BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- For Chaplain Rebecca Pettit, Space Base Delta 2 chaplain, service is centered on connection, compassion and reminding people that they matter.
Growing up outside of Houston, Pettit attended Baylor University for both her undergraduate and seminary degrees before beginning her path as a chaplain. During seminary, she completed an internship as a hospital chaplain, an experience that helped shape her calling to care for and support others through difficult moments in life.
That experience led Pettit to complete a hospital chaplain residency in Temple, Texas, where she supported patients and families in emergency care, labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care and oncology units. She later served at a Veterans Affairs hospital in North Carolina, focusing on inpatient and outpatient mental health support for veterans.
“Throughout my residency and fellowship, I met multiple retired military chaplains who talked to me about their experiences,” Pettit said. “Working at the VA and meeting with the veterans there convinced me to try military chaplaincy out, and I am glad that I did.”
Today, Pettit supports joint service partners and families across Buckley Space Force Base through counseling, unit visits, resiliency programs and spiritual care.
“One of the best parts of being a chaplain is that no two days are the same,” Pettit said. “Some of my days include back-to-back counseling sessions with Airmen and Guardians. Other days, I get to visit the units and see what folks are doing at their jobs.”
Pettit said those interactions, whether in counseling or during unit engagement, help build trust and strengthen relationships throughout the installation.
“When people feel valued, they show up,” Pettit said. “The small investments in others that anyone can take, whether you’ve been in three months or 30 years, are what add up to create a culture of dignity for all.”
Beyond religious services, the Buckley Chapel provides confidential counseling, wellness education and programs designed to help members build purpose and resilience through life’s challenges. Pettit said creating an environment where people feel heard remains one of the chapel team’s top priorities.
“There is nothing too big or too small to talk to a chaplain about,” Pettit said. “You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be seen for all of who you are. You matter, and the Buckley chapel team is here for you.”
Through every conversation, visit and moment of support, Pettit and the Buckley SFB Chapel team reinforce that strength comes from investing in people, building confidence, resilience and readiness that carries into future missions.