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Alumnus sports Flames hockey jersey in Afghanistan

1st Lt. Jeff Grimes, a U.S. Army chaplain serving in Afghanistan, is not only a counselor and peacemaker, but also a passionate supporter of the Flames’ hockey teams.

As a 2011 graduate of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, with a Master of Divinity degree, Grimes asked Mike Binnie, assistant coach for the men’s Division I hockey team, for something he could wear in a street hockey tournament recently held at his base camp.

“We provided him some proper gear to represent his alma mater,” Binnie said. “As a chaplain and a soldier, he deserves our support. He’s supporting American soldiers.”

Grimes received plenty of positive feedback from members of his battalion.

“You would be amazed at how much things like this boost morale for the soldiers,” Grimes said in an email thanking Binnie. “This jersey was a wonderful conversation piece for the soldiers that often struggle from day to day. Soldiers come to me worn down and stressed out. They just need some relief from the mission stress, some reminder of being home. The jersey took their focus from the mission to pleasure. They started talking about hockey and other sports.”

Grimes is a chaplain for the 160th Military Police Battalion out of Tallahassee, Fla., which is busy training and advising the Afghan National Army.

Liberty’s seminary currently trains more chaplains for service than any other institution in the country.

Grimes plans to pursue his Master of Arts in Professional Counseling at Liberty immediately following his deployment.

“I have told many soldiers about the benefits and opportunities offered through Liberty University,” he said. “With the tuition discounts for military students offered through Liberty as well as a Military Affairs department dedicated to helping those who serve, Liberty was the best choice for me. I am proud to be a Liberty alumnus. I am proud to have gone to a school that supports our nation’s military.”

To return the favor of the jersey, Grimes plans to mail the team one of the American flags flown over his headquarters, with a certificate signed by the company commander and battalion first sergeant.

  • The Flames men’s Division I hockey team will begin the quest for its first national title as it faces John Carroll in the opening round of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament Friday night at 9:30 p.m. (EST) in Chicago, Ill.
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