Chief of Chaplains Pays Virtual Visit to Recce Town Chaplain Corps Published May 28, 2020 By Airman 1st Class Luis A. Ruiz-Vazquez 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Despite the impacts COVID-19 has had on travel, Air Force Higher Headquarter (HHQ) leaders continue to connect with Airmen. Chaplain (Maj. Gen) Steven Schaick, U.S. Air Force Chief of Chaplains, held a virtual meeting with the Recce Town Chaplain Corps team on May 26. “Our HHQ leaders in the Chaplain Corps conduct annual pastoral visits that allow them to gain an in-person perspective into the lives of all Air Force Airmen that are executing the mission on a daily basis and how their local Chaplain Corps teams are impacting these Airmen,” said Tech. Sgt. Maryssa Maffeo, 9th Reconnaissance Wing NCOIC of religious affairs. “These pastoral visits also allow our senior leaders to personally understand how life varies from base to base so they can continuously evolve the Chaplain Corps mission as needed.” As Chief of Chaplains, Schaick leads an Air Force Chaplain Corps of approximately 2,000 chaplains and religious affairs Airmen, ensuring religious and spiritual needs of all Air Force personnel and their families are met. “The Chief of Chaplains is a principal advisor for religious matters to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force,” Maffeo said. “They are responsible for all Chaplain Corps personnel, operations and resources.” During the meeting, Schaick discussed how the Chaplin Corps mission at Recce Town has been altered by the pandemic and some of the things they are doing to meet the spiritual needs of Airmen at Beale. “Aside from getting face to face time that allows our Chaplain Corps members to realize that their tireless efforts are continuously valued by our senior leaders up at HAF (Headquarters Air Force), we will be able to cross check and make sure we at the wing level are staying aligned with the Air Force Chaplain Corps’ mission ‘to inspire readiness of Airmen and their families through unparalleled soul care, leadership advisement and religious liberty,’” Maffeo said.