Chaplain Assistant recognized as best in AFRC

  • Published
  • By Dan Galindo
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Many Air Force reservists bring the skills and dedication they've learned in civilian life to the military, strengthening the quality of their contribution.

That's certainly the case for Staff Sgt. Ryan Ayers, a chaplain assistant for the 482nd Fighter Wing here. Air Force Reserve Command recently recognized him as the 2006 Citizen Airman Outstanding Reserve Chaplain Assistant of the Year.

While out of uniform, the award-winning reservist is also a preacher, counselor, youth mentor - and the list goes on.

His desire to support the Air Force Chaplain Service is in some ways a give-and-take relationship. A pastoral career is where he wants to go in his civilian life, and as he contemplated joining the Reserve he felt becoming a chaplain assistant was a good place to start building related life experiences as he completes his higher education goals for a civilian pastorate.

"I wanted to participate in a program that allowed me to spend time with military people on a relational level instead of just business," Sergeant Ayers said.

However, he's proven he knows how to handle business while in uniform. The seven-year Army infantry veteran has supported the chapel team here for more than four years now.

In addition to staying on top of everyday duties to support base chaplains for a high quality program, he often steps up to help out with larger projects. He's been the lead planner and coordinator for the National Day of Prayer breakfast at the base for the past three years; he's resurrecting the Associates in Ministry Program, which builds relationships with civilian clergy to assist reservists during emergencies; Sergeant Ayers took it upon himself to coordinate enormous shipments of care packages to deployed Airmen. He's also been highly involved in the base honor guard for several years, frequently training new members.

While his motivation to support the base chapel is evident during monthly unit training assemblies, he feels his drive for formal education complements his chaplain assistant duties.

"It gives me a better understanding and recognition of the issues Airmen face on a daily basis," he said. "I am better able too see issues people might be dealing with and better explain their need to seek the experience of our wing chaplains.

"Everyone you come in contact with has at least one thing in common with you, I want to find that thing and make it the foundation for building a relationship, no matter how long or short I think the relationship will be."

Already holding an associate degree in journalism and public relations and a bachelor's degree in organizational management, he decided in September 2005 to pursue his passion formally. He expects to complete a master's in pastoral counseling through Liberty Theological Seminary this summer.

His focus is in grief, trauma, and crisis counseling, so to further his experience level he enrolled in the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at Jackson Memorial Hospital, the only level-one trauma center in South Florida. He works long, late-night/early-morning shifts on weekends. The program teaches hospital chaplains about the different issues they face while in a supervised atmosphere.

The sergeant often calls upon his education to support the 482nd Fighter Wing. His Bachelors helps with his military office work, and as a student-hire in the wing public affairs office, his Associates Degree comes in handy for writing and photography. As he learned how to create photo illustrations, he used that skill to create a poster for the wing prayer breakfast. That poster went on to be adopted by staff at the Pentagon for use during National Day of Prayer events DoD-wide.

Like those of us who strive to emulate our parents in life, Sergeant Ayers' upbringing had a strong impact on him.

"For me I feel ministry is a calling," he said. "I enjoy helping people. I grew up in the church and was the son of a missionary. I always saw my father preach, teach and take care of people in need."

This influence comes to light on a regular basis for the Citizen Airman and married father of three boys.

He leads Sunday school classes for married couples and is involved with the youth group at his local church. And his efforts don't stop there.

He founded and directs Light Source Ministries, an organization designed to educate people and develop programs for those facing grief and crisis in their lives. He teaches seminars and trains people at local churches who wish to start crisis support groups. Also, Miami area churches frequently request him as a guest speaker, and for the past two years he's been preaching an average of one funeral a week.

"My family and I dreaded the day of [my father's] funeral, expecting a day of remorse and emotional suffering," said Master Sgt. Francisco Navarro, Superintendent of the base honor guard. "But [he] eloquently described my father's distinct role in our family's history as the provider and sought the words to not only comfort us but bring about a warm acceptance of my father passing."

He demonstrated the true nature of the Wingman principle, Sergeant Navarro said, noting how Ayers supported him and his family on short notice in their time of need.

After witnessing Sergeant Ayers perform funerals with the base honor guard and preach while out of uniform, Craig Rogowski, a local funeral director, requested Mr. Ayers to speak at his own grandfather's funeral.

"Ryan can walk up to a family and instantly you would think that he was part of that family. He knows when to be serious and he knows when to crack a joke when the time is right to ease the pain of a difficult situation," he said. "That is a wonderful gift to have."

"I think my civilian experience helps me relate to the Airmen here much easier," Sergeant Ayers said. 

Sergeant Ayers points out that his goal in uniform, no matter how much civilian skill he brings to the table, is to support wing chaplains with his best efforts, aiming to have the best chapel program in AFRC and the Air Force.