Recently I had the preveliege and pleasure of reading a book by one of our members, Chaplain-Ret. Grover DeVault. His book, “My Life as an Army Chaplain” is a memoir of his life with special emphasis on his service as an Army Chaplain for 20 years. His riveting clarity sharing his Vietnam War experiences as a young chaplain (Grover is now 95) is worth the book. But it was a short two-page piece titled “Always Serving” that struck me most. His point is simple. Chaplain/clergy never truly retire. We find ways to serve and do so as long as God gives us life on earth. To borrow our current Chief of Chaplains, CH(MG) Bill Green, Jr., “Live your call”. And we do in a variety of ways.
Through USACCRA, we live our call, as Chaplain, Religious Affairs Specialist (RAS), Directors of Religious Education (DRE), Department of the Army Civilians, and as Spouses, first in an active status then after retirement forging on in Compo 4 status as Veterans in service.
For Compo 4 folks, we are a highly trained and experienced cadre of clergy and RASs often strategically located near many of our major Army installations here and overseas. To this end, USACCRA is exploring chapter development along installation lines to deepen the bench of available compo 4 USACCRA members. During major military needs depopulating an installation of Soldiers and Unit Ministry Teams, the Office of the Chief of Chaplains could potentially call upon volunteer backup to our Army families and the returning wounded using our chapter as a beginning point of emergency support development. For compos 1,2, and 3, chapters offer a perfect place to unite with compo 4 for training events and comradery. Veterans want to keep abreast of current UMT ministry progress. Compo 1-3 seek mentorship from folks who have been there, done that, and got several T-shirts to prove it. It’s a perfect match. Someday, the currently serving will become veterans. Veterans continue to serve when best they are kept updated. Talks between USACCRA, the OCCH, Installation Command (IMCOM), and others are working this issue to explore the possibilities.
This means our USACCRA veteran members need to help us in these chapter developments. CH Karen Diefendorf is our 3rd VP for chapters. If she calls you for help. Please “live your call” and respond, “Here an I. Send me. Send me.”
Volunteers for this type of service can email Karen Diefendorf.
Blessings and thank you for all you are and do. L
“Pro Deo et Patria”
Scottie Lloyd
USACCRA President
909-553-5196 (PST)
