The Soldier's Creed and the end of CIMT

30 Jan 09

Today was the last day of the first "block" of the Chaplain Course. It was called Chaplain Initial Military Trainint (CIMT), and was designed to expose Chaplains to Army protocol, drilling, marching, the uniform, map reading, and the other aspects of Army life designed to make us better Soldiers. [The word Soldier, by the way, is always capitalized out of respect]. I am glad it is over, since we now move on to Chaplain-specific training for the remainder of the course. We will still have PT every day however (and twice-a-day if the drill sergeant is grumpy), since they place a high value on their Chaplains being able to pass the required PT test (necessary to graduate from this course). It feels good to have CIMT behind me. I've enjoyed the training, but it was hard. More importantly, however, is knowing that I've been here 4 weeks now (which means only 8 more to go)! Every day completed is a day closer to going home.

We had a little "Beret Donning" ceremony this morning where we all removed our patrol caps (the one that looks like a baseball hat), and put on our berets. It was sort of symbolic of becomming a Soldier. Up until completion of CIMT, students are not allowed to wear the beret. So it's kind of a big deal now to now be able to wear the beret and look different from the basic traininee Soldiers running around here as well.

Finally, I want to share with you the "Soldier's Creed." We are all expected to memorize this and live it. It goes like this...

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The Soldier's Creed:
I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and I live the Army Values.
I will always place the Mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment, and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
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Amen to that. Hooah!

Legal and Ethical Day

27 Jan 09

Today we sat through about 6 hours of training from an officer from the JAG (Judge Advocate General) department. He was a young Captain (lawyer), who knew his stuff. No, he did not look like the studly actor who played the main role on the TV show, "JAG" a few years ago, but that's OK. He spoke to us about the Military Code of Justice, the Law of War (there actually is such as thing, including the Geneva Convention), and finally the Army's policy on Homosexuality in the Military. It is rumored that it will change, now that we have a new President. But that remains to be seen. It was interesting to note the discussion on how do we fight fairly against an enemy that does not? It is still the American policy to abide by the laws of War as established long ago.

We also had our first student-led "Field Service" today. We are all on a rotation to do this, but mine is not for another three weeks. Whew! A theme they are drilling in us is the role of the Chaplain to provide for the "free exercise of religion" for all Soldiers as provided by the 1st Ammendment of the Constitution. This does not mean that I have to lead a Jewish or Catholic or Mormon service, but it does mean I have to help them coordinate to get their religious needs met. This might be as simple as reserving a room for the Wicca group, or it might mean calling a Rabbi to come do a Jewish service once a month if possible. In one of our readings the author wrote, "Every human being has the Spark of God and the ability to give warmth and light to others." The Bible says that we are all "created in God's image," so I kind of like that quote.

But back to the Field Service... we have to wear all of our gear. They call this "full battle-rattle," and it's heavy. We also practice just off the parking lot in the tree line (as you can see in the picture). I am finding my own faith strengthened as I listen to and learn from other Chaplains (most of which are also Protestant, but not all). It is interesting to hear the often subtle -- but sometimes blatant -- differences in Theology in my colleagues. For instance, the Chaplain pictured above leading the first field service is from a denomination that believes Christ's body and blood are literally present in the communion bread and wine (or juice, in this case). I do not agree with that as a Southern Baptist, so I chose to not partake in the communion during his field service. The same Chaplain also made the comment about his ability to "absolve me of my sins" due to his position as an odrained minister in his denomination. Again, I do not believe the same things he does (including his ability to forgive my sins), but I have to support his right to have and practice his own faith. Personally, I believe the Lord's Supper is not literal but is "symbolic" of what Christ did on the Cross for you and me, and also I believe only God can forgive our sins (therefore, we need to confess them only to God). No human being has that power or ability, not even the Pope--although my Catholic friends might disagree. So I believe this is going to be a challenging training for me, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.

Go AZ Cardinals!

26 Jan 09

It was a very long day today. We started and ended with exercise. The morning PT consisted of the usual stretching and then a 2 mile run. We ran in group formations based on our times in the first test we took a week or so ago. The fastest in the class are in group A, the next fastest in group B, and so forth down to groups C and D. I am in group C, which means I am not that fast and have room for improvement (but my stamina is good). They will expect me to move up to group B by the end of the Program. Anyway, I felt strong throughout the run, and never had to stop (as many did). But what makes this hard are the hills. Where I live we don't have too many hills, and so this is new territory for me. It's hard, but it's a good workout. After a full day of classroom instruction, and mail-call at 4:45 pm (1645), they told us to be back out at the PT field by 5:20 pm (1720). They put us through a series of wind-sprints on the track for another hour. It was awful! I know a lot of my peers could not finish, it was that challenging. I had to walk a few times, but I stayed with it and huffed air like crazy, and I made it to the end. That felt goood.

As for the mail today... my wonderful family mailed me a new T-shirt. It's the one I'm wearing in the picture: 2008 Conference Champions (AZ Cardinals). Now I have something to wear for the Super Bowl party here this weekend. That was a great gift. Thank you! In the picture you can see my screen saver and all of the cards and letters I have received so far. I am taping them to the wall to decorate my dorm room, so keep 'em coming. I want to fill up that wall! (My address here is listed in a previous blog).

Answered Prayer

24 Jan 09

I am writing this on a Saturday morning watching the light rain out my dorm window. We ran 2 miles up and back down "Drill Sargeant's Hill" last night around 6:00 pm, and then we were told to return to the PT field at 0600 (am) this morning for another round. This time, however, it was what they call "muscle failure" day, and they meant it! The instructors worked us over good for about 90 minutes already today, in the light rain. It felt like a really tough aerobics class that never ended!

Back at the homefront, my parents leave for a several week trip to Australia today. Many of you know that my dad has been sick, but he feels up to going and has the doctor's blessings to go. So I am praying they have a great time and he feels well the entire trip. Please add them to your prayer list as well. I would appreciate that. And I want to thank everyone who has been praying for me and my family so far. My wife commented that she knows many people are praying for us, and she knows it's helping her and the girls at home. So I am blessed and grateful for everyone who has lifted us up in prayers over these past few weeks. I hope that you will continue to do so for a few more months! Thank you.

The answered prayer mentioned above is the fact that I will be able to come home for the long Valentine's Day weekend next month and spend a few days with family and friends. A number of my peers are doing the same thing, and I have been praying for the ability to pay for another flight home. God answered that prayer when a family member donated frequent flyer miles to me for the trip home and back. I was blown away and almost cried when I heard the news. (And yes, Soldiers do cry!). I can't tell you how awesome it is to know God has your every need in mind, and He loves to meet those needs -- we just need to ask Him!

The pictures above are from our time in the field. The group shot is of an actual "field service" held by a staff Chaplain. They are teaching us how to conduct a similar worship service, because each one of us will be required to come up with a short message and lead a field service before graduation. This is practice for when we are actually with Soldiers in the near future. The key here is brevity, which I like. It feels like a short Bible study lesson, which I enjoy!

Night Infiltration Course (N.I.C. at Night)

1

22-09

We finished up two long and difficult days today by spending it out at the woods again. We all had to pass tests on the material we've been taught, such as First Aid, gas mask usage and decontamination, reading maps, using a compass, and how to assemble and use an Army radio (and send a communication using the phoenetic alphabet when necessary -- that's alpha, bravo, charlie, delta, etc.). It was kind of stressful. Then we learned how to crawl in the dirt under barbed-wire, because they took us to the Night Infiltration Course and actually had us crawl across a 100 yard sand pit while instructors actuallt fired live machine guns over our heads. The bullets were probably 12 feet up, so even if you stood up you'd be safe, but they strongly encouraged us to stay low. It was cool. Explosions were going off and they fired flares into the air to help us all see. We were at this range with a squad of new recruits (Privates), and we followed them into the sand. Their drill instructors were not very nice to them, I can tell you that, and the language was a little more colorful that we had been used to with our instructors! And those poor soldiers had to crawl with their rifles up in their hands -- try that one the next time you go to the beach! That's not easy. I felt sorry for those guys (and glad it was not me). And just like a day at the beach, you come home with sand everywhere. I have to clean my gear this weekend, and I'm sure the sand will be the major issue to deal with.

The first picture is not me, by the way, but this guy found a way to stay warm. The second picture is of a memorial to the "Four Chaplains" who died together on a troop transport ship in WWII. They each gave up their life vests for Soldiers after their ship was hit by a German torpedo. These four Chaplains have been awarded the highest medal a Chaplain can receive, and so their story is a big deal around here.

This coming weekend will mark three completed weeks! It's moving faster than I thought (and yet not fast enough).