On April 26, 2022 two outstanding Air Force ROTC Cadets were awarded medals
by the Reserve Organization of America. 

Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Jim Adams, President of the Department of North Carolina, presented awards for excellence to two Air Force ROTC cadets in a ceremony at the University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill. 

Founded in 1922 in Washington, D.C.,  ROA serves as the legislative voice for all of America's Reserve Components in all branches and all ranks.

Every year the North Carolina Department of ROA presents awards to two outstanding cadets, in each of the twenty-one college ROTC units in their state.  Membership in ROA is open to all ranks including ROTC Cadets, in all of America's military services.

Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Jim Adams (above left), President of the Department of North Carolina awarded Cadet 1st Lt. Jeff Bland with ROA's Silver Medal for ROTC.

Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Jim Adams (above left), President of the Department of North Carolina awarded Cadet Capt. Matthew Pinto with ROA's Gold Medal for ROTC. 

As I am getting ready to write this, I’m having my morning coffee and enjoying the view of my yard in Pittsburgh; it’s kind of a rare day here this spring - we actually have some sunshine! 

Over the last few days, buds and leaves on the trees have started to appear; the daffodils and daisies are up and blossoming. Singing Blue Cays, Cardinals, Robins are regular visitors along with the  turkeys. 

It really is a very pretty and peaceful time.

This season is very special to so many religions and cultures. It’s extremely wonderful and hopeful as we turn the tide with COVID-19 and can get together in our churches, synagogues, and other places of worship. Our holiday tables are more full with family and friends. Many of us are familiar with the holy periods of Ramadan, Passover and Easter but sacred and holy days for Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists also take place during these days.

An article from the Religious News Service states that, “collectively they carry a common message ... calling us to renewal, forever changing the way we look at our lives in the material world.” This is a time for all of us to be with family and friends and to reconnect with our faith and spiritual beliefs.

We celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring with all of its beautiful colors and sounds.

Easter is the most holy time for Christians celebrating and remembering Jesus’ rising from the dead following his crucifixion and death. There are sunrise services, special hymns and music, and new believers become part of the church. There are family and ethnic customs, traditions and foods - I think I have the best of both worlds from a Polish and Italian family!

Easter bunnies, peeps, baskets, flowers and chocolates remind us that this time of year is different from the day-to-day norm.

Passover is an eight-day celebration of the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt as the story of the Exodus is recounted. Families gather to pray and celebrate with hymns and a Seder meal. The Haggadah is a booklet that guides participants through the rituals and menu of the Seder meal and plate. Haggadah means telling …. the Exodus story and great works of G-d are to be told and taught to each generation.

During the holy month of Ramadan, there is an emphasis on prayer, study of the Quran, and fasting. Muslims grow in their relationship with Allah and their loved ones. Muslims begin their days with prayer before sunrise for a small meal and abstain from food, drink, and other physical pleasures during the daylight hours. The daily fast is broken with a meal after sunset called iftaar. This discipline teaches self control and focus on the Quran to grow spiritually. It is also a time to increase acts of charity and community service as rewards for good deeds are multiplied during this month of mercy.

As we focus on celebrating the joy of the springtime season – the roots of our faith, family, friends and special foods – we continue to remember and pray for those who find it difficult to find joy due to loss, illness, loneliness, and war. Military training and deployments impact many of our holidays.

I encourage you to make an effort to reach out to those in need this season. Many places of worship and community organizations open their doors for meals and gatherings so that folks will not be alone. Be as generous as you can with your time, talent and treasures.

I saw a card that said, “with spring comes the time for shared faith and love.” May you and your families enjoy all the blessings of this season!

Soon after I picked up my right hand and began serving as an Army Chaplain, I started to learn about and have a relationship with Chaplain George Fox, Chaplain Alexander Goode, Chaplain Clark Poling and Chaplain John Washington – the Four Chaplains.

I, and others, would study them and retell their story many times and at different events, classes and ceremonies. Their story takes on special significance on Feb. 3 each year. That day is their “special” anniversary, known as Four Chaplains Day.

This year we mark the 79th anniversary of the sinking of the USAT Dorchester, remember those lost that day, and the heroic selfless service of four Army chaplains serving on that ship.

Many articles, books, songs and films retell their amazing story.

All four of these chaplains were assigned to the USAT Dorchester; this ship was a former passenger steamship but was recommissioned as an Army transport ship during WWII. That fateful night, the Dorchester was part of a convoy transporting more than 900 troops from Newfoundland to an American base in Greenland.

Those icy waters were often referred to as “torpedo junction” due to German submarine activity. In the early hour of the night after midnight, the Dorchester fell victim to a torpedo from U-223 which hit the boiler room and knocked out electrical power. The ship sank in 20 minutes; there were only 230 survivors of the 904 on board.

Who are the four chaplains and what did they do on that night that makes them memorable?

Soon after the war began, these four clergymen answered God’s call once again and were appointed as chaplains and lieutenants in the U.S. Army in the spring/summer of 1942. These four met at the U.S. Army Chaplain School, then at Harvard, and ultimately served together on the Dorchester.

Fox was a Methodist minister from Vermont who had served in the ambulance corps in WWI; Goode was a reform rabbi from New York. Poling, a Baptist minister from New York, was also the son of a WWI chaplain. Washington was a Roman Catholic priest from New Jersey.

Their work together provides a wonderful snapshot of what chaplaincy is all about - chaplains of different faith groups and traditions working closely together to bring God’s comfort, peace and strength to ALL service men and women in their care.

After the torpedo struck, there was chaos, panic and fear throughout the ship.

The chaplains made a conscious decision to stay and work together in assisting as many as possible get to the few lifeboats that were still available; they also made the decision to sacrifice themselves and not get on one of those boats.

In fact, after distributing all available life jackets, they gave their own life jackets, coats and gloves to others. As the ship was going down, they were seen linking arms, singing hymns and offering prayers.

For their act of heroism, they were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart. They were nominated for, but were not awarded, the Medal of Honor. However, Congress instituted the Chaplain’s Medal for Heroism to commemorate their actions; this decoration has only been awarded once.

These four chaplains continue to teach us lessons about doing our duty and selfless service; they teach us about courage and bringing comfort to others. One of the survivors remembered those chaplains and called it “the finest thing he had seen or hope to see this side of heaven.”

Another said that their voices were the only thing that kept him going. These four chaplains, ordinary men, Soldiers, were able to make an extraordinary difference by standing together and serving others.

Let’s reflect on their story and work to look past our difference and work together to bring comfort and encouragement to those around us.

Blessings!

Brig. Gen. Bob Pleczkowski
ROA National Chaplain
Retired U.S. Army Chaplain

President Biden signed a bipartisan bill that creates a program to recruit military medical personnel who have less than a year in their service commitment to work in federal health care jobs. 

When military treatment facilities began to downsize, ROA approached the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) with the idea of recruiting qualified military personnel to fill open positions in the VA.  In this program, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to consult with the Department of Defense to identify and refer members of the Armed Forces with health care occupations for employment with the VA during their separation process. 

The VA must refer interested members to a recruiter for consideration of open positions in the member’s specialty and geography of interest.  Referrals must not be made earlier than one year before the member’s separation from the Armed Forces.

When the time comes to transition from Warfighter to Veteran for Life, those who have selflessly served can continue to serve, with purpose, as a member of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service team. 

Long known as a top employer of Veterans, the Exchange is family serving family, offering meaningful careers, with competitive pay and benefits, for all who raised their right hand, took the oath and served with distinction. 

In November, the Department of Defense’s largest retailer was named to Military Times’ Best for Vets: Employers list for the eighth year in a row, recognizing the Exchange’s programs to attract and retain Veterans, inclusive hiring practices and more. Also in November, the Exchange earned its 12th Military Friendly® Employer designation from VICTORY, publisher of G.I. Jobs Magazine, earning the publisher’s Military Friendly® Employer Silver Award. 

The Exchange continues to lean forward to hire Veterans and retirees and those who support them. This past August, the organization crossed the finish line on its goal of hiring 50,000 Veterans and military spouses. Today, the Exchange is raising the bar even higher as we work to hire a total of 75,000 Veterans and military spouses by 2026.

We are honored by every Veteran who joins Team Exchange and are fully committed to equipping our newest teammates for success. The Exchange’s Veteran retail management training program is a great example of the training tools available to ensure our team is properly prepared to thrive in management roles. 

We are honored that so many Veterans continue to help the Exchange carry out its mission and look forward to seeing the new heights our Veteran teammates reach as they support the best customers in the world.

To learn more about careers at the Exchange and apply for current openings, visit ApplyMyExchange.com and click “Welcome Veterans” on the right side of the page. It is truly an honor to serve those who serve! 

Veteran for Life!

Tom Shull, a former infantry company commander, served as Military Assistant to Robert C. McFarlane, National Security Advisor to President Reagan. Currently, he is the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's Director/CEO and has served as CEO for retail and consumer packaged goods companies.