It was a monumental day as Chaplain Erik Young of St. Paul's Lutheran Church was promoted to Captain, it's a position that less than twenty people hold in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

After years of service to the U.S. Navy Reserves and to the church, Senior Pastor Erik Young has the new title of Captain. "There's so many good people in the Chaplain Corps. and to be lifted up as one of the ones to get the promotion, it's very humbling. It just gives me a different opportunity to help", said Young.


His role allows him to help Lutherans or other major Protestants branches handle services no matter where they are. It's a promotion that very few achieve.


As Christopher Otten , the Assistant to President Bishop of the Evangelical Church of America explained, "Very few chaplains that ever see that kind of rank in their career don't expect that. If you don't get promoted, you eventually retire. So for him, to be at this level to be promoted to captain really is an indication of exceptional service to our nation and service members."


Not only was Sunday's event a day to honor Captain Young's achievements, but it also inspired young men and women in the JROTC programs to see if this is something they want to achieve as well if they put their minds and hard work to it too.


Collegiate Academy's JROTC Cadets presented the colors for the ceremony.


Kenneth Watson, the Army Instructor at Collegiate Academy for JROTC said,  "This is something that we don't get very often especially, so they get to see the comradely, the speed record, they get to see everything come together and into the culmination into a ceremony and promotion of a great man."


For one cadet, he was especially inspired by Young's commitment as a chaplain, captain, and man.  "The promotion is a very nice ceremony and for the cadets to get invited is very nice and it's extra sentimental for me because it's my father being promoted", said Kaleb Young, a sophomore at Collegiate Academy. 


This promotion won't change Pastor Young's responsibilities at the church. His son Kaleb said he hopes to follow in his father's footstep's by joining the Navy as an officer in the future.