Displaying unparalleled strategic vision and decisive leadership, Chaplain Collins conceived, developed, and masterfully executed a comprehensive multi-installation religious support program. This groundbreaking initiative provided consistent and compassionate pastoral care, dynamic worship services, and targeted spiritual guidance to a vast and geographically dispersed community of thousands. By skillfully synchronizing religious support assets across four distinct installations, he not only overcame significant logistical challenges but also cultivated a unified spiritual environment, profoundly fostering spiritual resilience and measurably enhancing the quality of life for countless Soldiers, Family Members, and Retirees.
Chaplain Collins personified the essence of selfless service by demonstrating an unwavering dedication and profound empathy in providing exceptional, confidential pastoral care to a diverse community of more than 1,000 Soldiers and their Families. He masterfully offered critical, life-affirming support through the most challenging and triumphant moments of military life, skillfully navigating the full spectrum of human experience from the profound depths of grief and loss to the celebration of shared joy and personal accomplishment, thereby building a resilient and spiritually grounded community.
Chaplain Collins made a strategic and lasting impact on the future of the Army Chaplain Corps by significantly enhancing its operational readiness through his personal leadership and expert mentorship. He meticulously prepared and guided junior chaplains and chaplain candidates across four uniquely demanding, high-stakes Battle-Focused Training exercises. His direct involvement ensured their complete proficiency in every critical aspect of providing religious support in complex, multi-domain environments, thereby guaranteeing the next generation of spiritual leaders is not just competent, but exceptionally well-prepared to sustain the force.
Serving as a vital advisor on the moral and ethical dimensions of operations, Chaplain Collins masterfully navigated the complexities of battalion, brigade, and garrison staff operations with exceptional diplomacy and skill. He provided unparalleled religious support integration by ensuring the commander's intent was always informed by a deep concern for spiritual welfare, providing critical counsel that directly contributed to sound decision-making. His efforts were foundational to establishing an environment of profound trust and support, which directly enhanced the holistic well-being and combat effectiveness of all personnel.
FOR EXCEPTIONAL SEVICE WHILE ASSIGNED AS THE BRIGADE CHAPLAIN FOR THE 1ST BRIGADE, 94TH TRAINING DIVISION. CHAPLAIN COLLINS' PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION TO DUTY, AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE MISSION SUCCESS OF THE BRIGADE. HIS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IS KEEPING WITH THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT ON HIM, 1ST BRIGADE, 94TH TRAINING DIVISION AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
Meritorious service while serving as Chaplain, 15th Airlift Wing, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from XXXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXX. During this period, the outstanding professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Chaplain Taylor resulted in major contributions to the effectiveness and success of Hickam Air Force Base Chapel services by expertly managing a Protestant budget of 310 thousand dollars, providing financial support for thirty critical chapel programs, including a world-class Protestant religious education program. In addition, he recruited and trained over 70 weekly volunteers and increased participation to 15,000 members, a 140 percent increase over last fiscal year. Moreover, he constructed a new deck and spearheaded the first ever Airmen Ministry Center weekly meal, boosting the morale of over 225 single Airmen and increasing ministry center accessible space by over one hundred percent. Furthermore, as the chair of the Hickam Integrated Delivery System, he sponsored a Wingman Day, giving vital life saving resources to over 5,000 Airmen. Finally, as project officer for the National Prayer Luncheon for two consecutive years, attendance topped one thousand, the largest to date. The distinctive accomplishments of Captain Taylor reflect credit upon himself, the 15th Airlift Wing and the United States Air Force.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS BATTALION CHAPLAIN, 2D RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, 2D MARINE DIVISION FROM OCTOBER 2013 TO SEPTEMBER 2016. LIEUTENANT HERBERT CONSISTENTLY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER BY INCREASING OVERALL COMMAND MISSION READINESS THROUGH HIS SKILLED PERSONAL COUNSEL TO MORE THAN 480 MARINES AND SAILORS. HE ASSISTED COMMAND LEADERSHIP BY SERVING AS A KEY ADVISOR ON OVER 100 OCCASIONS, HIS INSIGHTS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONFRONTATION AND ELIMINATION OF A CONTINUED INCREASE IN DISCIPLINARY TRENDS AND FACILITATED THE REDUCTION OF RECIDIVISM THROUGHOUT THE BATTALION. DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROFESSIONAL STANDING AND PERFORMANCE OF 39 STAFF OFFICERS, HE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED A PRODUCTIVE AND ROBUST FLEET MARINE FORCE WARFARE OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM. HIS 100 PLUS HOURS OF INSTRUCTION DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO SIX OFFICERS EARNING THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, HE PROVIDED KEEN COUNCIL THAT INCREASED THE PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION BY 57 MARINES AND SAILORS. FURTHER, HE ORGANIZED AND COORDINATED THE COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF 33 FOOD BASKETS VALUED AT OVER $1,200 TO FAMILIES IN NEED. BY HIS EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY, PERSONAL INITIATIVE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY, LIEUTENANT HERBERT REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
STAFF CHAPLAIN AT RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND FROM XXXXXXX 2011 TO XXXXXXX 2014. CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JESUS M. SANTOROS PROVIDED AND CONDUCTED THE SUCCESSFUL PASTORAL MINISTRY AND CARE OF 25,000 RECRUITS AND STAFF MEMBERS IN 6 DIFFERENT RECRUIT BARRACKS DURING HIS TENURE. HE PROVIDED 310 COMBINED CORE VALUES AND INITIAL ARRIVAL BRIEFS TO 280 DIVISIONS. DURING A CRITICAL MANNING SHORTFALL, HE ASSUMED ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO FACILITATE TWO CHAPLAIN PCS TRANSFERS, ONE CHAPLAIN IA DEPLOYMENT, AND ONE CHAPLAIN'S SURGERY AND SUBSEQUENT CONVALESCENT LEAVE BY COVERING THE RECRUIT CONVALESCENT UNIT IN ADDITION TO HIS TWO ASSIGNED RECRUIT BARRACKS. IN ADDITION, HE COUNSELED over 1,100 TROUBLED RECRUITS FROM THE RECRUIT CONVALESCENT UNIT, RIFLE, PERFORMING, AND DIVE MOTIVATOR DIVISIONS MOTIVATING THEM TO COMPLETE TRAINING. FINALLY, AS COMMAND SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATOR, HE PROVIDED MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE COMMANDER TO IDENTIFY AND COUNTER NEGATIVE TRENDS AND INCORPORATED THE NAVY'S PEER TO PEER TRAINING INTO HIS CORE VALUES BRIEFS TO BETTER EQUIP RECRUITS. HE ALSO REVISED THE SUICIDE RESPONSE MATRIX WHICH RESULTED IN BETTER TRAINING DURING SAFETY STAND DOWNS AND ZERO SUCCESSFUL SUICIDES DURING HIS TENURE. CHIEF PETTY OFFICER SANTOROS' INITIATIVE AND UNSWERVING DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
