Chaplain's Corner

I'm honored to have been elected for another term as Dept of California state chaplain. I can be reached at fcorreaVFW@gmail.com

Chaplain Frank Correa

Dashboard Reporting 2025 Update Training [Please turn your volume way up to view] https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HBlWG3R4G9U8JlESw2Z1OE0MhBHxRIjS/view

Message from our National Chaplain,

Rise Up, Chaplains! Join the Challenge — Lead, Serve, Inspire!

Comrade Chaplains,

The National Chaplain’s Challenge is here — and it’s your call to action! Every prayer, every visit, every act of compassion makes an impact.

Whether you’re comforting a grieving family, organizing a drive, or standing with veterans in crisis — your service matters.

Get Involved – Step up your chaplaincy outreach.

· Track Your Service – Report your hours on the CSR Dashboard (and include your title: Post Chaplain, District Chaplain, etc.).

· Inspire Others – Share your stories and encourage chaplains nationwide.

Together, we’ll show the world that VFW Chaplains lead with faith, serve with compassion, and inspire with action.

Click the link below to see the flyer.

https://lotcs.org/VFW_Chaplain/Images/Community_Service/VFW_Chaplain_Community_Service_Challenge.pdf

Yours in comradeship, Darren Atkins National Chaplain Veterans of Foreign Wars 2025-2026

Chaplain’s Workshop at VFW National Convention in Columbus OH. Topics covered: Organizational structure, purpose and work of the chaplain, training and resources available, prayers, and mental health considerations. The National Chaplain of the Year award presentation. Donald M. Spano. VFW Post 7829 in Monument, Colorado.

Photos: the workshop presenters and members of the training committee: Deb Halter, Jim Jenkins, Peter Hook, Frank Correa. Some of the attendees. Chaplain of the year Donald Spano, our new national chaplain Darren Atkins.

workshop montage

Important Updates: Zoom training resumes Thursday, August 28, 2025, with a special session led by Past National Chaplain Debb Halter—an Introduction Training Class especially for newly appointed chaplains.

Our monthly Zoom training series resumes September 18, 2025, and continues through June 19, 2026—meeting the third Thursday of each month from 8:30–9:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Chaplains Training Workshop at Dept Convention 2025 POWERPOINT available

Suicide Intervention Basic Training: Amy Alvarez, Licensed Therapist specializing in trauma. Retired USMC Gunnery Sergeant

Zoom training Please note there will be no Zoom training in June, July or August due to conventions. On August 21, 2025: Past National Chaplain Debb Halter will be offering an Introduction Training Class for newly elected Chaplains. Then, on September 18, 2025, we officially begin our new season of Zoom training sessions.

REMINDER! Next Zoom Training Class: Third Thursday of most months at 1730 Pacific time. Reach out to Peter Hook if you are not already on email list for notifications.

Link to VFW Chaplain Service Dispatch monthly newsletter https://lotcs.org/vfw_chaplain.html use "News" tab

Department of California Chaplains Check in Meeting notes January 21, 2025 Key points and links to resources

Chaplain Training Opportunities

3rd Thursdays of most months 1730 PST Monthly Chaplains training meetings.(rotating topics and speakers)

Monthly Chaplains Zoom Training Classes

******To get on the list to receive the Zoom link*****

To sign up for VFW Chaplain Zoom training, you can email Reverend Peter Hook at: PeterHook@verizon.net. Be sure and enter the information below if you email him directly. Message Body: I wish to sign up for the VFW Chaplain training sessions. My name is: My email is: My phone number is: My state is: My district is: My post is:

The content varies each month and is well worth your time. It’s a fantastic resource for training and equipping all our chaplains.

Dashboard Reporting for Chaplains training video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiGC4xMZHPs

Dashboard Reporting PowerPoints /uploads/Documents/Dashboardreporting.pptx

There is a new option for veterans who prefer burial in private cemetery or personal urn retention by family by the VA starting June 1^st. https://news.va.gov/131136/nca-adds-options-for-ommemorative-plaques-and-urns/

Primary site for Archives of Chaplains training and Multiple recourses

Link https://lotcs.org/vfw_chaplain.html Select blue "Training" tab and then select the link for the video or PowerPoint you want to see.
Comrade Chaplains,

Here's the link to the YouTube video for the Ethics and VFW Ritual training:  https://youtu.be/eu3IDmb_8xs.
It's also on our web page:  https://lotcs.org/vfw_chaplain.html.
Here's the link for the updated Chaplain's Handbook:   Dated March 2024
https://lotcs.org/Forms/Chaplain/VFW_Chaplain/Manuals/VFW%20Chaplain%20Handbook%202024%20MAR%2018th.pdf

VFW Chaplain's Training: "Suicide Awareness" by Guest Speaker; Certified Trauma Training Specialist (CTTS) and a Loss & Grief Specialist, Chaplain Ron RIngo

The Suicide Prevention Training Zoom session is now live on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rxjpSuPyq4M. It's also under the Training tab on the VFW National Chaplain web page: https://lotcs.org/vfw_chaplain.html.

CA POST CHAPLAINS Basic Training (Link to PowerPoint) Covers the most importantly basics such as where to find resources and all the training opportunities available. Plus how and why to enter chaplain reports into the Dept website dashboard. Ill teach you how to enter reports.

Chaplains Basic Training Video link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRkZ8MgbI-W1PTvAvFOm1PiMOxVjGSWX/view?usp=sharing

CA District Chaplains Training Meeting PowerPoint from Aug 30th Please share with all your chaplains. There are a lot of great resources for chaplains here. A special thank you to newly elected National Chaplain Dave Frei for joining and supporting us.

Please check our or CA chaplain page on Facebook VFW Dept of CA State Chaplain