VIRTUAL | The Strategic Role of the Chaplain Corps in Promoting Racial Harmony Within the Army
Chaplain Alwyn Michael (Mike) S. Albano Jr. holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from San Pablo Seminary and a Masters of Divinity from Immaculate Conception School of Theology in the Philippines. Ordained as a Catholic Priest for the Diocese of Laoag on 1 December 1990, he served as Spiritual Director, Procurator, Prefect of Discipline, and then as Rector of St. Mary’s Seminary, Philippines from 1991-1997. He was also appointed as Vocation Director of the Diocese of Laoag from 1993-1997. From there he served as Associate Pastor in the Diocese of San Diego, California. In 2002, Chaplain Albano was commissioned as a chaplain in the United States Army and entered active duty.
Chaplain Albano’s military education includes the Chaplain Officer Basic Course, the Chaplain Sustainment Training, the Air Assault Course, the Captain Chaplain Career Course, the Brigade Chaplains’ Functional Area Course, the Combat Life-Saver’s Course, the Traumatic Event Management Course, the Command and General Staff College, the Initial Strategic Religious Leaders Course and the NATO and Partner Chaplain Operations Course.
Chaplain Albano began his military service as Squadron Chaplain, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, TN and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2004); followed by a restricted tour to the Republic of Korea as Battalion Chaplain for 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey; and then as Squadron Chaplain, Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fort Hood, TX and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2007-2009).
In 2010, he served as Brigade Chaplain, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC and deployed as Command Chaplain, Combined Task Force Lightning in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (2010-2011) and then followed by an unaccompanied tour to the Republic of Korea as Director for the U.S. Army Religious Retreat Center in Seoul. From there he was selected as Deputy Division Chaplain, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA and deployed as Command Chaplain, United States Forces – Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (2015).
In 2016, he became the Deputy Garrison Chaplain and Religious Support Office Operations Chaplain for Joint Base Langley-Eustis at Fort Eustis, VA; and then assigned as Division Chaplain, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS and currently deployed as Command Chaplain, 1st Infantry Division (Forward) in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Chaplain Albano’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with 1 OLC, the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 OLC, the Army Commendation Medal with 1 silver and 2 OLC, the Joint Service Achievement Award, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 6, the NATO Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation with 2 OLC, and the Air Assault Badge.
Originally published at ndisc.nd.edu.