Holloman chaplain brings a friendly ear to Red Flag

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sanjay Allen
  • Red Flag Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  If one sees a gathering of people where there isn't a broken jet, chances are pretty good there is a chaplain nearby -- for example Feb. 24 on the Nellis flight line, during Red Flag 10-3, when Chaplain (Capt.) Robert "Father Bob" Monagle was on the scene where he had more than just a variety of candies for the troops.

Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Porter, an aviation machinist from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., asked the chaplain what time the services on base were because he wanted to volunteer some of his time to play the piano at one of the services. It was something to have a little taste of home while he was here he said, while adding that he had played the piano at his church for 19 years.

"The goodies are probably the first thing people think of when they see the chaplain coming out," he said. "But it's great to see him out here. Although he's not [in the] Navy, he's out here to see all the military in general."

What Petty Officer Porter says couldn't be more true -- Chaplain Monagle may be a U.S. Air Force Airman, but he shares his time among the Army, Navy, Marines, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force members deployed to Red Flag.

"I like to get out and see what people are doing," he said. "It gives me a chance to learn what they're doing and they get a chance to meet me. That way they feel more comfortable coming to me when they need something or to talk."

Going out to talk with people gives these Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines a unique opportunity to chat with Chaplain Monagle because he is in a unique situation where he has confidentiality.

"People may have family issues or other things going on back home and I'm someone they can come talk to, in confidence, if they need too," he said.
Red Flag gives the chaplain an even better chance to get out and talk to people than he normally would at his home station, Holloman AFB.

"Being in a deployed environment gives me more opportunities to get out and visit with people and for them to talk to me," Chaplain Monagle said.
People on the flight line say they enjoy seeing him come out because they sometimes feel like they're out of sight, out of mind.

"It's nice to have someone come visit us because it doesn't happen very often," said Senior Airman Jonathan Yarbrough, a crew chief with the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas.

There are plenty more chances for deployed Red Flag personnel to meet Chaplain Monagle if they haven't already, because he will be out and about giving everyone an opportunity to bump into him. People interested in speaking with him may be able to find him in his office collocated with the flight surgeon in Hangar 226, if he's not mingling with troops, which lends to his favorite saying, "The docs will take care of your body, and I'll take care of your soul."