Worshipping on an air force base, role of military chaplains, and how faith helps families cope

Mountain Home Air Force Base is home to 4,500 active-duty airmen, along with 6,000 family members, 7,000 retirees and 650 civilian employees.

Each of the men and women in uniform come from various religious backgrounds, but most are Catholic or Protestant Christians.

Chapel services are held on the base every Sunday. About 100 people, on average, attend every week.

"There are some people who come in dress slacks and button-up shirts. Some people come in jeans and a T-shirt. Some women wear dresses and some women wear jeans," Nina Augustine, a non-denominational Christian who attends services every week tells EastIdahoNews.com.

Military chaplains provide spiritual guidance for airmen and their families and help accommodate the spiritual needs of those they serve.

Whether it's long deployments, combat, or losing a comrade in battle, the lifestyle of active-duty airmen is full of challenges without the additional pressures of raising a family and practicing a faith. But the ability to practice a faith, worship in the space that's provided, and utilize the resources available is what allows many of them to get through difficult times and continue serving our country.

Welcome to Finding Faith, a podcast exploring the history, culture and beliefs of different denominations in eastern Idaho. This week, we're doing something just a little bit different. Rather than focusing on a specific religion, we're taking a trip outside the region to explore what it's like to practice a faith on an air force base, and how that faith helps in coping with the pressures of military life.