U.S. and AFP Chaplains Work Together To Help At-Risk Communities
CHAPLAINS from the U.S. Armed Services and Armed Forces of the Philippines met Thursday at the Shrine of St. Therese for a professional and spiritual workshop on caring for persons with substance abuse addiction.
The subject matter expert exchange, titled “Preventing and Addressing Alcohol and Drug Problems,” offered the chaplains an opportunity to share best practices in substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery.
The training featured presentations on substance abuse prevention and treatment from U.S. military chaplain Lt. Col. Leah Boling, a native of Davao, who specializes in professional counseling.
The chaplain exchange highlights one of over eighty subject matter expert exchanges set for this year where U.S. and Philippine service members exchange experiences and skills to bolster the capabilities and readiness of both services.
Each exchange occurs at the invitation of the Government of the Philippines and at the direction of U.S. Pacific Command.
BIOGRAPHY
UNITED STATES AIRFORCE
LIEUTENANT COLONEL LEAH B. BOLING
Chaplain Boling is the Wing Chaplain,154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii. Joined HIANG in 2002 and commissioned as a First Lieutenant. She was born and raised in the Philippines. She received licenses in both License in Marriage & Family Therapy and License in Professional Counselor from Virginia. She works fulltime since 2000 as Multisystemic Therapy Supervisor for Parents And Children Together. Serves numerous times as Command Chaplain for Special Operations Command, Pacific. Currently on MPA tour with SOCPAC since Dec 2014. She was handpicked as one of the four Air National Guard Chaplains to star in an infomercial to use as a recruitment tool for Air National Guard.
EDUCATION:
1986 Bachelor of Science degree in Customs Administration,
Holy Cross of Davao College, Philippines
1990 Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care & Counseling, PBTS, Philippines
1991- 1994 Clinical Pastoral Education, Pacific Health Ministries, Hawaii
1996 Educational Specialist in Professional Counseling, William & Mary, VA
2003 Officer Training School (Honor Flight), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2004 Basic Chaplain School (Most Outstanding Student Athlete & Fitness Awards),
Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2007 Squadron Officer School (Correspondence)
2013 Deputy Wing Chaplain Course, Ft Jackson, South Carolina
2013 Air Command & Staff College (Correspondence)
2015 Wing Chaplain Course, Ft Jackson, South Carolina
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
AF Outstanding Unit Award
National Defense Service Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Short
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
AF Longevity Service
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 ‘M’ Device
AF Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
First Lieutenant, 06 April 2001
Captain, 06 April 2004
Major, 29 May 2008
Lieutenant Colonel, 07 September 2013
(Current as of November 2016)
