445 AW chaplain assistant participates in Patriot Defender course: Part one

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Over the last 10 years, the role of a military chaplain has changed due to world events. A more prevalent role is that of the deployed chaplain who councils and provides guidance to troops deploying.

To help with this role, a security forces training course called Patriot Defender allows chaplains to train and work side-by-side with security forces. Master Sgt. Terry Reisinger, 445th Airlift Wing Chaplain Services, is taking advantage of this training because he volunteered to attend the March 10-26 class.

Patriot Defender is a rigorous training course offered at the Air Force Reserve Command's Security Forces Regional Training Center in Fort Wolters, Texas. The training is tailored to security forces members and other Total Force Airmen requiring mission-specific pre-deployment training as well as those AFRC security forces members requiring the ground combat skills training for compliance with wartime readiness requirements.

Chaplains have recently been added to the training where they receive ground combat skills training and chaplain service specific training. They also provide "real world" spiritual guidance to the students. Sergeant Reisinger said one of his many roles during the course is to look out for the trainee's well being, physically and mentally.

"As a chaplain's assistant my role will be different than the role of a deploying security forces member. I get to go home after this training. They are on their way to their deployed locations. Therefore, not only will I be participating in the training, I'll be providing guidance and counseling plus holding various moral boosters and game nights to help with their stress levels," Sergeant Reisinger said.

Patriot Defender allows chaplain assistants to participate in scenarios such as clearing buildings and mounted patrol, to help with understanding the role of a deployed security forces member and of the deployed chaplain.

"As a chaplain's assistant in a hostile environment, I'll be performing the duty of body guard and private security for my chaplain. I'll also be supporting the provision of any religious services the chaplains want to provide," Sergeant Reisinger said.

Sergeant Reisinger heard about the Patriot Defender through an e-mail sent advertising the dates six months ago. He replied and was selected to attend the March class. In preparation for Patriot Defender, he increased his workout schedule.

"I'm stressed by the preparation but excited about going. Both my physical fitness test and Patriot Defender were scheduled for March. After Christmas I began working out for both events by running four miles twice a week and focusing more on cardio workouts, which included strengthening and muscle exercises. I also increased the amount of racquetball games to twice a week," Sergeant Reisinger said. He also added that he went from weighing 191 pounds on New Year's Day to 176 pounds by the time he took his PT test.

Sergeant Reisinger is not the first member of the wing's chaplain staff to attend Patriot Defender. Last year Staff Sgt. Benjamin Bratka attended the training.

"This is an incredible opportunity that every chaplain should be able to participate in. We sent a chaplain assistant last year and I hope we can continue to send a chaplain representative every year," Sergeant Reisinger said.

(Editor's Note: This is part one of a two-part series about Sergeant Reisinger and his Patriot Defender experience. Part two will appear in the May Buckeye Flyer)