Here we go again!

Wow! Here I am back at CH-BOLC for phases 2 and 3. Please spread the word that I'll try to blog on this to keep you all back home updated as to my progress. It seems surreal to be back. It feels like forever since last year in some ways, and in others it is like I never left. There are many familiar faces from last summer's class and many more to get acquainted with.

Right now I am focusing on Thursday and Friday as one of those days I'll be taking the APFT or the Army Physical Fitness Test. Once I have that out of the way, I'll probably head out that weekend for a huge meal at a steakhouse or something. Until then, I'll be a good little chaplain candidate and watch my calories and so on.

I'm kind of goofy right now due to lack of sleep, so I'll cut this entry short. Please pray for my family as we are separated again. It isn't easy for a six and almost three year old. And it sure isn't any easier for daddy and mommy. Good night to all.

Back to God's Country

I know it has been two weeks since I posted. So, I'll skip the normal apologies and empty promises to keep up the blog in the future. The most exciting thing that happened in the meant time was surprising the family when I showed up about 6 hours earlier than they expected me. You see, they released us from CH-BOLC early in the morning on 13 JUL but I told Dacia that I didn't get on the road until 15:30 or so. I then continued the lie by telling her that I was spending the night in Birmingham, AL when I was actually staying the night in Conway, AR. So when I walked up the drive around 10:45 on Saturday, the family was quite surprised. It was an awesome reunion. I had put my ACU's on that morning so that my kids would see their dad truly coming home from the Army.

So now, I'm back to the bank and the church. I love the people at both places. They are making the transition back to the routine very easy. Now the trick is to get back into a civilian routine that includes running, push-ups, and sit-ups. I don't want to lose the progress I made at Ft. Jackson. I also am trying to keep up with the folks from 3rd Squad/4th Platoon to make sure they don't forget who they are missing. Seriously, I truly miss those folks. When you spend 12-14 a day for 6 weeks, you can get pretty close. We are all very different in our backgrounds and denominations, but we fit together because all have an intense desire to serve soldiers. Plus, we like to pound down huge burritos from Moe's every Monday night. That seems to do the trick!!

That's all for now.

Random video

This is some video shot during one of our breaks between power point presentations. The first soldier you see is our platoon leader, CH Brian. You then see one our new arrivals, LT Jenny. Then you also get to see yours truly (like that's a big treat). Enjoy a clip that at least seemed funny at the time.

Beret Pics

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I would try to get a pic or two of me wearing my beret with my uniform. This is a photo of me in my daily duty uniform. That means that this is what we wear to class every day. I still have some fine tuning to do to make the beret look a little better, but this should give you an idea.

CH-BOLC Picnic

We had a great time at our class, 4th of July picnic. With some good food, football, basketball, a talent show, we managed to have a great time. Several of us also had the privilege of meeting Amy Maxwell. She is one of the tireless bloggers in the chaplain world and for that many of us are grateful. Thanks Amy!

Here is a video of our very own Chaplain May giving a 5 minute devotion before our lunch today. That's right...5 minutes from a Southern Baptist preacher! That's got to be some kind of a record. Actually he did an OUTSHHSTANDING job! See for yourself!

CIMT is in the Books!!!!

As of 29 June 07, I (and the rest of the class) am now a beret wearing soldier. No longer are wearing our Patrol Cap (the baseball style cap worn by recruits in training and other soldiers while in the field). We graduated from the introductory military training and have now move into Phase I of CH-BOLC. To prepare for the event we had to do the infamous duty of preparing the beret by shaping and shaving it. That's right, you actually have to shave the excess wool off of the beret. I've included a few photos to show me diligently trying to make my beret presentable. I'll try to get a snapshot or two of me actually wearing with my uniform in the next day or so. I'll keep this short for now. Don't forget to leave comments, or I'll get paranoid and think that nobody is actually reading this thing.

P.S. Our squad is not the same since our resident rabbi, 2LT Moshe, left after CIMT. We miss you, Mo! Stay in touch!

FTX-Training Exercise

I know it has been almost two weeks since I posted and for that I should be grounded or something. But here we are on a nice, sunny Saturday at Ft. Jackson, still recovering from a three day trip to the field. Actually I'm feeling pretty good despite the lack of showers, the thick brush, and the stinkin' humidity. Plus, there is never any wind in this area! I can't believe that I actually wish for some good ole' Oklahoma wind to come through and make the sweat feel good. Here in SC you hope for a 5 mile per hour breeze to come by...and it doesn't come by that often. But the FTX was a great time and here are some photos from our time there.

Here is one of the few meals that wasn't an MRE. It either tasted really good or I was just really hungry.

This is one of the chaplains in our cadre performing a field service. This was an amazing time of worship. We took communion at the end of the service. I agreed with Chaplain Ken when he said "I don't think communion has ever meant so much." It was awesome to participate in this ordinance in such a beautiful and meaningful place.

This is a picture of our camp site. The tent on the left is 4th Platoon's (Chaplain Ken's and my tent). The one on the right is the overflow tent since for the soldiers who couldn't fit into their platoon's tent. This is Chaplain Kay and I during one of our "hurry up and wait" times.
Here is Chaplain Ken dispensing water for his canteen at a "water buffalo". This is me trying steal a few winks on my luxurious cot. I think I could have slept on a bed of nails if need be.