Honoring the humble: 1st SOW chaplain wins AF distinguished service award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stacy Fowler
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs Office
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  How do you gauge what makes someone an award winner? What makes them stand out from the crowd?

If you ask Chaplain (Maj.) Jonathan Hurt, 1st Special Operations Wing, it wasn't anything special that won him the Air Force's Military Chaplain Association Distinguished Service Award for 2013.

"Honestly, when I think about the accomplishments of many of my brother and sister chaplains, I feel completely unworthy of this honor," Hurt said. "It comes at a time when I needed some affirmation and direction. I believe this was a way of God showing me he is not finished with me yet as a minister and a chaplain in the U.S Air Force. I am more humbled than ever, and feel I need to be even more diligent to live up to this honor."

The MCA presents awards to chaplains in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Veterans Affairs and Civil Air Patrol. The award recognizes ministry excellence of chaplains in mid-career.

At both home station and deployed locations, Hurt received accolades for supporting his flock and all those who surrounded him. This included not only his religious duties during chapel services, which averaged more than 8,500 attendees during 2013, but his deep-rooted drive to provide exceptional spiritual counsel and care to more than 2,300 individuals.

Dubbed an "agent of healing and hope" by the 1st SOW chaplain corps, many Airmen see Hurt as their spiritual "go-to guy."

"[We] highly recommend Chaplain Hurt for spiritual needs and care -- he will never steer you wrong," said Senior Airman Gerald Montag, 1st SOW chaplain assistant. "His knowledge and expertise, combined with his deep love for his job, have to be his best traits. He always has answers, and always greets you with a caring smile. We'll really miss him after he [permanently changes station], I know that he will do great things in his next assignment."

Hurt is scheduled to go to Kunsan Air Base, Korea, to fulfill the spiritual needs of the people there, but before he leaves he had some advice for Air Commandos and their families.

"Become the best YOU that you can," Hurt said. "Don't turn down an opportunity to do something difficult. When you are faced with an opportunity that seems impossible, just do it. Lastly, when you fail at something (and unfortunately it will happen), be forgiven and forgive others.

"I can't describe how much I have enjoyed being part of this wing," he added. "I come to work every day feeling honored to serve alongside such incredible men and women."