Deputy Chief Chaplain Morris Courtright

Psalms 23:1- 4 - "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for He is with me; His rod and His staff, they comfort me.

Chaplain Morris Courtright is a Deputy Chief Director of Military & Civil Air Patrol chaplaincy. Chaplain Courtright works with the US department of defense helping get military chaplains endorsed into the military.

Chaplain Courtright, is a Lt Col. in the Civil Air Patrol, Arizona Wing Chaplain assisted at the Change of Command Ceremony by holding the Bible while the incoming Arizona Wing Commander was sworn in by the outgoing commander and then passed the Wing colors from the old commander to the new.

Chaplain Courtright was presented with his cross insignia as a Chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol by Wing Chaplain Steven Rountree at an Arizona Wing Commanders Call at Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix.

He will be working with the Tucson Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB and says "his primary goal is to promote character development and provide moral guidance to the Cadet members of the squadron." In addition he will be working with Wing Chaplain Rountree to develop a series of recorded Character Development sessions for use by member in units in remote areas of Arizona.

A CAP Chaplain occupies a unique role in that he serves the needs of a large body of senior and cadet members who come from varied religious traditions, including those who have no personal religious convictions.

CAP is a nonprofit organization with more than 64,000 members nationwide. It performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state, and local agencies. The members take a leading role in Aerospace Education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for over 60 years.

Civil Air Patrol Background Information: The Civil Air Patrol performs three main functions emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet training. The Civil Air Patrol was founded Dec. 1, 1941. During World War II, its principal purpose was to allow private pilots and aviation enthusiasts to use their light aircraft and flying skills in civil defense efforts. In 1943, the organization came under control and direction of the Army Air Forces. Civil Air Patrol became a permanent peacetime institution July 1, 1946, when President Harry S. Truman signed Public Law 476 establishing it as a federally chartered, benevolent, civilian corporation.

In May 1948, Public Law 557 made the organization the official auxiliary of the Air Force. This law, known as the CAP Supply Bill, authorized the Secretary of the Air Force to assign military and civilian personnel to liaison offices at all levels of CAP.

If you’re a member of the clergy, Civil Air Patrol offers a unique opportunity for you. When you join CAP Chaplain Services, you become part of the largest all-volunteer chaplaincy in the world. CAP chaplains support U.S. Air Force active-duty and reserve chaplains, particularly during times of war when military personnel are deployed.

CAP chaplains also assist other national relief organizations in times of disaster and minister to victim families and emergency workers. Leaders in CAP Chaplain Services receive training in Critical Incident Stress Management, a key area of concern with our current threats to homeland security.

Emergency Services: CAP's emergency services include air and ground search and rescue, disaster relief and civil defense for natural disasters. Its members fly approximately 85 percent of the search and rescue mission hours directed by the Air Force Rescue and Coordination Center at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Civil Air Patrol was credited with saving 89 lives in 1999.

On Nov. 14, 1985, CAP agreed to assist the U.S. Customs Service in its counterdrug efforts by flying air reconnaissance missions along U.S. boundaries. In early 1989, similar agreements were made with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Forest Service. CAP participation only involves reconnaissance, transportation and communications support. Members do not carry firearms, make arrests or give chase to suspected drug traffickers. In 1999, CAP aircrews flew more than 6,500 missions in support of the nation's war against drugs.

Membership consists of approximately 26,000 cadets and more than 35,000 adult volunteers. They wear the Air Force uniform, but with distinctive CAP emblems and insignia. Members operate more than 3,700 privately owned aircraft and 530 CAP aircraft and more than 950 CAP ground vehicles in support of the organization's programs.

CAP chaplains play an important role in this process. CAP offers its chaplains training in all aspects of volunteer service, from conducting military funerals to pastoral counseling.

To become a CAP chaplain, you must be a fully qualified member of the clergy of your religious group with the appropriate educational background. Our chaplains come from all religious faith groups and include priests, ministers, rabbis, elders and imams. You must be qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve as a volunteer chaplain. You must be sensitive to religious pluralism and committed to the free exercise of religion.

John 13:35 - Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

We are a nondenominational ministry of presence with chaplains, ministers, pastors, priests and bishops serving worldwide. All members are legally ordained and licensed as ministers and chaplains.© copyright worldwide by Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International Inc.