Training for war

It has been a busy last couple of weeks. I'm here at lovely (can you hear the sarcasm in my voice?) Fort Dix in New Jersey where a low has been sitting of the coast bringing in plenty of tropical moisture just in time for our field training in combat contingency skills. But I must say that this has been an enlightening and worthwhile couple of weeks. We've been going full steam with long days and no days off. But the upside is that I feel much more confident about handling myself in the middle of a war zone than I would have been without the training.

We have a large class. There are seven chaplains and seven chaplain assistants and some JAG officers mixed into a whole bunch of Air Force Security Forces. Over the past few weeks we have practiced combat tactics out in the field, urban building clearing, operating out of a Foward Operating Base, and convoys. I've been shot at with simulated ammunition -- wasn't hit fortunately. I learned early to keep my hiney down! There are some interesting bruises amongst the people on my fire team though. Of course part of the reason that I wasn't hit is that since chaplains are non-combatants and do not carry weapons, we tend to get deposited in a reasonably safe spot of the action while the combatants move on and take care of business.

I can't go into a lot of details about the kinds of training due to its being protected in nature, but I can say that it is top notch and that the troops impressed me with how serious they through themselves into it and with how well they did. They train as they will fight because they will fight as they train. I did participate in every major evolution even though I was not a shooter. I've been rained on, shot at, mortared (simulated but sounds like the real thing complete with concussions), enjoyed day after day of MRE field rations, ran around the woods like a banshee with 100 pounds of gear and body armour, driven humvees through mud thick enough to capture a horse, learned how to respond to attacks, how to move with a fire team as it engaged in offensive and defensive ops, learned how convoys should respond to various scenarios, and learned how to save a life of an injured servicemember when wounded. I've learned radios and call signs and what to look for in terms of danger signals in the environment around me.

And I've learned at lot about our AF security forces (who we affectionately call "cops"). They are more than cops. They are first rate combat troops and they have a difficult job. Downrange (deployed) they will work 7 days a week often 12 hours or more a day on the line or even outside the wire providing security for convoys. They work hard. This training evolution has been the first time I've spent any substantial time with these kinds of troops and they have earned my enduring respect.

These last days are reserved for specific training related to our professional position -- so the cops have gone on to more detailed training and the chaplains are meeting to learn more about spiritual and emotional issues frequently encountered downrange and how to engage them. All in all its has been a good time. There is a saying one often hears in the military: "Its all good". In this case I have to say even being soaked to the skin and laying in the mud -- it was all good!

Today is Flag Day

June 14th -- Flag Day.

June 14, 1777 the Continential Congress adopted the basic design that is our flag. This first Congress declared, “White signifies purity and innocence; red, hardiness and valor; blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice.”

A short meditation and tribute to consider. The last verse of our National Anthem -- the Star Spangled Banner.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Off to Train for War

This Friday, I and my chaplain assistant will head to Fort Dix to to the Air Mobility Warfare Center for our contingency skills training. The focus for us will be on combat operations in urban environments and defensive operations involving convoys. This is the last segment I need to be full up and ready for deployment to the war. Chaplains find themselves in a unique situation in combat environments. We are classified as non-combatants by the Geneva conventions, and under orders to not carry or utilize weapons, even in self defense of ourselves or our fellow troops. We can be shot at, but we can't shoot back. However, we can respond as anyone else to render first aid or even self-care in the event someone is hurt. And it is important for us to know how the troops will respond in the even of combat so we do what needs to be done to take care of ourselves so we can keep ourselves and our wingmen from getting hurt.

I'm going to the war. Can't say where or when -- but I'm heading there into the thick of things. I've already started collecting the gear I will need. I know my location and my time frame. To be honest, I'm looking forward to the opportunities associated to get involved in the lives of our airmen and women and even our soldiers and sailors who will be there. I'll certainly miss my family and friends, but this is one of the reasons I joined for. I will say though, that I will miss being here at Andrews. We have new leadership and several new chaplains coming in and they are all first rate. It will be an exciting time this fall to watch the new ministry develop here.

Out in the war, operations are truly a joint endeavor. There is way less distinction between the operations of the services than when I was last in the military in the early 90's. I have a wedding coming up for instance for an Army captain whose unit I serve as its chaplain as it is attached here at Andrews. Out in the war, there is almost not distinction between the services. Everyone works together to get the job done and work to make sure we all come home.

I've been doing some research to better prepare myself for what is coming. I found this video which I found very enlightening about convoy operations. This 2nd video helps one understand the saying "you don't hear the bullet that kills you". I hope to have an opportunity to tag along on some of these rides and to get out with the locals to add something to the efforts that are being made to bring peace and stability to so many places in the world right now. Other video from Iraq can be found here & Afghanistan here

On a side note, one of our reserve chaplains is also a member of the LCMS like myself. He has a congregation not to far from here. This is a good thing for my family, as the local one's we've visited so far have not been a good fit for my family. It is only about once every couple of months that we have a chance to go to services on Sunday morning, but it will be good to have a place to go and touch our roots and reinforce our identification with our tradition on a regular basis.

Combat Dining In

I'm a big World War II buff. One of the customs that developed in that time was the practice of the "Dining In". The Dining In is a very formal military tradition following specific customs for conduct during the meal, violations of which can send a person to the "Grog". There are usually 2 Grogs -- an awful concoction of liquid items barely digestible but non-alcoholic and an acoholic version that is of such proof that it can serve as alternative lighting should the electricity go out.

The Combat Dining In is its own animal. Here the same sorts of rules (can't come late, can't cut out of the dinner for a bathroom break, can clap to toasts, and so forth) apply only to go to the Grog one must run an obstacle course of water guns, water hoses, or even in some cases the dinner itself having been turned into missiles for attack.

Friday night was my first experience as I was treated to a Dining In experience with one of the 89th's foremost squadrons -- the 89 CES (Civil Engineering Squadron) as they welcomed many of their comrades home from deployment. Within ten minutes my boots were full of water and my wallet would take days to dry out thanks to a dunking into the pool. But I was relieved of having to go to the Grog by the Commander himself, as he recognized that as a Chaplain and official holder of a Geneva Conventions Card that I am a non-combatant, so I was encouraged to send someone in my stead. (Of course, twists like this just add to the fun.) Of course, I still found myself on the receiving end of collateral fire being caught often in the middle of cross fire. All in all it was great fun and a great chance to build some camaraderie.

Promotions, rubbing shoulders, and a new office

Today was a day for promotion ceremonies. I woke early to greet a bunch of our troops returning from deployment and to kick off the process for their reintegration back home. I then moved to the Chapel for final preparations for a high visibility event, the promotion of our Wing Chaplain Charlie R. Stutts to full colonel. We had many distininquished visitors including commanders from our own base but also including Generals from the Chaplain service as well as the one star who commands the 89th Airlift Wing. My role was to narrate the ceremony, which I truly enjoyed. I have to say it gave a good feeling to see Chaplain Stutts finally wearing eagles. He works hard. They look right on him.

Later that afternoon, I provided the invocation for the promotion ceremony of our enlisted folks who are putting on extra stripes this month. The pride and comradery was very evident. Our Wing Commander mentioned during his closing comments that he gets alot of encouragement from the smiles and energy of these new promotees as they come up before the group to receive their recognition and shake his hand. I too find the day to be sort of like a pep rally, with each of the units showing their pride in their people through chants and cheers.

One really great thing about these ceremonies is the opportunity to rub shoulders and share conversation with all kinds of folks - from commanders of various units, all the way up to the Wing Command and Command Master Chief, as well as the young airman putting on his first stripe. All share in common a great love for their nation and a dedication to excellence and service.

As I said before, Chief Master Sergeant Gerald Murray, who is the highest ranking enlisted member of the United States Air Force serving as the Master Sergeant of the Air Force, comes to our chapel for services. It is a true treat to be able to speak with him and hear what he sees and hears out all over the world from the troops he visits with and to hear his concern for each of them and their families. Again, what I hear from so many people is admiration for the hard work and dedication our personnel are putting forth in this war on terror for the benefit of the nation. I can't say enough how much of an honor it is to serve with people of such character.

On a different note, I'm working on a new office within one of my squadrons that I provide care to. The Civil Engineering Squadron is making space for me in their HQ building. I plan to split my time between their location and my chapel 1 office. I'm going to visit sometime tomorrow or Friday to look at the space they are giving me. Being with the troops -- that's where ministry is at.