MAY 17, 2024 – Air Force Chief of Chaplains (Maj. Gen.) Randall E. Kitchens commemorated the anniversary of the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps in an event at Arlington National Cemetery, 75 years after the date of its inception, May 10.
Kitchens attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, and other attending members of the Chaplain Corps laid flowers at the graves of Air Force Chaplains on Chaplains Hill.
“Our mission is to inspire the readiness of Airmen, Guardians and their families through the accommodation of their religious needs,” Kitchens said. “We exist to lead and enhance spiritual fitness with the necessary advisement in the areas of religious, spiritual or ethical concerns.”
For more than seven decades, the Air Force Chaplains Corps has served service members of all faiths, offering counsel and religious support services.
“The unique challenge our Chaplain Corps faces today is the growing need for care and support with the competing prioritization of needed personnel and resources. As we look to the future and possible future conflicts, we will need more Chaplain Corps members to meet the demand.” Chief of Chaplains (Maj. Gen.) Randall Kitchens
Established May 10, 1949, the Air Force Chaplain Corps has been an integral part of the Air Force’s mission, nurturing the spiritual well-being of its members in times of peace, conflict and uncertainty.
It continues to serve Air Force Airmen and Space Force Guardians at locations around the world.
By Staff Sgt. Emmeline James
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs