Today's Featured Biography
Kirk Thorsteinson
Chaplain Thorsteinson is a native of Juneau, AK and an alumnus of Colony High School, the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and Multnomah Biblical Seminary (MBS). Chaplain Thorsteinson is ecclesiastically endorsed by the Associated Gospel Churches.
Enlisting in the Alaska Army National Guard as a PV2 on 13 AUG 99, Private Thorsteinson trained as a Blackhawk Crew chief (67T) with Detachment 1, Company B of the 1-207th Aviation Regiment in Juneau, AK. Accepting a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship at UAF, he became an Army Cadet and participated in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). On 20 JUL 00 Cadet Thorsteinson completed the ROTC Basic Camp at Fort Knox, KY. On 06 AUG 01 Cadet Thorsteinson completed the ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Lewis, WA and then the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA on 31 AUG 01. In May of 2002, he graduated from UAF with a Bachelor of Arts in History, a minor in Military Science, as a national ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate, and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.
During the summer of 2002, 2LT Thorsteinson served in Juneau, AK as the Support Platoon Leader for HHC, 3-297th Infantry (Scout). In the fall he traveled to Portland, OR to attend MBS. On 23 APR 03 he interstate transferred to the Oregon Army National Guard and became a chaplain candidate, serving at both the Oregon Military Department in Salem, OR, and the 141st Support Battalion in Portland, OR. On 03 SEP 04 he completed the Chaplain Officer Basic Course at Fort Jackson, SC and immediately following was promoted to First Lieutenant. On 13 MAY 05, 1LT Thorsteinson graduated from MBS with a Master of Divinity and on 21 JUN 05 was ordained by the elders of Central Bible Church in Portland, OR.
1LT Thorsteinson reported for duty at Fort Greely, AK on 08 AUG 05 where he served as the 49th Missile Defense Battalion Chaplain and Fort Greely’s Installation Chaplain until 31 JAN 06. Following his tour at Fort Greely he returned to Juneau, AK and became the 3-297th Infantry (Scout) Battalion Chaplain. On 06 JUL 06 he was mobilized with the 3-297th to Camp Shelby, MS for three months. On 16 OCT 06 he arrived in Kuwait where he served as the SECFOR North Chaplain stationed at Camp Buehring in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 22 MAR 07 he was promoted to Captain and he returned with the unit to Camp Shelby, MS on 14 OCT 07.
Chaplain Thorsteinson transitioned into the new 761st Military Police Battalion following the 3-297th Infantry (Scout) Battalion’s return from Kuwait. In 2008 he traveled to Mongolia to participate in the Field Training Exercise of Khaan Quest. On 23 APR 10 he completed the Chaplain Captain Career Course at Fort Jackson, SC. On 15 APR 12 he became the 297th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB) Chaplain. On 16 APR 14 he was promoted to Major. In 2015 he traveled to Mongolia to participate in the Command Post Exercise of Khaan Quest.
Chaplain Thorsteinson’s personal military decorations/awards include: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device and Bronze Hourglass Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Bronze Numeral 2, Alaska Community Service Medal, Alaska State Service Medal, and the Alaska State Partnership Program Ribbon with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.
Chaplain Thorsteinson and son, Craig, currently reside in Juneau, AK where he works full-time as a Human Resource Consultant II for the State of Alaska’s Department of Administration, Division of Personnel and Labor Relations, Classification Studies Team. He also serves as the chaplain for Veterans of Foreign Wars Taku Post 5559 (lifetime legacy bronze member), American Legion Auke Bay Post 25 (lifetime member), Pioneers of Alaska Men's Igloo 6, and has clergy privileges with the State of Alaska’s Department of Corrections Chaplaincy Program. He is also a lifetime member of the Association of the United States Army, Military Chaplain Association, Military Officers Association of America, Reserve Officers Association, and United States Army Chaplain Corps Regimental Association.
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