ANNIVERSARIES
1975 was a banner year in my life. I graduated from college. I married. I was commissioned a 2LT in the Infantry which led me to Ft. Moore (formerly Benning) for the basic course. While there I volunteered to help the Main Post Chaplain celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps. It was my first experience with Unit Ministry Teams and Chaplain Corps history. On a Sunday, we had a rousing worship followed by a picnic and numerous displays heralding the history of the Chaplain Corps. The Installation Chaplain even put a thank-you letter in my records, my first Army recognition.
In 2025 I will celebrate the 250th Army Chaplain Corps anniversary starting with the USACCRA kickoff gathering, 22-25 October 2024 in Columbia, SC. I am as excited now as I was in 1975, more so because I later traded my crossed rifles for a silver cross from the Chaplaincy serving nearly 40 years in an Army uniform, most of it as a chaplain. I hope to see many of my old friends and new faces of new friends to be at the gathering. Registration is an easy two-part process on our website, chaplainregiment.org. See you there!
Female Chaplains and Religious Affairs Specialists (RAS) will celebrate 50 years of women as chaplains at a special training event, 23-25 July in Columbia, SC. I will address the group on your behalf. Also, I will visit the Institute of Religious Leadership (IRL). A regimental ball concludes the event. USACCRA will assist enlisted, junior officers, and candidates to attend the ball.
Also, this year the Army Chaplain Corps celebrates 80 years of official approval of privileged communication exercised by our UMTs. At the USACCRA gathering we will add congratulations and thank you to our Directors of Education (DRE) who last year remembered 75 years of sterling service.
Last, but not least, the USACCRA gathering will honor the Corps deceased over the past two years. This will be a rich experience and tribute to many amazing lives lived among us. Please keep all our UMTs in all our compos in our prayers for safety and continued service for God and country.
Blessings and Happy Anniversary! Scottie Lloyd, USACCRA President
