part of Clergy Day activities. Chaplain (Capt.) Robert Compere, 341st Missile Wing chaplain, and Senior Airman Storm Doromal, 341st SFS military working dog handler (far right), look on. (U.S. Air Force photo / John Turner)

Clergy Day gives community religious leaders an insight to base mission

Published May 14, 2014
By John Turner
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AFB, Mont. --

Religious leaders from the Great Falls, Montana area were invited to Malmstrom Air Force Base May 13 for Clergy Day. The event was hosted by the 341st Missile Wing Chaplain Corps.

"The purpose of this event is to give our base the opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for the wonderful support Team Malmstrom receives from our community religious leaders," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Mark Roberts, 341st MW command chaplain.

The day also allowed the base's chapel staff an opportunity to explain some of the unique dynamics of military life, helping community leaders when they minister to their congregations.

"We are able to connect with area clergy and familiarize them with our mission and the needs our military families have," said Chaplain (Capt.) Robert Compere, 341st MW chaplain. "If they have members in their churches who are military families, they may not know that a cop goes to the field for four days at a time and the spouse is staying back home keeping kids."

Approximately two dozen invitees attended Clergy Day and represented more than 15 local churches, missions and faith centers. Col. Tom Wilcox, 341st MW commander, welcomed the group and presented the Wing mission brief. The visitors then toured the chapel and the Airman Ministry Center, watched a military working dog team demonstration and enjoyed lunch with the chapel staff.

"I was very impressed," said Janice Johnson, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church interim pastor in Great Falls. "This is my first visit here. I was so impressed by the politeness and professionalism of everybody I met. I'm glad that I came."

Mike Whitney, Calvary Chapel of Great Falls pastor, said that visiting the base was helpful to him.

"We appreciate the opportunity to come out and see what the chaplains are all about, and their services," Whitney said. "It's just a good thing to do, to make contacts and to know what people are going through and what they're doing."