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

Jan 9, 10 & 11

Sorry for the delay on updates. It has of course been busy.

We had classes on ceremony, customs, drill and marching on Friday, and more marching on Saturday, plus setting up our helmets.

The weather was nice for the Saturday marching so it worked out well.

Then on Saturday I was able to return some gear that I no longer needed, and pick up some other. I also went to the commissary to pick up some things. They had a great selection and it really was not all that busy.

I then ran everything home and met up with the other "Ft. Campbellites" (as we like to call ourselves) for dinner. This is the group of us six chaplains who are all being assigned to Ft. Campbell, KY after school (the 7th one joins us in Feb.).

I asked one of the sergeants if he had a local place that he could recommend and he suggested a southern country restaurant called "Lizard's Thicket." It was really good food and we all had fun chatting and getting to know one another.

Then today my squad decided to go to church together. Part of the instruction here includes the need to visit 9 different post chapel services of a variety of faiths and denominations by the end of the class. So today we went to 3. This was not as difficult as it may sound because they were all one after another in the same chapel building.

The first was a Lutheran/Episcopalian service. There were quite a few basic training attendees for this service.

The second was a Jewish service. It was led by an elderly Rabbi from the community. He had a wonderful spirit and attitude and took the time to explain most everything he was doing or quoting.

The third was called a collective Protestant service. It was in the style that I would call traditional. There were a number of retirees that came to this service. They were very welcoming, and one of the gentlemen in attendance had lived in the Boise/Salt Lake area previously.

After that we went to lunch and a place called, "Steve B's" which is a pizza/salad bar buffet. It was also really good.

Tomorrow we are suppose to march to a confidence course and a tall tower, however, I may have an opportunity to get my first ride in an Army Hummer. I will have to let you know how it goes.

'Til then,
Corey