NASC Chaplain Named Military BBBS Volunteer of the Year

by Lieutenant Karen Eifert, Naval Aviation Schools Command Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS)-Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BBBS) of Northwest Florida, Inc., Pensacola agency, named Lt. Carl Barnes, Naval Aviation Schools Command’s (NASC) chaplain, “Military Big Brother” of the Year for 2003-2004. The honor was bestowed upon Barnes for significant contributions to the life of a BBBS-sponsored minor for a one-year period.

Photo of Lt. Carl Barnes
Chaplain Lt. Carl Barnes “My goal in being a part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program is to provide support to disadvantaged children that will ultimately encourage, inspire, and nurture them in a way that makes them believe they can achieve things others may have previously told them are out of their reach,” Barnes said.

Barnes said that before he arrived in Pensacola in 2002, he had only played a minor role in the BBBS program, an organization known nationally for its strategy of providing one-on-one adult mentoring support for “at-risk” children. BBBS, which strives to serve roughly 550 kids in the Greater Pensacola area annually, defines the term “at-risk children” as those who come from single parent or low-income homes, or live in families with histories of substance abuse or domestic violence.

Although Barnes has been assisting with BBBS projects throughout the country wherever his military assignments have taken him in the past 20 years, he’d never made an individual commitment to one of the children the program served. All that changed when he reached his current Pensacola duty station. Barnes was paired with Danzael, a 14-year-old boy battling several personal issues. Barnes enthusiastically undertook the volunteer assignment. “It is so rewarding for me to help mold young people into productive citizens,” said Barnes who said he believed as soon as he heard the young boy’s story that he could be a positive influence in Danzael’s life.

Paula Shell, chief executive officer of the agency, said it made sense to name Barnes as the Military Volunteer of the Year. “The staff discussed who we should select, but we came to a final decision after reading a letter Danzael wrote to us,” she said.

The letter, in which Danzael recommended Barnes be named the Military Volunteer of the Year, cited year-long activities in which the two participated. Those activities included movie going, eating out, attending church, shopping, participating in civic activities around the community, and completing homework together. Danzael said they also spent many hours discussing his future, which he understood could hinge on his academic successes today.

With the assistance of Barnes, Danzael earned the Mobayed Scholarship offered by BBBS of Northwest Florida, Inc., an academic scholarship named for a late Navy pilot who was once a very active BBBS mentor. Additionally, he made arrangements for Danzael to be enrolled in Pensacola Junior College’s summer reading program. “I want Danzael to know that education is the key,” said Barnes. “I think he’s getting the picture that education is a legitimate way to move forward in life because I told him it will open doors and provide opportunities for him later in life.”

Peggy Murphy, a case manager at the BBBS Pensacola agency, says she’s pleased with the positive changes she’s noticed in Danzael over the past several months, but she’s not surprised. “Danzael gets to experience a lot of things because of [Barnes], and that kind of exposure is bound to have an awesome impact on a child.” •

Reprinted from Navy Newsstand: The Source for Navy News.

Carl Barnes served in the U.S. Navy from 1983-1989, spent five months as a civilian, and returned to active duty until 1997, when he began pursuing the Chaplain Candidate program. A 2000 graduate of Bethel Seminary San Diego, he is presently assigned to Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola, Florida, and is pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and psychology. Chaplain Lieutenant Barnes has been highly decorated during his career, including the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and Sea Service Award.