Chapel hosts McConnell family retreat

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Packed with active duty Airmen, guardsmen, reservists, civilian employees, and family members, the base chapel hosted its final retreat of 2010, a McConnell United Services event.

The event, which was held Oct. 9 and 10, was one of four retreats focusing on renewal and revival. During the retreat, McUS representatives helped spread the message about Air Mobility Command's Comprehensive Airman Fitness.

"Through a combination of lecture and group discussion the participants were made aware of the CAF," said Chaplain (Capt.) Quentin Genke, 22nd Air Refueling Wing protestant chaplain.

The CAF, a new culture and new way of thinking, is an approach to better equip Airmen and their families on how to handle every day stress of military life.

CAF was developed to help encourage people improve the four pillars of CAF: physical, social, mental and spiritual fitness.

According to Chaplain Genke, the weekend retreat held a variety of venues to help people develop their four pillars. The retreat helped people see

"The retreat helped people see how to better structure their life by incorporating, maintaining and strengthening their personal four pillars," he said.

With the support of Team McConnell, the chapel helped spread McUS and CAF messages to the audience.

"CAF is great, it's a good way for the Air Force to go because it strengthens the base and the families," said Kari Kirk, wife of Master Sgt. Gregory Kirk, 22nd Operation Support Squadron first sergeant.

Throughout the weekend, the Team McConnell family participated in a variety of activities including horseback riding, canoeing, skeet shooting, rifle shooting and bow and arrow shooting were held during the retreat.

"All the activities were well organized and well supervised," said Mrs. Kirk. "It was so nice to disconnect from the world, the cell phones, the hectic life, and have some time to reconnect with my family and friends."

Chaplain Genke explained how the retreat fulfilled the base chapel's motto of "Refueling the Spirit of Team McConnell."

"It allows families to be ready Airmen in the sense that they are able to be care free for a weekend," he said. "It gives them a chance to connect as a family, and spend quality time; so, when the alarm does ring and they are called up for duty or deployment they have a decent foundation that their families or themselves [can hold on to]," he said. 

"I would like to thank Chaplain Assistants Staff Sgt. Nichole Evenson and Staff Sgt. Apollo Perry for their tireless work to make sure the registration went smoothly and for handling all the moving parts to make the retreat such a success," said Chaplain Genke.

With approximately 115 participants the retreat was one of the largest. The next one is scheduled for the 2011 Mother's Day Weekend at Rock Springs.