"Peace be with you Bataan" is the last thing a Sailor or Marine hears over the 1MC, the ships intercom system, before they drift off to a slumber after a long day out to sea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5).

While the saying is conveyed in a soft and somber way most days, the person that says it, is actually a very exuberant chaplain that many crew members look forward to hearing nightly while underway.

Lt. Cmdr. Jay Kersten, breaks the mold when it comes to Navy chaplains. He often references pop culture, like Star Wars, Star Trek or other movies and songs when reflecting on the day's events during his nightly prayer. It's always a mystery what his message will be about.

"As a child, I wanted to be a Marine or a Priest," said the Ann Arbor, Mich., native, whose family long holds a family tradition of military service.

Kersten decided to follow the path of his faith and became a catholic priest, but after four years as a civilian priest, Kersten still had a calling to serve his country. So he went to his bishop and asked for permission to join the Navy, as a chaplain. On February 6, 2002, Kersten combined his childhood dreams of serving his country as a priest.

Navy chaplains serve all over the world, on ships, ashore, overseas and with the Marine Corps. With a crew of more than 2400 service members on Bataan to serve, Kersten does his best to ensure crew members religious needs are met with services such as; Catholic Mass, Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist , Muslim prayer and contemporary Christian worship.

It is this commitment and constant enthusiasm that speaks to the crew members aboard Bataan.

"He does everything that he can to make sure that everyone gets [religious] accommodations regardless of their creed," said Religious Program Specialist Third Class Tallan Groberg. "Definitely for that I'd say he's the man for the job."

While having a variety of faiths, cultures and temperaments can make accommodating and taking care of individuals needs can be a challenge; for Kersten, it is what makes his job that much more awarding.

"What I like about being a chaplain on a warship is that we're constantly moving," added Kersten. "The people that I'm serving are from everywhere, and the crew does a multitude of different things because of all the different rates."

No matter the time of day, Kersten, as well as the other two chaplains onboard, are there to help people, regardless of rank or belief.

"I want the Sailors to take away what I always want each command to gain from my time with them, a positive and impacting experience of their chaplain," said Kersten. "I want them to know the chaps loved them, cared for them, was honest and gave good advice; that the chaps advocated for them when needed, and put right before personal convenience. Even if they don't remember my name I want them to know and remember the Chaplains are one of them, and for them, at every rank, not because of one's religious faith, they can believe whatever they
do, it is their right, but simply because they are members of the crew."

Kersten's commitment to his faith and service of his country plays heavily into his future and he foresees himself remaining in the Navy for as long as he can.

"I plan to stay in as long as I can and serve as a chaplain and have some sort of impact on the work that the chaplains do," said Kersten "I want to take away that I was a good and faithful servant; to my faith, my command and the Navy."

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