FORT KNOX, Ky. — During his 28-year career, Chaplain (Col.) Matt Kreider has never called Fort Knox home —
until now. Barely two weeks into his role as the senior chaplain of Fort Knox Garrison, Kreider said he and his wife are excited for the opportunity to make their mark at what he said is a “unique” Army post.
“Fort Knox has all these major commands; it’s just amazing,” said Kreider. “The post is mainly headquarters, so I’m taking my time to make sure I understand our role within the Garrison, and the Garrison within the broader community of Fort Knox.”
Kreider started his Army career in 1984 as an enlisted Soldier, working as a signals intelligence voice transcriber at Field Station Berlin in Germany from 1986 to 1989. He said he left the service for 12 years to pursue other dreams before returning to the Army in 2002 as a chaplain.
He said although he has been in the Army for a while, he has no plans to slow down – for now.
“I didn’t come here to retire,” said Kreider. “Maybe other chaplains have, and I may retire here, but this is not why I’m here. I’m here to work. I’m here to take a great organization and make it better.”
He has already begun to formulate some ideas on how to accomplish his goals. He said it starts with understanding the needs around him.
“I advise the commander from within the religious support lane about morals and ethics and religion,” said Kreider. “But my lane is also to help integrate the installation religious support plan with the other higher headquarters that are here.
“We support them, and they need us to execute that plan.”
Kreider explained that while tenant unit chaplains receive appropriated funds to help run their programs, they can’t rely on tithes and offerings. Those come from the Garrison.
“We work together with our mission partners to ensure that their mission support plans have the resources that they need to be well executed,” said Kreider. “We fund them well so that they can execute well. That takes integration, coordination and collaboration.”
Kreider said while much of that is already happening, getting the word out about it is not one of their strong suits.
“We’re not getting the message out to the entire community,” said Kreider, “so that’s something I’m going to figure out how to do as my job.
Developing the spiritual quality of life of the community is a big piece of the puzzle for Kreider. He sees his role in the Commanders Readiness and Resilient Council as a key element.
The council, commonly called CR2C, is the senior commander’s platform to understand and shape what is needed to achieve quality of life objectives that are articulated and prioritized by members of the community. Spiritual fitness is one of those areas.
“Where spiritual fitness really happens is at the unit level,” said Kreider. “The Garrison leaders come together to do an overall assessment of the fitness of the community, but this office cannot execute spiritual fitness.”
However, Kreider does have a Family Life Center, which offers family counseling and training of younger chaplains in family life counseling.
“That is an incredible asset to the community,” said Kreider.
Leading the charge in various chapel services across the installation, Kreider said they also have a myriad of opportunities to shape the landscape in ministry. Those ministries include children and youth programs as well as young adult, women’s, men’s and family ministries.
“When people think of chaplains, if all they think of is what we do on Sundays in the chapels, that’s probably only 20 to 30 percent of what we do,” said Kreider. “There’s so much more.”
Kreider said they also provide child care for families during some of the services and opportunities for older members, including military retirees, to serve.
“We have a breadth of religious support activities to meet the religious support needs of everybody —” said Kreider, “at whatever stage of life you’re in.”
And he’s just getting started.
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