Fellow Soldiers Deploying

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone is having a great holiday season.

The announcement was just made today that some of our fellow Screaming Eagles will be deploying shortly after us. Here is the announcement from Bloomberg:

Dec. 22 (Bloomberg) -- The Pentagon today announced the deployment of 6,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan, the second wave in President Barack Obama’s planned surge of 30,000 troops.

The units include 3,400 troops from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky that will deploy in June 2010 and 2,600 personnel from various unspecified support units that will arrive in Afghanistan starting in late March, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon announced the first wave of deployments on Dec. 7 -- 16,000 troops, including 1,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina who are arriving this month.

--I have some friends in the 2BCT so please be praying for their preparation.

--We are getting set to travel to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Ft. Polk, LA to really focus our training and preparation for Afghanistan. However, before that we are enjoying some block leave to enjoy the holidays with family and friends--weather permitting. ;-)

Remember Pearl Harbor

Today is Pearl Harbor Day.

With so much going on it is easy to forget, but we must not let that happen.

There are a couple of articles that give some current views to that day that I thought I would share. As a current member of our military I am thankful and proud of those who served and stepped during this time of our nation's history.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091207/NEWS08/912070347?source=rss_localnews

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20091207_sea_yields_clues_to_41_attack.html

1-32 CAV in the News

Here is a link to an article concerning our brigade and unit. It was published by the Associated Press and then picked up by a number of newspapers across the country.

BASTOGNE! (that's the name of our brigade)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gmHzKawNv1z4N9erIGe5ygY0KhwwD9C0SH4O0?index=3

Orders Issued

For those of you who did not hear my brigade, the 1BCT, has received its orders. I am including a copy of a article about the announcement from the local newspaper, "The Leaf Chronicle." You can view the page directly at http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20091021/NEWS01/910210331/1002/1st-BCT-receives-Afghan-orders

1st BCT Receives Afghan Orders--101st brigade one of three to deploy
By JAKE LOWARY • The Leaf-Chronicle • October 21, 2009

Another 101st Airborne Division brigade is going to Afghanistan, and the Pentagon said Tuesday it's "very possible" more 101st units could be heading there as well. The Defense Department announced Tuesday the 1st Brigade Combat Team will deploy to Afghanistan in spring and summer 2010, about the same time the division headquarters heads back to Regional Command-East, where it held command for 15 months from March 2008 to May 2009. The 1st BCT's deployment involves about 3,700 soldiers. Also announced Tuesday were deployments for the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, based in Vilseck, Germany, and the 2nd BCT from the 34th Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard. Together, Tuesday's announcement covers about 11,200 soldiers. Also deploying next month will be a 200-member Marine unit specializing in the use of MV-22 Ospreys, which will deploy to Regional Command-South, based in Kandahar. The 3rd BCT, 1st BCT, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade and division command group have all received orders sending them to Afghanistan. Though orders for the 2nd and 4th BCTs and 101st Sustainment Brigade have not been released, officials at the Pentagon say it's "very possible" those units also could go to Afghanistan, where more attention and focus has been directed as combat troops begin to withdraw from Iraq. The Pentagon was cautious not to confirm or deny any rumors of deployment orders. "We can't make an assumption that they will go," said Lt. Col. Lee Packnett, "but it's very possible."

Keeping 101st intact
When the Army announced the orders for the division command group, it said the Army is trying to keep units with their divisions. "We will seek to better align the rotation of units and their headquarters for force cohesion," the release stated. Packnett said that effort is not only for the benefit of the units deployed, but also for the local populace, so they become familiar "with the Screaming Eagle patch of the 101st." Packnett said all Fort Campbell infantry units already heading to Afghanistan will be under the command of the 101st, which will take over for the 82nd Airborne Division command group, currently controlling RC-East.

The 101st CAB will be deploying to the southern part of the country, which is currently under the control of Dutch Maj. Gen. Mart De Kruif. RC-South control rotates between the Netherlands, Canada and Britain.
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The 1st BCT and 3rd BCT will replace units currently in RC-East. Packnett did not say which units would be replaced by the 101st units.

All of the 101st's deployments are part of regularly scheduled rotations and are not part of any troop buildup being discussed in Washington.

Packnett said it's too soon to determine if the 101st will be part of any increase in troop numbers.

"Right now we can't speculate on anything," he said.

Getting ready
Maj. Gen. John Campbell, commanding general of the 101st, said in a Tuesday news release that the 1st BCT has been preparing for months to deploy to Afghanistan, a place where the brigade has yet to serve in the war on terror.

"They continue to train hard, and I have no doubt they will be prepared to face the challenges of the tough fight in Afghanistan," Campbell said.

Col. Drew Poppas, the brigade's commander, said the brigade has benefited from the previous deployments of current battalion commanders and an ongoing working relationship with units currently there.

"We're incorporating all of these lessons," Poppas said.

The tactical training the soldiers are participating in doesn't differ much from preparing for Iraq. Cultural, language and terrain training do differ, and those preparations began when Poppas took command late last year.

"We've adjusted a little bit because of the specific dynamics," Poppas said.

Poppas too said his soldiers are more than ready as they expand their preparations to larger, more complex and diverse exercises.

"We were prepared yesterday, we're prepared today just as we will be prepared tomorrow," he said.

Busy Time

The title kind of says it all.

It has been a "busy time", and will continue to be so for a while. However, I can say that we have a new tool to help with that.

First, let me step back and give a belated blog congrats and happy birthday to the new SERGEANT Robert Ramos! He was promoted recently. Just in time for his birthday. You can see from the pictures some of the ceremony. One of the cool aspects of being in a cavalry unit is that we have a fairly rich heritage. That is why you see many of the Soldiers in Stetsons. It is not required, but there is a strong camaraderie with the units and Soldiers. By the way, I don't think CH Randall is really that tall. I think the rest of us were standing in holes. ;-)

So, back to the new tool for ministry. SGT Ramos and I finally have a HMMWV (or Humvee) in order to get in and out of the field. There are times when we are asked to share it with other groups in our unit, but for the most part we are able to use it to get back and forth.

Why this is really significant is because we typically rotate Soldiers in and out of the field for training. So at any given time, I have Soldiers at one or more of our training ranges, and then some back at our main offices. Fort Campbell is pretty large and so some of the ranges are 45 minutes away. As a chaplain, a lot of my service comes in the form of counseling. It can then be difficult to counsel at the offices when I am out at a range, but there are needs on the ranges as well. So therefore, having our own vehicle to be able to go back and forth as needed REALLY makes a difference. Of course we also had to get licensed and that took time too, but now we are good to go.
Another side-benefit of having our own vehicle is that we have a fair amount of gear to haul if we want to do a "full-blown" field service. A field service is pretty much like it sounds--a form of a church service in the field. Now the "field" could be an outpost, or in some sort of structure, or usually, literally in an open field.

If you take some time to consider all of the elements that are usually included in a standard church service, you begin to see our potential dilemma. The Army though has had A LOT of experience at this and so we have chaplain kits and a few other items that help with these challenges. However, having a vehicle helps because we are able to bring out the gear that we need, and then even use the vehicle in order to setup. In our case, this last week we were able to do a field service and even included communion with it. It seemed that the Soldiers who came very much appreciated what we were able to share with them.

An Act of Thankfulness

There are certain careers that often times do not get the thanks that they deserve.

Doctors and lawyers are often in this category. People appreciate that they have a large earning potential, but they do not seem to recognize that their skill set is mostly based in their knowledge. Therefore, you hear of stories all the time of folks meeting a doctor or lawyer at a party or get-together and asking them for professional advice. This would be the equivalent of asking a professional baker for a free cake. We would usually never be so bold.

In the Army we recognize that there are some folks who have an intellectual skill-set that we appreciate. Specifically, locally, a professor who is very knowledgeable in the realm of Islam, the Taliban, and middle Eastern culture. So we invited him to come and share with us, and we offered to pay him for his time. He accepted our offer to come, but declined the offer for payment. He appreciates everything that our military does and is happy to support us. But we wanted to do something to say, "thank you."

He asked for some items for his grandchildren because they really enjoy the Army, and that got us thinking. Needless to say, our leadership came up with some really great ideas. So much so that it hit the local paper.

Here is the link: http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009908220323

We really appreciate the professor and all of his work and study. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

Hoo-ah!

Trying to Shape Up

As a more "mature" Soldier, life has been very interesting.

I say "mature" meaning, "older".

Most of the guys that I am working with are literally about half my age. And because I was out of shape for so long my body is trying to figure out what in the world happened. It probably thinks that this is a case of the "Body Snatchers."

Potential conversation of the body to the brain--"Hey! Who are you and what did you do with the original owner!?!"

We recently started doing road marches again. I say again, because we had stopped due to block leave and other special activities. I asked one of the senior NCOs if he had any suggestions for getting back into it and he said, "well, for me it is a body memory thing. I just throw on the gear and start walking and my body memory kicks in. I just remember road marching." My response was, "yeah, but my body memory is the couch."

So needless to say, road marching and running have been interesting challenges, but I am making it through.

I should explain that this is not like walking through Disneyland in shorts and tennis shoes. You are in full uniform, with a Kevlar helmet, body armor with plates, and a ruck sack. All of it weighs probably around 40-50+ pounds. Typically, when I am done with a road march I have lost about 3-5 pounds of body weight.

I've included a picture of my assistant and I getting ready to head out on one of the current marches. I can say that I think our bodies are starting to make some new memories concerning road marches and ruck packs.

Welcome Home

This week Ft. Campbell is hosting a semi-annual celebration called the Week of the Eagles. We have already had opening activities including a couple concerts, an airshow, and a special event that took place this afternoon.

When 101st Soldiers come home from deployment there are all kinds of briefings that they go through, but one of the moments that is most special is the welcome home.

The post will try to let family know when their Soldier's plane is landing at the airfield. That way the family can be there. But the post buts on a large ceremony of welcoming for the Soldiers. It is something that many Soldiers of the past did not receive. This is especially true for many of our Vietnam and Korean war vets.

Well, some of the folks around Fort Campbell decided to try to change that. They worked with the leadership of the post and the 101st Division and put on a "Welcome Home" ceremony for previous vets, especially those from the Vietnam war. They thought that some of the vets might welcome the idea of having a special ceremony just for them. What was a little bit of a surprise was the number of people who were willing to travel in order to be a part of the celebration.

What started as a plan for "A" welcome home became 3 different welcome home ceremonies because they could not fit all of the vets into one celebration in the hanger. Yes, you read that correctly. They had so many vets respond that they could not fit them all into an airplane hanger. They had to break them into 3 different groups. I am proud to say that no one was turned away.

I expected to see emotion in the faces of the vets, but the emotions of their family members in the stands was even greater. These people represented entire families who had struggled for 40 or so years with some of the pain of how they were treated, and it seemed as though a good amount of healing was accomplished.

It was an awe-inspiring moment, and we were glad to have been a part of it, and very proud of our post, leadership, and the community to bring it all together.

Endorsement Conference

We have just returned from our endorsement conference with the ECA.

The conference was in Branson, MO and included some excellent speakers. One of our favorites was Dr. Norm Geisler. Dr. Geisler has written a number of books (I think they said 70) concerning the foundations of Christianity. His presentation addressed a number of current issues facing America as well as the church.

Another excellent opportunity though was to hear from other ECA chaplains. The ECA has 113 active duty chaplains and during a luncheon meeting we were able to hear from some of them who were in attendance. It was especially nice to hear some suggestions from some of the spouses.

This was our first time to Branson, MO and we did not really have a lot of time to try to catch any shows, and did not really want to pay for any of them either. I guess the one suggestion I would make is to understand that traffic in town moves really slow. When we tried to leave to come home it took us 20 minutes to go about 5 miles to the interstate.

Just a heads-up in case you are thinking of visiting.

Blessings

Busy Month

I have wanted to update this blog much more often than this, however, we have been very busy.

The first week of the month was spent at the North American Christian Convention. The training was excellent. I especially appreciated the training on understanding the next generation. Those who are 18-25 are many of the Soldiers to whom I am trying to minister. I know that they view the world slightly different than I do, so this was some really good material.

After that we had a couple weeks of "block leave." This is when almost everyone in the brigade is given the opportunity to take leave with their family. We decided to take a week and go somewhere that was new for us. We went to Disney World! We had a lot of fun and were actually thankful for the rain. It really helped to keep things cool. We also discovered the pin-traded practice. Essentially, most of the employees have Disney pins that they wear and they are required to trade them with you if you ask. We really enjoyed putting together a set by work with the folks at Disney.

Then we returned and I ended up covering for a lot of the other chaplains who were on block leave. The good thing is that I got to do some stuff that I would not normally do, meet some new Soldiers, and spent some time with two of my other brigade chaplains. Busy, but good stuff.

My youngest son is at camp and is having a blast. He got to celebrate his birthday there and the staff took the entire cabin out to Dairy Queen. I'm sure they were very thankful for him at that point.

I also met my new chaplain's assistant and he is a great guy, with a lot of experience. Hopefully he'll be able to keep me from getting into too much trouble.

Finally, we will be doing some additional traveling for some training with my endorser. This should also be some very good training. One of the speakers is Dr. Norm Geisler. So I am very interested in this opportunity.

The Army has announced some of the upcoming deployments and I have some friends in that brigade. Please keep our Soldiers, leaders, and world events in your prayers.

Still a Chaplain

Don't be too scared by the title.

Basically what I am saying is that not too much has changed.

I did pin on the rank of captain, but for a chaplain, not too much should change.

The reason for this is that every chaplain in the Army (for the most part anyway) has the same title, "chaplain." It does not matter if you are a first lieutenant, captain, major, colonel, etc. Everyone is usually going to address you as, "chaplain."

I really like that. Although making the rank of captain means more pay, my attitude and focus should be the same. I need to be concerned about my Soldiers and their well-being and care.

It is the same as when you are a pastor of a church. If you are more concerned with the size of the congregation or your perceived prestige in the community then you are focused on the wrong thing.

Of course all of that is easier said than done, and it is easy to get pulled into a wrong focus or attitude, but for me, I am reminded of the proper focus every time someone says hi,..."hey chappy, how are you doing today?"

Happy Father's Day

It is a little late, but I was celebrating Father's day with my family.

I know that it seems as though there are a disproportionate amount of people who have had negative experiences with fathers as opposed to mothers. I know that I am thankful for the example of fatherhood that I grew up with, and hope to be a good example for my children as well.

We were recently joking around about "wise sayings" from our fathers and two from mine were, "time for a family meeting" and "it will be a good experience for you."

The family meeting one usually meant that there was a lecture of some sort coming. As my sister and I got older we began to tease, "oh, this is lecture #1362 (or insert a number)". But there was always something constructive in the family meetings.

The "experience" one usually meant that we were being told to do, or follow-through with something that we really did not want to do. Sometimes though it was encouragement for things that we just were not sure about. Should we try-out for the team, try a new sport, go for a long, long bike ride, go rafting down the river, etc.

As my family and I have launched off into this new adventure with the Army, there have been many difficult and challenging points. However, I have found myself being reminded about some of these statements.

I would also like to say that Father's day may not be a "happy" day for you, but please remember that we have a perfect example of Fatherhood in our God who loves you more than you know. If you have some time, you may want to check out this video of a song by Jimmy Wayne. It is a powerful reminder. http://www.cmt.com/videos/jimmy-wayne/27630/i-love-you-this-much.jhtml

Happy Father's Day,
Kaaina

Training/TDY

These last few weeks have been focused on these two areas. The first is going to grow from here on out.

The training has come in a couple different forms.

The first, sadly, has been an increased drive to complete suicide prevention training. This was not that difficult to accomplish because most of us have already been up-tempo on this. In the face of a growing number of suicides in the Army, everyone has been trying to do their part to train one another and help one another to see when a person is hurting. Therefore, as chaplains, we have all been very busy trying to get all of our Soldiers trained in a variety of suicide prevention programs. Some of the programs are oriented more toward "self-help" in a sense. We really try to help each Soldier understand how they are doing and encourage them to seek help if they need it. Others are designed to help Soldiers recognize some of the potential warning signs that a fellow Soldier may demonstrate if they are headed toward possible suicide.

The second area of training has been some live fire on one of the ranges here. This particular live-fire was at the squad level. Each troop had each of their squads go through some specific scenarios. As a chaplain I am not allowed to carry or use a weapon, but it was very interesting to see our Soldiers in action. I can say that I was very impressed.

After each of the run-throughs on the scenarios each of the squad members was asked questions and given the opportunity to share some of their own insights. To me, the terms and technical proficiency that the Soldiers used concerning the activity was similar to doctors evaluating a recently completed surgery. These men were very serious about their work and extremely professional about what they were doing and why.

I was able to snap a bit of a picture of one of our Soldiers to give you an idea of the night-vision goggles that we use. It was an "eye-opening" experience to say the least (pardon the really bad pun).

I was also given the opportunity to preach at the post Gospel service last Sunday. That was a lot of fun, and a wonderful honor. The Gospel service is made up of military and civilian folks who really love on people. My family felt extremely welcomed the first time we walked through the door.

To be honest, I wasn't sure if my preaching style would be something that they would enjoy, but I think we ended up meeting each other half way and it worked out extremely well.

Finally, the week ended with me beginning TDY and our household goods arriving. We have been very busy trying to figure out where everything should go and actually doing a yard sale for some of the stuff. I think some may yet end up going to Goodwill or the post thrift store. We'll see.

Talk to you all soon.

Happy Memorial Day

We have been doing some traveling and have thoroughly enjoyed God's creation.

We have found that this time of year in MS, AR, LA, TX, and OK reminds us of HI (those are all states, by the way). We even had a gecko on our window.

We also want to wish everyone a happy Memorial day. I think that a lot of folks have forgotten what Memorial day is really all about. However, I am including a picture of a church in LA made up of some folks who have really taken the holiday to heart.

I am also putting up some pictures of our new housing. We are very thankful. The house is great and we are looking forward to getting settled.

So, happy Memorial day everyone.

Have a great day!

We Have Housing!

We have moved into our housing!

We are very excited and will hopefully have all of our stuff out of storage soon.

We are in a quiet neighborhood (for the most part) on a somewhat secluded portion of the post, at the end of a street. I really do not know if I could have asked for a better placement. In fact, it is really close to my office. The only thing that is quite a ways away is the high school. However, I think we can work with that.

Things are coming along. I am still figuring out how this job/ministry actually works. There is PT (physical training) every morning and I try to participate with different groups of Soldiers so I can get to know them, and they can get to know me.

Then there are meetings for training, scheduling, and general command issues, plus chaplain specific meetings.

Then I have counseling sessions with Soldiers for a variety of issues. I also have suicide prevention training that I actually conduct, and marriage/relationship training or retreats that I try to plan and organize.

So, needless to say, life is pretty busy and I do not yet have a chaplain’s assistant. So that means that at this stage, with my government PCs not working quite right, I am trying to do all of that on my own. Not complaining, just recognizing that I might be a little busier than I will be when I get some help. That just makes me appreciate chaplain assistants even more. Those folks do a lot that goes unseen.

We’re going to be doing some traveling for the holiday and block leave coming up. I will try to keep you posted. Hopefully we will be visiting my brother (and maybe my nephew) soon. Should be fun.

Please remember the real reason behind Memorial Day and take time to actually remember.

Blessings.

Happy Mother's Day

I would like to wish all of the mom's out there a very special "happy mother's day!"

I have had a chance know to meet some Army moms, and they have my respect. However, I can say that about most of the mothers that I know.

It seems like being a mom just gets tougher and tougher as the years go by. In fact, the Army has begun to offer programs to help strengthen families. They realize that there are a lot of soldiers struggling with the decision to stay with the Army or not, and in many instances a deciding factor is the strength of their family.

I have met families that work well with the stresses of military life, and I have seen others that have really struggled. The Army's "Strong Bonds" program is designed to help families be and become stronger and healthier.

Mom's play a significant role in the strength of our families. So I want to say again, thanks mom for all of your love, help, support, sacrifice, and strength. And that goes for all moms.

I have included some pics from the area. We've had a fair amount of rain and everything is greening up very nice.

Getting Settled In

Good May Everyone!

I know that it has been a while since I posted, but it is needless to say that we have been very, very busy.

Here is a quick run-down from my last post:

We graduated from CH-BOLC on the 3rd of April. On the 4th we finished packing, loaded the van and drove to Fort Campbell, KY. The drive was mostly uneventful. The most amazing thing is that we were able to get everything to fit in one car.

We got checked-into Turner Lodging and then officially signed in to the post on the 5th. On the 6th the in-processing began in earnest. There is a TON of paperwork that has to be completed. You are also issued ALOT of stuff! The good thing is that I was able to meet with my sponsor regularly and get through the process in due time.

I officially signed into my unit, the 1-32 CAV, on the 15th. This is a great unit to be serving. It is mostly men and tends to be somewhat smaller in number than the infantry units. Therefore, there is a great amount of comradrie and positive pride. My predecessor seems to have done a great job as a chaplain, and left me big shoes to fill.

We were able to attend some specialized training on resiliency, and Connor did very well in a "Guitar Hero" tournament.

I have already now done quite a bit of counseling, and led some training on suicide prevention. Please be in prayer about this. Suicide tends to be like an illness that feeds on itself, and the Army is trying to do all that we can to bring this trend to an end.

We are currently living off-post as we wait for our on-post housing. We found a wonderful place that allows us to go month-to-month and have our dog. So we met our friends in St. Louis, at the arch, and re-connected with Kamiah the Beagle. We also finally found a second vehicle. It is a 2000 Suzuki Vitara. So far seems to be a good car for us (mostly me getting back and forth).

Other than that, everyone is settling into Army life well. We are mostly now figuring out the best way to do things with life, work, and school.

As I mentioned before, please be in prayer for us and the soldiers. Many Fort Campbell soldiers have recently returned and we are still waiting for some others. Homecoming is great, but the adjustment can be difficult for some.

Thanks for your patience on this posting,
Corey

In-processing

This is just a quick note to let everyone know that we made it down to Ft. Campbell just fine.

We have begun the steps of in-processing and will hopefully finish soon. I have been through Central Issue and they gave us a BUNCH of stuff. I filled a duffle bag, an assault backpack, and a really big backpack too. The biggest issue is trying to figure out where to put all of this stuff while we are in our temporary lodging.

I should hopefully be signed into my unit this next week, and then getting up to speed with all of that. Right now we are figuring out our short-term housing while we wait until the end of May for our on-post housing. We are also trying to figure out how to get a second vehicle.

In any case, I do have a few pics from the graduation. I hope everyone is having a great day, and has a wonderful Easter.

Thanks

Almost Done!

So tomorrow is it!

We have our graduation ceremony tomorrow morning. It should be a fairly short event, all things considered. I will not go into detail just yet, but we are very excited about our guest speaker.

The big thing is that we will be leaving Ft. Jackson for now and heading to Ft. Campbell, KY. We're excited to get to the post, get settled, and get to the ministry to which God has called us.

It has been a long, and quick 13 weeks. Long in the sense that the end of December 2008 seems like it was a long time ago. And short in that I still remember many of the folks who left us at the end of the first portion of training.

Family Wellness Retreat

We are down to the final days of CH-BOLC.

We just returned home from our Family Wellness Retreat/Training (yes, I think that is an oxymoron). The point of the retreat was to teach us on how to organize and lead a Family Wellness Retreat for our Soldiers. The training was very good and I know that I am excited to put one together.

One of our NCOs shared on the planning and preparing side and gave us all some great instruction in this area. I have been told that I may be without a chaplain assistant when I first get to my post and so this may be administrative work that I will have to handle completely on my own.

The retreat center was called Kanuga and it was a beautiful area. It rained for the first two days, but it was still warm and we were in classes for most of it anyway. It let up just in time for some free time that was planned and so many of us were able to get some exercise in for the weekend.

The staff was great and I really enjoyed the food (maybe too much). If you are looking for a retreat center in the Carolinas I would strongly recommend Kanuga. It was quiet and had a lot of facility options, however, one caveat, there is not much cellphone service. In fact, Verizon was the only service that worked. This can be a good thing, or add some unwanted stress. I suppose it all depends on your goals.

I'll try to blog again soon, but the family gets in tomorrow for the final week of training!

Capstone

So we made it through our Capstone project.

Capstone is very much like how it sounds. It is designed for us to take everything that we have learned up to that point, and apply it in a near-to-life setting. For us these days, that means that we create an atmosphere very much like a forward operating base in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

We had about a 5 mile road march out and then setup in fairly nice tents, and even had warm showers somewhat available to us. The main thing was having us all work through some additional training and practice of material in this type of setting.

That included being awakened in the middle of the night with simulated mortar and gas attacks. I am happy to say that I survived them all.

One highlight was that we were able to do patrol practice with some basic trainees. It was really nice to work with them and get to know them all.

I found the experience to be a good amount of fun. Challenging, but fun. You get to know a good amount about yourself and others when you are put in these kinds of stressful, sleep-deprived situations.

I will say that I was very happy to return to my small apartment and my larger bed. You really appreciate the little things when they are removed.

So now we have a week of training and certifications, a training retreat, and then my family will be here, and we have a final week of training the following week and then we are done!

Pretty exciting stuff. It is amazing to consider all that we have covered, learned, and applied in the last 10 weeks.

Blessings,
Corey

Victory Ranch

This was an excellent week for events. In other words, there was a lot going on.

We divided up into platoons and rotated through a number of different curriculum on different days. For my platoon, we started the week going through some of the software and hardware that the Army uses for field communication, and then we did some of our sacred communication labs. Tuesday we had PT and then we studied solution focused counseling and had some more sacred communication labs. Then Wednesday our platoon went to Victory Ranch.

Now let me pause here because this was the part of the week that we wanted to get to. Victory Ranch is a sort of retreat center. It is operated by Cadence International and Ron and Pam (http://www.cadence.org/weinzapfel). Cadence International seeks to reach out especially to the military. We were able to visit with them, learn about their ministry, and spend some time as a platoon developing plans for our own spiritual development and fitness. We also had some time to just relax and have some time to ourselves or as a group.

The great thing is that we have people in our platoon from a variety of faith traditions, and everyone felt welcome and able to use the time to their advantage. It was a very nice day, and very needed by everyone. I am including a picture and video.

Thursday officially began phase 3 of our program. We have entered the final portion. On Thursday we discussed ministry to the wounded and dying, and developed a "battle book." This is kind of your own book or CD or compilation of files of material that you feel that you may need while deployed or out in the field. We also had our official weigh-in and I passed with about 20 pounds to spare. So that night I went and ate a BUNCH of pizza and pasta in order to carb up for our official PT Test the following morning.

So Friday morning we had our OFFICIAL PT test. Our last one, two weeks ago, was a "diagnostic" test. On that one, I passed with 46 pushups, 43 situps, and the two miles in 16:26. That was coming off a couple weeks of tendinitis in my elbow. Friday I passed with 67 pushups, 51 situps, and the two miles in 16:05. Needless to say, I was pretty happy. However, I still need to continue improving for the standards set by the 101st. Also on Friday we studied Islam in the realm of the current conflict, and how we as chaplains will need to serve as religious liaisons. These were both very interesting because it is very easy to offend someone if you do not understand their culture.

So, like I said, this was a busy week for events. This next week stays busy as we head out for Capstone. This is basically a 3 day field (camping) exercise where we put everything we have learned into practice. Should be a lot of fun and challenging. I think it starts and ends with a 5 mile road march.

This is Starting to Get a Little Weird

Ok. So in my last post I mentioned how God had really brought some stuff together that was really neat.

Well, this continues that thought. Here's the story...

While teaching a couple of years ago, I came to know a certain high school senior. He recently joined the National Guard (might be the reserves, but pretty sure it is the Guard).

Turns out that he was sent to Ft. Jackson for basic training. It also turns out that he was sent here now. So I was able to find out which battalion he is with and asked if I was allowed to go visit him there. I was told that this was not allowed, however, if he and I were at his battalion chapel service at the same time, then it would be OK to briefly visit (I'm sure there are different protocol reasons for it all. I just try to follow the rules).

So I have been trying to figure out a Sunday in which I could go to this service, and I have been unable until today. So I went to the battalion building and was told that they were doing a special service at another building. So then I went there and found out that it was a special service for the entire brigade! That meant that there was a whole bunch of basic trainees there.

How in the world was I going to find him there, even if he was there?

Well, I spoke to a couple of the chaplains who were there and found his battalion chaplain. I told him the story and he asked what company the guy was in. Turns out they hadn't come in yet. he then asked his name, and when I told him he said that they had someone with that same last name doing some Scripture reading in the service.

Right after that, the right company walks in, right past me and I spotted him right away. It took him a little while to recognize me, of course I was like 70-80 pounds heavier the last time he saw me. And it turns out that he WAS the guy doing the Scripture reading, and that this was the first chapel service that he had been able to attend since starting basic.

So again, just an amazing series of events that God worked together in order to encourage two of His people.

Never forget that God cares about you and what you are going through even to the smallest detail. Lift it all up to Him. He wants to hear from His children.

Happy Sunday!

God's Little Handywork

I wasn't going to try to post again for a while, but I thought that this was kind of cool and figured that I should share it.

We always tend to think about God when there is something big coming up, but we forget that God is big enough to work in even the littlest things.

I was supposed to do my field service today. This is a program that includes a bulletin, music, and a sermon. However, God had other plans.

Over the weekend we got word that it was going to start getting cold. In fact, they were calling for snow on Sunday night. I assume that out of concern for snow and ice and the inability to call around to make other arrangements with local gyms, our PT for Monday morning was canceled. We got this word on Sunday afternoon so I was able to go get in a run on the treadmill that night so I could sleep in a little bit on Monday.

Well, that did not happen the way that I would like and I ended up awake in bed at 0545. After I thought about what I could be doing instead of just laying there, I spent some time in prayer and then got up and decided to go over my field service. The service is supposed to be a total of 20 minutes, so I went through the whole thing with a timer.

After that, I got moving and began the rest of the day. We ended up at a point later in the morning when we found ourselves as a platoon, needing to fill some time. Our group leader asked if anyone had any suggestions and I mentioned that I could go ahead and do my field service.

Although I did not have all of the paperwork, my classmate and preaching coach did have a copy and another student ran and made copies for everyone else. Therefore, I was able to do my field service on Monday instead of today.

Then, later in the afternoon I got word that I needed to go to a different building today to file some new paperwork. Because of our training schedule the only time I could go was during the field service time. NOW I could do that because I had already done mine.

Later I went for a run on a hill that another student had recommended to me and once I was tired out from running it a bunch of times "I decided" to run around the block to cool down and happened to stumble upon a really nice skate park that I am sure my family going to love.

On my way home last night I actually broke into a smile and a bit of a laugh trying to keep straight everything that had come together to make the day as it was.

We have a great God.

In honor of military spouses

Our class has started going over military memorial services and ceremonies, and the following poem was mentioned to us. I liked it and thought I would share it with you all as a "thank you" to our military spouses. I know it was written for wives, but the military husbands get a big "thank you" too.


The Silent Ranks (Author Unknown)

I wear no uniform, no blues or army greens.
But I am in the military in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders; Salutes I do not give.
But the military world is the place I live.
I'm not in the chain of command, orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget.
I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line. But, my job is just as tough. I'm the one left behind.

My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man and the call to serve his country, not all can understand. Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep our country free. My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me.

I love the man I married. Soldiering is his life. But I stand among the silent ranks, known as the Military Wife!

Ft. Sumter & Charleston

So this week we took a bit of a road trip.

We went to Charleston AFB and Ft. Sumter.

The Air base trip was in order to see a ramp ceremony, understand a little about our Air Force and Navy chaplains, and to have lunch at the Officer club there. I highly recommend the officer club. It was REALLY good food (seems like food has become a focal point in the last few posts).

From there we drove over to Ft. Sumter. The launching point for the ferry to the fort is also where the USS Yorktown is anchored. Plus some other very cool historical ships, planes, and displays.

If you are ever in the area you may want to stop by. The folks working there did a wonderful job of helping us to understand the history of the site and its role in America.

I am posting some pictures of the trip. One cool thing is that the picture with me and the flagpole and water behind me demonstrates a first in my life. I have been all over the west coast, however, this was actually the first time that I have seen the Atlantic. Big deal for me anyway.

Today I am preaching my "sacred communications lab." Basically, we are given a scenario "down range" in Iraq and we have to put together the plan for a complete worship service there. We do up the bulletin and then we preach just the sermon. It is a little challenging to just kind of "drop yourself" into the middle of a scenario like that, but all of the students have done a great job thus far.

We're all looking forward to the weekend, mostly in order to catch up, or get ahead on some of the assignments. The papers and readings are beginning to come at us pretty fast and furious. Of course in the midst of it all we are still figuring out household and family moves. Hectic days.

But God has been good, and so far, other than "death by PowerPoint and memos" we are all doing well.

Thank you for your continued prayers, mail, and care packages.

Let me just add that the mail and care packages are VERY MUCH appreciated. It is like Christmas when they call out your name.

Blessings,
Corey

Visit with the Family

I know that I am a little late on this post, however, I have good reason.

Over the President's Day break I was able to visit with my family in Clarksville, TN. We all flew into Nashville and met up there. We were able to visit Ft. Campbell, look at housing options, and even visit with one of the brigade chaplains on post.

One side note, while I was at the Charlotte airport I visited the USO. These people absolutely rock! They took care of all of us who were there, and helped everyone feel welcome and appreciated.

Even if I had not been able to visit with my family, that visit with the chaplain would have made the trip worthwhile. We were able to talk about the post, the area, the brigade, the different battalions, and expectations.

I will be honest with you, PT (Physical Fitness Training) was a concern for me. The 101st Airborne are known for being in great shape. They have to be! Some of the things that they do regularly would give some people panic attacks. Therefore, they have set their own PT standards very high.

Now, I do not mind working hard, I had to drop 70 pounds just to get into the Army, and I have never been much of a runner. That being said, for me to just pass a standard PT is quite an accomplishment when you consider have far I have come in my fitness.

My main concern is that I do not want to be a liability to the battalion to which I am assigned. I know that I will be one of the older folks at the PT formation, but that is no excuse. I also know, simply because of our schedule here at school, that I will be able to continue to improve my PT a little bit, but it will not be drastically different than it is now.

I really just wanted to know how the PT standards are applied. The chaplain was able to reassure me that as long as I am demonstrating that I am continuing to try, and that I am not quitting, that I should be fine and accepted. That was an overarching concern. I want to get off to a good start in reaching the troops in my battalion. I do not want them to be disappointed in their new chaplain.

In any case, we really liked the Ft. Campbell area and the post. Everyone that we met was really nice, and authentically seemed appreciative of the Army. We also found some REALLY good restaurants. Some of them I will probably have to avoid if I am going to continue to pass my weigh-ins.

I have included some pics. We have a diagnostic PT test tomorrow AM. It is suppose to be really cold. I passed my weigh-in this morning with about 20 pounds to spare, not that I am looking to put those back on.

Blessings.

Weekly Update

I realize that I have been somewhat remiss in my duties as a blogger. I am endeavoring to do better.

This week was quite busy, and this upcoming week is not looking any better as far as workload.

The classroom presentations were so extensive that they actually broke us up into our platoons and had us all rotate through most of the material.

However, one entertaining event was an obstacle course that we tackled on Friday. Yours truly was on a medical profile for tendinitis in his right elbow and so I did not get to participate in much of it, but the road march in body armor and kevlar helmet was fun. I am including some pics.

The other great thing is that the weather has REALLY warmed up. This weekend we hit 70! Of course I was inside for most of it trying to get a leg up on our homework. No complaints though. I did step outside a couple of times and got some good workouts in, in spite of the workload.

Blessings

The End of CIMT

Well, we have completed Phase 0.

No, that is not a typo. The first portion of the chaplain school, which is known as CIMT (I think it stands for "Chaplain Initial Military Training"), is also called "Phase zero."

No matter what it is called, we're done! We are now onto Phase 1!

The final few days of CIMT were fairly busy. We all still find ourselves losing track of how long ago something occurred. For example, we will have conversations about the victory tower, and we cannot remember if it was one week or two weeks ago.

On the 28th I went to see a physical therapist about my right elbow. Since the victory tower it has been "popping" every so often. The therapist thought that it might be tendinitis. I've been following his instructions but it has not improved, so I will probably go to sick call on Tuesday.

We have started sharing our "sacred communication labs." These are basically practice labs in which a student puts together a church service according to a specific scenario, and with an assigned text. The scenario is that you are with a battalion deployed to Iraq and you are halfway through the 12 months that you are scheduled to be there. Everyone has done a really good job thus far.

We also covered using the Myers Briggs Temperament Indicator. I am an ESTJ which means according to some of the leaders of this program, that I am perfectly happy in my "list-laden life." I have to say that I agree with that because I generally have at least one list going all of the time.

Thursday we focused on pluralism and chaplain regulations. Although some may get nervous around the term "pluralism," what it means in the Army is that we as chaplains we work to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to worship in their style and tradition, as much as possible. One of our instructors put it this way, part of why we are here is to prohibit people from prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

Finally, on Friday we had a bit of a graduation ceremony that including the donning of our berets. The black beret is standard headwear when you are at a garrison. We have been wearing patrol caps until now. I kind of prefer the patrol caps, but the berets do look nice.

So, with the beginning of Phase 1 we lose some students who were here just for CIMT (keep in touch everyone), and gain a few new students. We also launch into a lot of new projects, classroom work, and papers. Should be a great learning environment.

Blessings.

The Alpha Group

This is just a, "that is kind of funny" type of update.

Lately, we have been doing PT twice a day, everyday. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are run days (or something like that).

We had previously completed a one mile run as a type of assessment to see where we were all at in our running ability and speed, as well as push-ups and sit-ups.

Now, I am not much of a natural runner, but I had been working on this prior to coming to CH-BOLC. For my age group I need to do the 2-mile run in at least 18 minutes, 18 seconds. It took me a while, but I felt pretty good when I got myself to where I could do the 2-miles in about 17 to 17.5 minutes.

So, I was really excited when we did the one mile and I completed it in 7 minutes, 58 sec! I thought that was pretty good. However, I had no lofty thoughts that this then meant that I was a speed-demon.

So you can imagine my surprise this last Monday, when we were broken into running teams based on speed, and I was put in the ALPHA group. These were all of the really fast people who had been passing me in the one mile run (I might have even been lapped a couple times).

I explained to the Alpha-group leader that I thought that I might be in the wrong group and he just told me to try to keep up and to drop out if I needed to do so. Well, I stayed with them for about a 1/4 mile, and then I was looking for the oxygen tank (why do the "professional" athletes have oxygen tanks?).

I walked, jogged, sprinted, coughed, and sputtered my way through the run and got back to our starting point. When it was all said and done I spoke to our NCO in charge about my situation. He looked at his records and said that his records showed that I ran the 1-mile in 5 minutes, 5 seconds! I told him that I have never run that fast, and shared my ACTUAL time. He smiled and said that I should have been in the CHARLIE company, which is where I will be tomorrow. Hopefully I will not be looking for the oxygen tank; at least not as needfully.

Catching Up

OK, so here is the latest update...

Since the 19th here is what all we have been up to . . .

We worked on map reading and using a compass on Tuesday. This was in the classroom and we had some software that we went through ahead of time. I was kind of concerned about this portion of the training because I have never used a typographical map and compass before. However, my brother-in-law gave me some good pointers before I got here and it really helped to make it a lot of fun.

It really became fun on Wednesday when we actually went out to a remote area of the post and practiced our new map and compass skills. It was very cool figuring out where you were on a map, figuring out where you wanted to go and then figuring out how to get there. We then worked on more training with first aid, radios, mapping, and chemical attacks. Then that evening we tried our hand at doing map and compass navigation at night.
This was a bit more difficult but it was mostly because we had a larger group that we were trying to work with and we ended up with slightly different measurements. This ended up causing some confusion and so we missed a couple of the points that we were suppose to find. It was still a good experience and I think we learned a lot.

The next day we worked on more of the skills that we will need in today's modern battlefield. How to crawl low to the ground and how to move through and around obstacles with a chaplain's assistant. That was for the morning, and then after lunch we tested on the skills from the day before such as first aid, radios, maps, etc.

One side note on the lunches, the MREs (meals-ready-to-eat) of today are actually very good. There is quite a variety and they have some really tasty options. A lot of calories, but that would be a good thing in the field and on patrol.

After all of that we worked on night infiltration. Basically this was taking the low crawling skills to another location and using them in a more realistic battlefield environment. In other words, crawling through the sand, under bard wire and around obstacles while things are flying overhead and going "boom!" I thought it was pretty cool.

Then Friday we had a paper due on Army officer ethics, and three different study guides that had to be turned in, and then two quizzes. We also completed a personality inventory and had our first student-led, practice military church service. This is an exercise that all of us are going to do. Basically you are putting together a church service as though you are in Iraq, speaking to a group of soldiers who are 6 months into a 12 month deployment. It is an excellent project for us since it is very likely that we will all eventually be in a similar situation sooner or later. It is best to start working out some concepts now. The project is done with your platoon and staff group leader who has "been there, done that" before. They are able to give some real life, experience based feedback, while the other students give general feedback. The first student, Adam, did a really good job and helped break the ice for the rest of us.
We then went for a run as a class along a hilly road in a very pretty area, then had muscle-fatigue based PT this morning, at 0600. Therefore I was awake plenty early to get my laundry, shopping, and some class work done.

The final part of the evening was getting together with the other students (or at least most of them) who are going to Ft. Campbell and having dinner and getting to know one another better. We are trying to do this every Saturday and it has become a highlight of the week. Joel picked the place tonight and it was a hit. It is a place called "Yesterdays" and it is down in a college area. Great food, and very cool, historic building atmosphere.

Also, please keep in mind that allow though some of these pictures look nice and sunny, for much of this week it was actually very, very cold.

Have a wonderful Sunday,
Corey

Time Flies

Even with a long weekend, it is amazing how time flies.

Although I had an extra day this weekend, I found that I had so much homework and other things to do that I still did not get it all done. In fact, just putting this together is delaying my departure to bed so I can get up at 0445 to be ready to head to PT at 0535.

I mentioned in a previous post that we all experienced the gas chamber. I thought I would share a picture of the aftermath, however blogger does not want to do any uploading right now. But the picture does not really do justice to the situation anyway.

It was really cold, although sunny, and the tear gas makes you squint and your nose run.

So this week we are working on the ethics of a US Army officer, map reading, and first aid types of things. In addition to the other normal stuff like PT.

Please keep us all in your prayers and don't forget to send the mail and care packages. It is almost like Christmas when they call your name at mail call. It is fun to see some of us, all of which have advanced degrees, jump up when their name is called with a big smile on their face.

Continue to lift up our soldiers and their families and our leaders.

God bless,
Corey

Live through the IVs

So this is just another fast update. I am hoping to post more this weekend. I am very thankful for a 3 day weekend.

Yesterday we trained on first aid. This is an area in which a chaplain CAN serve. We are not allowed to carry weapons or ammunition, but we can prayer, lead worship, and we can do first aid.

The second half of the day was what was most interesting. We were trained on how to give IVs, and then we had to practice on one another!

I don't know about you, but this may be the first time that I have stuck a needle in someone other than trying to get a splinter out. I really was not sure how I was going to do with it.

However, I did fine. I actually have really good veins, so my partner was able to figure it out on me without too much issue. He did accidently pull the needle out at one point, and then do it again (so I got stuck twice), and I bled out a small puddle, but obviously I lived.

For my part I was able to find a vein on him and get the whole thing done without too much drama. I am excited about learning everything that I AM able to do to serve the soldiers.

(Warning, soapbox following) I am realizing the longer that I am here, how much our soldiers do and how much they sacrifice. The need for the chaplain ministry has been made even more clear to me. In many ways I feel that as chaplains there is just not enough that we can do to help, support, and love on our soldiers. They and their families give soooooooo much for all of us. Please keep them in your prayers all the time, and look for lots of ways to thank them and support them. (this concludes the soapbox portion of the message).

Thank you for all of your support and prayers for us as students. We have a number of us who are dealing with some serious family and life issues. Please keep praying.

Corey

Quick AM Update

I have just a little bit of time, so here is a quick update...

Yesterday we trained on the use of gas masks, and then put them to the test.

I can say that the gas masks really, REALLY work!

I know this because we had to go into a gas chamber full of tear gas, with our masks on, and then take them off a couple of times and state certain bits of information.

This of course was not fun. We ended up with runny noses, teary eyes, and a lot of coughing, but we lived through it.

So when you are watching the news and you see the guy run up and grab a tear gas canister and throw it back at someone else, keep in mind that he is really doing something there.

Today we learn some first aid, and I think we are going to be giving one another IVs. Another new experience for yours truly.

Blessings,
Corey

PS: Please keep us all in your prayers. We have a number of students who are struggling with some fairly major life issues.

Obstacle Course, Victory Tower, Radios

Well, we have been busy.

Do you remember those old Army commercials where they said, "we do more before 9am than most people do in a day"? It is still true.

Yesterday we marched to the obstacle course in the morning, came back for lunch and then went to the victory tower in the afternoon.

It seemed like it was cold all morning. On top of that, I have a spot in my right boot that is rubbing on the top of my foot. I have been using moleskin, but it has bruised the area, so walking is just getting painful now. No blister, just pain.

The obstacle course was a fun series' of challenges in order to get a small group of us working as a team and cooperating under a volunteered leader. It was fun, but somewhat physically challenging in some cases.

The victory tower was a series of challenges that included using rope bridges, rope ladders, and rappelling. This was a lot of fun too, but even more challenging. At least it had warmed up a bit.

Then today, we woke up and did PT (physical training) at 0600, and yeah, it was cold again. Then we trained on radios and did some classes in the afternoon that included a discussion on the chaplain being a non-combatant.

This was a very interesting discussion. In case you did not know, chaplains are not allowed to carry, use, train on, or even transport weapons or ammunition. Our discussion of course centered mostly around the ideas of why can we not even train with them, and what happens when you are caught up in a fire-fight?

Tomorrow should be another interesting day. We will be training with gas-masks, and then we will go to the local gas chamber (you have one of those, right?) and testing them out. Part of the "testing" is that you have to take the masks off in the chamber. My understanding is that this causes a great deal of coughing, the flow of snot, and a great deal of arm flapping to get the stuff off of you and your clothes. I'm sure it will be a fun time for all.

Blog updates may be delayed at this point for recovery time. :-)

Here are some more pics from the last couple days.

Your blogger,
Corey