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188th chaplain promoted to colonel

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cody Martin
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. --  Chaplain Tom Smith was promoted to the rank of colonel March 7, 2015, at a ceremony held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
After serving as the Wing chaplain for the 123rd Training Wing in the Kentucky Air National Guard, Smith brought his talents to the 188th Wing where he served for 16 years before taking a sabbatical for a missionary trip to the island of Leyte in the Philippines.

He returned to the 188th in 2001 to take a position as the chaplain and served in that role as a drill status Guardsman until 2012. Smith currently serves as the Flying Razorbacks' full-time chaplain as a federal military technician and has served as the Arkansas National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters command chaplain at the state level since Oct. 1, 2014.

"So many years ago, little did I realize that I would be standing here today as colonel," said Smith. "Little did I realize I would be asked if I would be interested in the command chaplain for the state of Arkansas and be the first Joint Force Headquarters command chaplain from the Air Guard for the state of Arkansas. Little did I realize that so many of you, and some who have departed, have become family to me."

Brig. Gen. (ret.) H.D. McCarty presided over the promotion ceremony. He detailed how important chaplains are within the military during his speech.
"One of the reasons chaplains exist is to try to help everyone in the unit recognize the wisdom that is gone before us," said McCarty. "The great chaplain is the one that proves he loves the people and that he is with them."

Smith spoke to the audience about the importance of the mentorship he received as well as the support provided from his family, as well as his extended family of the members of the 188th.
"Chaplain Smith is a remarkable asset to the 188th Wing and the state of Arkansas," said Col. Bobbi Doorenbos, commander of the 188th Wing. "His thoughtful and engaged leadership are unmatched and he is person that truly cares about the Airmen of this wing and is very deserving of this promotion."

At the end of his speech, Smith thanked everyone for attending and thanked God for providing him with this opportunity.

"I thank the Lord for this tremendous honor and responsibility and I hope to fulfill it to the best of my ability," Smith remarked. "As long as I have breath, I hope that I can continue to point people to the One who can change their life, because he changed mine."

As Joint Force Headquarters Command chaplain, Smith is responsible for ensuring the spiritual support for almost 10,000 Airmen and Soldiers within the state of Arkansas.

188th chaplain promoted to colonel

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cody Martin
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. --  Chaplain Tom Smith was promoted to the rank of colonel March 7, 2015, at a ceremony held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
After serving as the Wing chaplain for the 123rd Training Wing in the Kentucky Air National Guard, Smith brought his talents to the 188th Wing where he served for 16 years before taking a sabbatical for a missionary trip to the island of Leyte in the Philippines.

He returned to the 188th in 2001 to take a position as the chaplain and served in that role as a drill status Guardsman until 2012. Smith currently serves as the Flying Razorbacks' full-time chaplain as a federal military technician and has served as the Arkansas National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters command chaplain at the state level since Oct. 1, 2014.

"So many years ago, little did I realize that I would be standing here today as colonel," said Smith. "Little did I realize I would be asked if I would be interested in the command chaplain for the state of Arkansas and be the first Joint Force Headquarters command chaplain from the Air Guard for the state of Arkansas. Little did I realize that so many of you, and some who have departed, have become family to me."

Brig. Gen. (ret.) H.D. McCarty presided over the promotion ceremony. He detailed how important chaplains are within the military during his speech.
"One of the reasons chaplains exist is to try to help everyone in the unit recognize the wisdom that is gone before us," said McCarty. "The great chaplain is the one that proves he loves the people and that he is with them."

Smith spoke to the audience about the importance of the mentorship he received as well as the support provided from his family, as well as his extended family of the members of the 188th.
"Chaplain Smith is a remarkable asset to the 188th Wing and the state of Arkansas," said Col. Bobbi Doorenbos, commander of the 188th Wing. "His thoughtful and engaged leadership are unmatched and he is person that truly cares about the Airmen of this wing and is very deserving of this promotion."

At the end of his speech, Smith thanked everyone for attending and thanked God for providing him with this opportunity.

"I thank the Lord for this tremendous honor and responsibility and I hope to fulfill it to the best of my ability," Smith remarked. "As long as I have breath, I hope that I can continue to point people to the One who can change their life, because he changed mine."

As Joint Force Headquarters Command chaplain, Smith is responsible for ensuring the spiritual support for almost 10,000 Airmen and Soldiers within the state of Arkansas.