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Elmendorf chaplain honored for excellence

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ashley Conner
  • 477th Fighter Group
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Chaplain (Maj.) Patrick Travers was awarded the Air Force Reserve Command's Chaplain Individual Award for Excellence during a ceremony May 3 in Denver, Colo.

"I was honored to receive this award, knowing that so many other Air Force Reserve chaplains had so many great achievements during 2010," said Chaplain Travers. "I hope and pray that this award will help to enhance the credibility and reputation of the 477th Fighter Group as a whole; and that it might encourage other Air Force Reserve chaplains to volunteer for deployments and home base sustainment opportunities."

The award was presented by Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Jack Sewell, IMA to the Air Force Chief of Chaplains, and by Chaplain (Col.) William Willis, the AFRC Command Chaplain during AFRC's Chaplains' Conference.

His accomplishments that led to him winning this award was volunteering for a third unsolicited seven month deployment, constructing the chapel service program for the Air Force Reserve Commands newly activated 477th Fighter Group from scratch and completing 12 hours of legal education classes to maintain his certification as a licensed attorney.

Chaplain Travers' journey to become an Air Force chaplain is unlike any other. After graduating from Georgetown University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs, he began studying to become a lawyer at Harvard Law School where he received his juris doctorate in 1976.

Following admission to the bar that year he served as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States Department of Commerce.

In 1988 he began preparation for the Catholic priesthood, attending the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and graduating with degrees in Theology in 1992 and Canon law in 1994.

While studying in Europe, he entered the Air Force Reserve as a second lieutenant chaplain candidate in May 1991, serving in that capacity at Aviano AB, Italy; Bitburg AB, Germany; Soesterberg AB, Netherlands; and Incirlik AB, Turkey.

He was ordained as a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Juneau, Alaska, in July 1993, and subsequently recommissioned as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve. Chaplain Travers was assigned to Lackland AFB, Texas, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and McChord AFB, Wash. before being re-assigned back to Elmendorf AFB to the newly activated 477th FG where he undertook the establishment of the new Group's Chapel activities.

The son of an Air Force non-commissioned officer, Travers was very familiar to service before self which he carried with him during his numerous deployments throughout Southwest Asia.

When not holding church services for the members of the 477th FG at JBER during Unit Training Assembly weekends, Chaplain Travers serves as the Pastor of Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and as Vicar General and Judicial Vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Juneau.

"Chaplain Travers exemplifies everything that is right in the human spirit,' said Col. Bryan Radliff, 477th Fighter Group commander. "A selfless servant to both his local parish and the 477 FG, he never misses an opportunity to minister and counsel anyone in need. His accomplishments and willingness to serve our Nation during our increased operations tempo cannot be captured in one award. We are extremely proud to be able to recognize his service and have him continue to serve as a member of the Air Force Reserve family."