Rockford Pastor Commissions as Captain in Chaplain Corps

SPRINGFIELD, IL (12/24/2015)(readMedia)-- Jake Crowley, the senior pastor at the Rockford First Church of the Nazarene, was sworn in as a captain during a commissioning ceremony held Dec. 23 in Springfield, Illinois. Capt. Jake Crowley, a native of Auburn, Illinois, will begin his career in the Army's Chaplain Corps with the Chicago-based 108th Sustainment Brigade.

Crowley said his commissioning has been five years in the making. Crowley joined the Army Chaplain Candidate Program which gave him a chance to work with Soldiers and learn from already commissioned chaplains while he finished his degree at Olivet Nazarene University.

Crowley said his decision to join the Chaplain Corps was the best of both worlds.

"I was called into the ministry and I also felt a responsibility to serve my country," Crowley said. "This seemed like the perfect opportunity to do both."

As a chaplain, Crowley will provide spiritual and religious support for Soldiers in the Illinois National Guard. Chaplains are among the support groups available to Soldiers and family looking for advice, counseling and guidance.

The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps is one of the oldest and smallest branches of the Army. The Chaplain Corps dates back to July 29, 1775, when the Continental Army was authorized one chaplain per regiment.

Photo Cutline: Jake Crowley (right), a native of Auburn, Illinois, is sworn into the Chaplain Corps as a captain by Illinois Army National Guard Deputy Command Chaplain Lt. Col. Steve Foster during commissioning ceremony held Dec. 23 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Aaron Ritter, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Posted Thursday December 24, 2015 at 10:52 am by Illinois National Guard