Friday Day 47, Week 13

Graduation!

It was pretty cool. We had a lot of people there. We surprised some people with our singing talent (or lack there of). My state Chaplain surprised me by showing up. That was pretty cool. He didn't have to do that. I appreciated it. Connie and the Boys were there, as was my parents and sister. That was nice too.

Thursday Day 46, Week 13

Wow what a long day. We were doing out processing and preparing for graduation. It really was a challenge staying with the program today. Everyone had to "digitally sign" paperwork. What a pain. Only a few of the computers would work. 170 students trying to use a handful of computers. Not pretty. Oh well one more day.

One of the guys did a really good drawing for the Group leader. It was impressive. The entire platoon signed it and we gave it to our SGL, Good stuff

Wednesday Day 45, week 13

A pretty good day. Not a whole lot on the schedule. The guys going active duty had several meetings in the morning. We didn't come in until 11:00 and then we got out pretty early.

Connie really enjoyed more of the spouse seminar. It is a must for any wife of a chaplain. Absolute must. She is learning a lot and is meeting other women. She is joining the military too. This is something that many army wives don't realize. They do not sugar coat it. But they also let you know what the benefits are.

The kids did better at the day care.

We did the "Ball" last night. It was not a dance at all. It was a military formal event. Dinner and speeches. We had a "receiving line and everything. It was a good time.

The only really bad part (which ended well) was the child care totally dropped the ball. This is a huge class. We showed up for the child care (we had gone over and toured the facility before) and they had no record of us. And they were full. Nothing doing! We went over to the Dinner to let my chain know that we would not be attending. We ran into one of the ladies that Connie had met in her class. She knew of someone that had 3 teenage kids that were not doing anything. So we went over to surprise 3 kids with baby sitting detail. It all ended up well. They turned out to be kids of a friend of mine. They had a great time with our kids. God is Good, ALL THE TIME!

Man some really good skits. They really poked some fun at some of the very serious staff. It went over well.

Tuesday Day 44, Week 13

Another good day

We got the boys to the day care early. Caleb was really not thrilled. Nate and JD were fine. Connie went to her classes. She seemed to have a great time. This is really a high point for the course. They are really giving the wives a ton of information and guidance. Many of the wives have never been around the military before and there is a lot to learn. She really came out of it in great spirits. I really recommend this to the spouses.

The chaplain school continued. We worked on the married side of PICK, which is LINKS. It is a great program as well. The instructor was top flight. Again this is both secular and religious based programs that we will be certified in.

We went to eat and then to the pool. Spent an hour helping nate to "fly again". He did flip after flip. Caleb did too. they loved being tossed into the air. JD did "canon balls" off the side with some high schoolers that were here with their dads at the chaplain school. He was big stuff.

Monday Day 44, Week 13

First day with the family here.

At the school house we worked on PICK or how not to marry a jerk. Excellent stuff! It is counseling stuff that can be used in both the secular and church framework. We will be certified instructors. This is stuff we can use both in and out of the military.

School is winding down. Got to spend lunch with the family at the park on post. The boys had a blast on the slides. Connie and I just enjoyed being together.

Sunday Day 43, Week 13

A very big day

Connie and company arrived! Pretty cool. I really missed them. They came in from West Virginia. I spent the day moving rooms. I had to move to a room with two beds. We all would not fit on a big bed.

We had a platoon meeting in the evening. I brought JD. He did real well. We put some papers in our folders. Nothing major.

Saturday Day 42, Week 12

Family wellness again. we spent the morning at the school. We are done. Next week is PICK and "how not to marry a jerk".

We played risk. I lost. Oh well. I have lost my touch in risk.

Friday Day 41, week 12

No PT. Oh!

Family wellness counseling training. Good stuff. Good tools. A tool I am going to use personally is "looking for the pony". This means that if someone is saying rough things to you. You must look for the good reason behind it. For example. If you complain that I come in late, the Pony is "that you care about me and want to spend time with me". Become a half full sort of person. I think I already am. But it will help me to be intentional about it.

I passed my "sacred coms". I did what the SGL wanted. I read the sermon. Liturgical style. Check the box. Play the game. I will never read a manuscript again, if I can help it. The last time he said my "sermon" was a "bible study" and had to many "umms". I did have to many umms. But the style was the bigger issue.

Thursday Day 40, Week 12

Regimental Run day! Up at 4:00 to be at the field by 4:45, to be ready at 6:15. We waste more time than most people waste all day! The sergeants spent a lot of time "driving" our platoons around the field until we were in the "correct" position for the arrival of the Chief of Chaplains. We had the entire chaplain school, the AIT, BNOC, C-4, the offset CHOBLC class and all of the sundry Chaplain School elements. Not a long run. The Chief spoke with us briefly at the field.

At the school house we listened to the General again. It is good to hear the head of the Chaplain Corps talk to the new guys and girls. He is very passionate about soldiers.

We continued our Family wellness training. we all gave "presentations" to the rest of the class. Nothing to painful. only 7 minutes of our life.

Wednesday Day 39, Week 12

A combination Muscle failure/short run. Not to bad. Pretty sore though.

Family wellness training today. We will be qualified as instructors when we finished. Good stuff. Still struggling to stay awake. We got to have a "working lunch", basically we got to eat whatever we could grab in a few minutes, and listen to a briefing. Not to bad.

Lots of homework tonight.

My anniversary tonight. My wife is in West Virginia and I am in South Carolina. I wish I could have spent it with her. But we had so much homework to do it would not have been much fun. I finally got to bed at 10:30 to get up at 4:00 am. I don't think I would have been to much fun. I can't wait till she gets here on sunday! We will celebrate on next wednesday.

Tuesday Day 38, Week 12

Card PT!

A really rough PT session. Actually it was pretty fun. It's simple. Draw a card from a deck. A heart is regular pushups, a diamond is wide arm pushups, spades are rocky sit ups, clubs are regular sit ups. A ace is 25, and face cards are 20, numbers are what they are. And start drawing cards and do what the cards say. That will smoke you. Oh and if you are not tired enough at the end, you can do 100 four count overhead arm claps. Makes for some arms shaking.

Today was great! We got to go over casualty notifications. Sounds bad. but really it was good. We also got to have some of "T.A.P.S." people here to help us understand the mistakes that are made by chaplains and Casualty notification officers make. Taps are wives and family members that are gold star moms. (they had spouses lost in combat). Powerful stuff.

Last we had 3 guys receive there citizenship today. One from Korea, the other two from Nigeria. We honored them and then the course leader had them do pushups. Welcome to the country! My phone does not take the best pictures. Oh well.

Monday Day 37, Week 12

run day:

We ran a little over 2 miles. Well I didn't, one of the guys had a profile against running and was out running when he was not supposed to be running. I had to "walk" him back because I was a road guard. I didn't mind at all.

We did some counseling prep. I did not do my sermon. Once again no biggie. I am supposed to do mine on thursday.

The Hotel hooked us up. They had Quedoba for us. That was nice. Watched part of a football game. It's good to be back in football season.

School started today. I should receive my books soon. I can't believe that school is starting already.

Sunday Day 35 Week 12

A strange day.

Started off with a trip to a Lutheran service. Not too bad. It just is not my thing. I do not understand why people enjoy the repetition. It does nothing for me. There is no heart in it. I am pretty sure if my "sacred communication" was similar, I would have gotten a "no go".

I stayed at that chapel for a "Jewish" service. I was expecting a learning opportunity (like the muslim service). But this was not the case. The "rabbi" was a civilian contractor. He thought it was great fun to poke fun at Christians. He also gave the "basic training" soldiers oreos and wine for communication. I did not know that the Jews did communion? From what I understand this was a "hybrid" service. A combination of jewish elements. I don't know. There was one interesting thing. they had a "traveling" torah. This was a real vellum torah. Petty cool.

The rest of the day was spent "chilling out" and doing homework. Getting a sermon together.

Saturday Day 34, Week 11

A nice Saturday off. went to the store and restocked my Mt Dew and Gatorade supply. Much better

Friday Day 33 week 11

We got a late start. A recovery day. They let us skip PT. Pretty cool

We did after action reviews in the morning. and then a graveside service with me as the body in a coffin. Fortunately I was raised from the dead.

Met the 18th Airborne Corp Chaplain. He took several of us to the NCO club for lunch. It is strange who you can meet in the latrine (well his assistant chaplain). A divine appointment to be sure. I really am convinced that Ft Bragg is in my future. Had another chaplain that really encouraged me to keep plugging away, that we are almost there!

It looks like we might play risk tonight. Sounds fun!

thursday Day 33 Week 11

2 hours of sleep before being up at 4:00. Oh when you have to be at the school house at 5:00 you have to leave the hotel VERY early! My sermon is done.

Well I got a "Go" on the field service. I won't do another one like this. Not sure I understand the point of doing a service in a manner that I won't use again. Oh well, check the box.

We got to "brief" the commander. More practical counseling sessions. We really got a treat, because we had some C-4 students (senior chaplains in school) to help teach us how life works in the real world. Good practical stuff. With the change at CHOBLC, this is some of the first "mentoring" that we have received in phase 2 and 3. We had a chance to talk "informally" with these guys. PRICELESS!

Oh yes, the road march back! another 4 miler back. It was really good. I really am in my element doing ministry "on the march". I may not be the best preacher or counselor (I'm getting better), but I love spending time with solders, Encouraging them.

When we got back, they were playing "I'm proud to be an American" over loud speakers. Call me silly, but it was really cool. It made the hair on my arms stand up. In a good way. It reminds you of at least one reason for what we do here. A bit of good old fashion American Pride is a good thing.

I'm real tired. and have no clean uniforms. time for washing. My stinking camera died!

Wednesday Day 32 week 11

Back out to the field at 5:00 am, to sit around and wait until 7:30 for chow. We waste more time before 8:00 AM than most people waste all day!

Field services, field services, field services! Found out that now my "field service" was lacking "liturgical elements" and was not acceptable. My SGL is liturgical and wants it done that way. Quite a few "no goes". I didn't do mine, So when we get "off" tonight I will redo my service. Nice!

Practice counseling and briefing our commanders.

We got to have quite a bit of time playing in the rain.

When we returned from the field, we went into the computer lab and got to play with the Blue force tracker. We were supposed to plan the actions of a Unit ministry team in combat and communicate with our higher elements in real time. Good Training! It would have been even better if there were more instructors for the "higher" elements. It made the process very slow and you rarely received answers to your email requests.

Finally got back at 11:00 PM time to redo my sermon. Not much sleep tonight.

Tuesday Day 31 Week 11

Just a walk in the Park! Well not quite. We did a bit of a road march out to the "field". Right at 4 miles. But it sure was hot out! Even at 0500 in the morning! It was enough to make your "dogs" (feet) bark and cramp. We moved out to a FOB (forward operating base) that is supposed to be similar to one that is "in country". It is even "guarded" by our chaplain's assistant students that are in AIT. We didn't do anything with them, we were doing different stuff. But they were there. It was some good practical stuff to learn.

First thing up was a "round robin" event. First for us was a "ramp ceremony". I got to be on the "transfer case" detail.

Next was a first aid refresher.

After that was an IED (improvised explosive) class. Not how to make them, just what they look like and how to avoid them.

Last we watched a large (very large) sand table. Basicly we got to watch an opperation unfold on a large map.

Lots more "field services"