Chaplain Awards and Citations
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS TACTICAL CHAPLAIN, COMMAND RELIGIOUS MINISTRY DEPARTMENT, NAVAL AIR STATION, KEY WEST FROM AUGUST 2020 TO MARCH 2023. DURING THIS PERIOD, LIEUTENANT WESTPHAL PROVIDED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP FOR THE SOUTHERN MOST COMMAND RELIGIOUS PROGRAM, SERVING 32 TENANT COMMANDS AND OVER 5,500 MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL AT A REMOTE INSTALLATION. AS TACTICAL CHAPLAIN, HE WAS A HIGHLY VISIBLE DECK PLATE LEADER OFFERING MORE THAN 240 RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND 500 PASTORAL COUNSELING SESSIONS ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION, HE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED AN EFFECTIVE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED TRAINING FOR 300 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE AREA. FURTHER, HE RESPONDED TO SIX COMPLEX CRISIS SITUTIONS, PROVIDING ADVICE AND SKILL THAT FACILITATED UNITS RETURN TO FULL OPERABILITY. FINALLY, HIS EFFORTS WERE RECOGNIZED DURING THE NAVY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CHAPLAIN INSPECTION AS THE MODEL FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRY ACROSS NAVY REGION SOUTHEAST. LIEUTENANT WESTPHAL'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS LEAD CHAPLAIN, WARRIOR TRANSITION PROGRAM (WTP), SEMBACH, GERMANY FROM FEBRUARY 2021 TO FEBRUARY 2023. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER TIDE'S RELIGIOUS MINISTRY AND QUALIFICATION AS EXPANDED OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL FACILITATOR PROVIDED MORE THAN 900 RETURNING SAILORS WITH THE TOOLS TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE AND REDUCE DEPLOYMENT RELATED STRESS AND HELPED ENSURE SAILORS MAINTAINED THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF MISSION READINESS. COMMITTED TO A LIFE OF SPIRITUAL SERVICE, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER TIDE SELFLESSLY LED 23 RESILIENCY TRIPS, CONDUCTED 500 HOURS OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL COUNSELING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH WTP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF, INCREASING MORALE, RESILIENCY AND READINESS. BY HIS NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, COMMITMENT TO SAILORS FIRST, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER TIDE REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
Lieutenant Taylor distinguished himself through extraordinary meritorious service as Command Chaplain making him an invaluable asset to GUNSTON HALL from March 2013 to June 2014. LT Taylor's outstanding leadership, motivation and initiative contributed to increased overall mission readiness and the command's success throughout pre-deployment workups and BATARG Deployment 2014. His significant and specific accomplishments include:
Family Readiness Leader - LT Taylor's astute planning, leadership, and foresight was crucial in providing care and counsel for Sailors and their families in anticipation of BATARG Deployment 2014. He successfully planned, organized and oversaw six pre-deployment briefs directly impacting more than 350 Sailors and family members and resulting in increased command readiness and family preparedness.
Trusted Counselor - His compassionate demeanor and sound discernment enable him to provide spiritual and emotional care for more than 700 Sailors and embarked Marines. He directly counseled 285 Sailors and family members effectively mitigating operational stress, supporting major life transitions, and strengthening marriages making a positive and direct impact upon families, careers and mission readiness. Further, his expert care and concern for the emotional well-being of the ship's crew has proved to be an incredible asset in the timely receipt and delivery of 122 AMCROSS messages aboard ship. His tireless and unwavering efforts continually serve as a force multiplier aboard Gunston Hall.
Community Ambassador - His keen leadership and astute vision resulted in a Community Relation project in Lisbon, Portugal involving 19 Sailors and Marines, which directly impacted more than 400 host nation citizens. His unwavering efforts resulted in the cultural enrichment of service members and positive interaction between USS Gunston Hall and host nations. In addition, LT Taylor developed an ongoing mentoring partnership with a local Norfolk elementary school involving 39 Sailors and impacting more than 400 children on a monthly basis.
Experienced Professional - His flawless strategic planning resulted in the requisition, preparation and execution of nine burials at sea at specified locations in the Red Sea according to the wishes of veterans. His time-sensitive shipment of packages home resulted in pride and appreciation from family and next of kin and ensured the utmost honor bestowed upon deceased veterans.
Command wide impact - LT Taylor's broad impact within the command is accentuated as a key trainer and sub-clinical specialist for SAPR, Suicide Prevention, and ADAMS for Supervisors. His tireless efforts to train and deliver world-class, preemptive and preventive care to at risk Sailors as well as vital after care during crisis situations serve to strengthen the resiliency of the command and greatly enhanced the ship's mission readiness. His diligent dedication above and beyond the call of duty resulted in the __________ hours of training.
LT Taylor's leadership, care, professionalism and complete dedication to duty have been critical factors in the overall success of GUNSTON HALL. His noteworthy accomplishments have resulted in positive impacts in both the lives and careers of individual Sailors and throughout the command. His wise judgment, sound character and commitment to exceeding the traditional call of duty make him unquestionably deserving of the recognition accorded by the awarding of the Navy Commendation Medal.
MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET CHAPLAIN FROM AUGUST 2016 TO JULY 2020. DURING THIS PERIOD, CAPTAIN GRAHAM'S OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL SKILL, AND CEASELESS EFFORTS RESULTED IN MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMANDS' MISSIONS. DISPLAYING SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE AND INITIATIVE, HE ENSURED COMPLETE EXECUTION OF ALL UNIT AND STRATEGIC RELIGIOUS MINISTRY ACTIVITIES IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET AND SUBORDINATE COMMANDS. CAPTAIN GRAHAM ENSURED THAT TIMELY AND SUPPORTIVE RELIGIOUS MINISTRY WAS PROVIDED TO THE 200 SHIPS AND 14,680 PERSONNEL OF THE UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET. BY HIS PERSEVERANCE, INITIATIVE, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY, CAPTAIN GRAHAM REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS BATTALION CHAPLAIN, 2D RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, 2D MARINE DIVISION FROM OCTOBER 2013 TO SEPTEMBER 2016. LIEUTENANT HERBERT CONSISTENTLY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER BY INCREASING OVERALL COMMAND MISSION READINESS THROUGH HIS SKILLED PERSONAL COUNSEL TO MORE THAN 480 MARINES AND SAILORS. HE ASSISTED COMMAND LEADERSHIP BY SERVING AS A KEY ADVISOR ON OVER 100 OCCASIONS, HIS INSIGHTS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONFRONTATION AND ELIMINATION OF A CONTINUED INCREASE IN DISCIPLINARY TRENDS AND FACILITATED THE REDUCTION OF RECIDIVISM THROUGHOUT THE BATTALION. DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROFESSIONAL STANDING AND PERFORMANCE OF 39 STAFF OFFICERS, HE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED A PRODUCTIVE AND ROBUST FLEET MARINE FORCE WARFARE OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM. HIS 100 PLUS HOURS OF INSTRUCTION DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO SIX OFFICERS EARNING THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, HE PROVIDED KEEN COUNCIL THAT INCREASED THE PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION BY 57 MARINES AND SAILORS. FURTHER, HE ORGANIZED AND COORDINATED THE COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF 33 FOOD BASKETS VALUED AT OVER $1,200 TO FAMILIES IN NEED. BY HIS EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY, PERSONAL INITIATIVE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY, LIEUTENANT HERBERT REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
For outstanding meritorious service while serving as Command Chaplain for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region, San Diego, California. Chaplain Sailor's extensive professional expertise and compassionate, wise spiritual leadership were crucial to the well-being and effectiveness of the Marine Corps' largest training commands with over 400 Marines, 200 civilian employees and 35,000 Recruits who were trained during his tenure. He always delivered the highest quality ministry and strove to personalize every prayer and message at countless retirements, award ceremonies, changes of command, weddings and graduations for active duty members, reservists, recruits and retirees. His leadership of 5 Command memorial services and 10 burial services left a lasting impact and helped the whole community move forward. He created numerous strategic partnerships with local faith communities, Marine Corps Community Services, and community agencies which enlarged the command's positive footprint on the local community and connected Marines and families to critical resources and volunteer opportunities. As training officer for the Religious Ministry Team, he oversaw the professional development and training for 11 chaplains and 8 Religious Program Specialists who achieved 100% training completion in calendar years 2016-2018. Additionally, he skillfully engaged with command leadership to create a bi-monthly field training exercise for Headquarters and Service Battalion Marines onboard Camp Pendleton and Naval Air Station Miramar. He pioneered a highly effective pre-marriage and newlywed education program which enabled small unit leaders to lead their Marines with even greater success. Lieutenant Commander Sailor's exceptional professional ability, steadfast initiative and selfless dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
He was deployed to Iraq from September 2008 to September 2009. While deployed, he served as Chaplain for Regimental Combat Team 1st Marines in Ramadi and Fallujah. In addition, he volunteered to extend his deployment to support/provide Chaplain Care for 1st Radio, 1st Intel and 8th Communications Battalions for over 600 Marines. While deployed he took on extra duties to Minister to the 36 Transition Teams across the Al Anbar Province. This resulted in making nine helicopter flight missions and four combat conveys reaching out to the boarders of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, supporting over 200 remote Marines and sailors. He became the Flight Line Chaplain responsible for the maintenance of the Chapel and services as well as deck plate ministry for four squadrons for over 670 personnel. He performed approximately 526 counseling sessions while deployed. He provided exceptional guidance for the needs of the men and women through life's trials and tribulations. As a result, he established positive working relationships with all members.
Technical Sergeant Christian King distinguished himself by meritorious service as Individual Mobility Augmentee, Chaplain Assistant to the Superintendent, Chapel Operations, 55th Wing Chapel, Offutt Air Base, Nebraska. Sergeant King expertly managed all chaplain support operations and activities for the largest chapel staff in Air Combat Command. He filled in as Non Commissioned Officer In Charge, Chapel Operations, throughout his tenure ensuring that 360 worship services and events were fully supported. During that time, he ensured that the spiritual health of over 31,000 active duty, dependent, retiree and Department of Defense civilian employees across Offutt remained healthy. As a Religious Support Team member, Sergeant King performed over 200 hours of critical unit visitation, providing spiritual and warrior care to 55th Wing war-fighters. As assistant Resource Manager, he efficiently determined supply requirements and safeguarded appropriated, non-appropriated, and Chaplain Tithes and Offering Funds totaling over 450,000 dollars in assets and equipment. His seasoned leadership skills welded together an effective enlisted support team that directly contributed to the Offutt Chapel being awarded Air Combat Command's Large Chapel of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009, and an "Excellent" rating during the 55th Wing's 2009 Operational Readiness Inspection. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant King culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.