JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Chaplain Maj. Menashe Miller, 87th Air Base Wing Chapel, joined the Air Force to give back and serve his country.
He always enjoyed volunteering and helping others. After college he decided becoming a chaplain would be the best route for him to give back.
“Recently I received a community service award from a prestigious school in Lakewood Township,” said Miller. “That is the Township where I am Deputy Mayor.”
When Miller isn’t serving his reserve time here, or working as deputy mayor of the sixth largest municipality in the state of New Jersey, he is volunteering his time.
Over the past year he estimates he has volunteered over 300 hours.
“I am the volunteer deputy coordinator for the office of emergency management, I direct the community affairs department at a local clinic and I’m part of a search and rescue squad,” added Miller. “Volunteerism is at an all-time low, that’s why I am so big into volunteering. I have the extra time and enjoy doing it.”
Although Ch. Miller is on duty for a total of about a month a year, he is continuously at the base volunteering both his and his family’s time.
“I can’t imagine my life without volunteerism, my children take part in it, they come with me and join me,” said Miller. “I think my favorite place to volunteer is here at the Chapel when I’m off duty, it touches many people lives, and I enjoy that the most.”
Balancing work, family and endless volunteering can be a difficult task; Ch. Miller had a quote to sum up how he does it.
“In life we’re juggling, juggling family, volunteerism and jobs and so many different things,” began Miller. “Some of these balls are glass and some are rubber, it’s inevitable you’re going to miss a ball while juggling, the rubber ones will bounce right back up, the glass will shatter. Family is a glass ball for instance, and I never miss a family event.
“It’s just a matter of prioritizing what is a glass ball.”