Deputy Chief of Chaplains visits Columbus Air Force Base

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Beaux Hebert
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
Deputy Chief of Chaplains Brig. Gen. Steven Schaick visited the Team BLAZE community April 18 – 20, 2017, on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.

He started the day off April 19 with a Unit Prayer Breakfast in the Wing Headquarters building.

Schaick told a story of how he was on a plane that had to have an emergency landing due to smoke billowing up from underneath passengers’ seats. He talked about how the flight attendants struggled to contain the panicking passengers and had to yell over the intercom to teach them the proper crash position.

“Eventually the smoke stopped,” Schaick said. “Passengers started to calm down and then the Captain’s voice came over the intercom saying there was a generator that had problems however they had shut it down, but due to safety reasons we will land at the nearest airport.”

He said the story is a metaphor meaning God may not always be there talking to you, but he’s there in the background trying to keep you safe.

After the breakfast, Schaick went to the Chapel On-Demand at Knowledge Operations. Schaick bragged on the base’s Chapel team because they were the ones who developed the program that has a chance to be used Air Force wide.

The next day he officiated the retirement of Maj. Craig Augustino, 50th Flying Training Squadron Assistant Director of Operations. Schaick thanked the family, friends and fellow wingmen for coming out and supporting Augustino as he prepares for a new chapter in his life. His speech talked about how Augustino progressed through his career and congratulated him on this accomplishment.

After the ceremony, he departed Columbus with hopes to return again soon.