Pinning of the Cross

Post date: Apr 29, 2013 5:44:09 AM

23 April 2013- McChord Composite Squadron celebrated the “Pinning of the Cross” for Chaplain (LTC) Daniel Goulet. Present for the ceremony were Cadets from the Squadron, LTC Bill Lewis (CAP), Chaplain (LTC) Garlow (US Army), Maj Dean (US Army), and numerous senior members. The “Pinning of the Cross: signifies acceptance into the Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Service. Chaplain (LTC) Goulet joined the Civil Air Patrol as a Cadet in 1990, he earned the Amelia Earhart Award and was promoted to Cadet Major before going on active duty.

Upon entering active duty Chaplain (LTC) Goulet transferred his membership to Senior Membership. He has held numerous positions of responsibility such as Deputy Commander of Cadets, Group Commander and Equal Opportunity Advisor to the Maryland Wing IG.

Chaplain (LTC) Goulet earned his Master’s Degree in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2007.

Chaplain (LTC) Goulet is currently an Active Duty Chaplain (Capt – US Army) and is assigned to the 17th Fires Brigade, 308th Brigade Support Squadron.

CAP Chaplin History

The mission of the Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Service is to provide for the religious, moral, and spiritual needs of all Civil Air Patrol members.

From its establishment in 1941 till 1950, Civil Air Patrol units were served by Army Air Corps chaplains as part of their pastoral mission. This changed in January 1950 when the CAP chaplain service was formally organized as an integral part of CAP. The Chief of USAF Chaplains appointed Chaplain, Lt Col, Robert P. Taylor, USAF, as the first National Chaplain of Civil Air Patrol. Assisting him were one Air Force enlisted member and one secretary. The primary task of the National Chaplain's office was to be the single liaison point between the CAP volunteers and the Air Force Chaplain Service. This relationship continued into the 21st Century when the Air Force decided that providing an active duty chaplain was no longer feasible. The Chaplaincy shifted to a Corporate Director and in 2005, the National Chief of Chaplain Service was formed. The Air Force Chaplain Corps continues to exercise direction and interest in the CAP chaplaincy. CAP chaplains who qualify are named in AFI 52-101 and may be authorized to augment the Air Force Chaplain Corps.

In 2001 our nation entered into a “War on Terror” following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by terrorists which took place on September 11th. With the downsizing of the military in the ‘90s and the frequent deployments of military personnel (including chaplains), many Civil Air Patrol chaplains have served as “force multipliers.” They have offered counseling, officiated at weddings and military funerals, visited military hospitals, performed chapel services, prayed for soldiers leaving the country, and conducted services for returning troops. As the Air Force Chaplain Corp continues to evolve, the Civil Air Patrol evolves with them in order to continue to provide the religious, morale, and spiritual needs to all Civil Air Patrol members, and when called, to Airman and their families serving in the Active, Guard, and Reserve.