Getting Squared Away

In the Army, to be "squared away" or a "go" means that you're good on something. For example, "LT Stamps, that uniform is squared away." To not be squared away is to be a "no go" or to be told "wrong answer". For example, "Private Smith, are we supposed to wear the beret indoors? Wrong answer Private." These first few days have been spent getting us all squared away and ready to go with in-processing, uniforms, etc. Tomorrow will be the first day we're in our ACUs. I can't wait. I'm going to post some pics of the Chaplain School with descriptions. I'm a visual guy so this will help those of you like me. Stand by.

"I do more before 9am..."

You've heard the military saying, "I do more before 9am than most people do all day." This statement is a fact. At one point today, after doing a day's worth of work, class, etc., I looked at my watch to see it was only 1000. By 0900, the average soldier has woken, squared away his/her room, done pt, showered, breakfast, and began work for the day. We're typically supposed to knock off around 1600 (4pm Mom), but this doesn't always happen. I've found that I really enjoy getting up that early. I have more time to get things done, including my devotional. Give God time first. CH Cline said today, "When you know who you are, you'll know what to do." He's right. When we know that before we're Republican/Democrat, American, or even male or female, that we're Christian, then we'll know what to do. The sheep will recognize His voice and follow Him. Weigh-in tomorrow. Bring it.

Left Hand, Right Hand

Believe it or not, the Army can be very bureaucratic. It's not uncommon to turn in the same form, to the same people multiple times and be asked each successive time, "Why didn't you turn these in?" Someone said to me the other day that the old saying, "The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing," isn't actually true for the Army. Instead, he posited, that it's more like, "The left hand doesn't know that the right hand exists." He's right. It's frustrating. Sometimes you'll have several different commands/organizations wanting several different things from you at once while simultaneously telling you to not worry about the other organization because theirs is the most important. We take it all in stride. CH Cline said the other day that they intended to push us in every way imaginable, even in our clerical skills. He's right. I imagine that after a career in the Army, I will be a more patient person...about some things. I'm also learning that the things that used to bug me (a lack of punctuality, a lack of organization, a lack of personal responsibility) bug me even more as the Army reinforces these. In the Army, we're a team, but we're also expected to be big boys and girls and make our own bed, get up at the right time, know your schedule, etc. There's a saying we use: right place, right time, right uniform. This will inevitably lead to a good day.

Okay, have to go set through some lectures and be yelled at. We like it here, we love it here, we finally found a home!

Welcome to the Army

I'm entirely too tired to make a coherent post so I'm just going to bullet point some of the highs and lows of the day including some of my new favorite sayings I'm learning.

1. Delta Airlines sucks compared to Southwest. Southwest is such a friendlier atmosphere.

2. I love the Army.

3. People in the Army are incredibly direct and the entire culture thrives on accountability. You can slide by in other areas of life, not here. You will be caught. You will be punished. It will be embarrassing.

4. We are assigned to platoons in historic divisions. These aren't real of course but they foster unity and pride. I'm in the 3rd Platoon of the 34th Infantry Division "Red Bulls". Hooah.

5. Our platoon leader is a LtCol with years of experience. He looks, talks, and acts like a poster boy for old school Army. He's so much fun/scary. He gets me fired up. Everything he says is with spirit and force. I love him. He's CH Barnett. Our NCO is SFC Townsend. He's terrifying.

6. We have been given strict orders to be "Semper Gumby" (always flexible).

7. SC is the hottest place on the face of the planet and it's not even hot yet supposedly.

8. Never call a SGT "Ma'am". They are to be called "SGT". I learned that today.

9. Our instructors are extremely educated, well spoken, and high speed. I like that. I already have a ton of respect for these people.

10. And finally, it's good to be an officer. My housing is amazing. Pictures below. I will post pics of that actual school and area tomorrow if I get time. Formation is at 0650 (starting late).

Rationale

Someone said to me a while back, "I can't believe you joined the Army!" I told them that if they had known me like my family knows me they wouldn't be shocked at all. I've always felt called to the military. When Wesley joined...now THAT was a shock. And I'll be danged if he isn't one of the most squared away soldiers I've ever been around (high speed...low drag). When I was in high school, I couldn't wait to join the service. School bored me to tears. I remember setting in an Air Force recruiter's office with Beth talking about basic training, jobs, etc. I was considering being a heavy equipment operator (I like big loud machines). I was going to do that while I went to school.

That very night I came home and told Pops and Nanny and I saw their countenance visibly fail. I thought they'd be proud! Pride wasn't the issue; they knew something I didn't know. Our DS had told Pops that he was going to offer me an appointment. I prayed on the issue and you know the history. I have zero regrets about waiting. College was cool, but boring. Serving churches was a fantastic experience that's put me far ahead of my classmates. And so I assumed I was set. But I couldn't shake this military thing. I would stay up late at night while Beth was working 3rd shift and the kids were in bed, and I'd watch military movies or YouTube videos about the war. 

For the longest time I was so torn about the whole issue. A voice in my head was telling me that if I went into the military I would be abandoning God and the church. I couldn't do that; both had been too good to me. As I prayed more and more, I began to see that perhaps the reason I couldn't shake the feeling is because it's not a feeling, it's a call. Again, you know the rest of the story.

To change directions, I'm in shock at how hard and simultaneously easy this all has been. The paperwork, physicals, pt, and getting the church ready for my departure has been incredibly difficult. Leaving Beth and the kids tomorrow morning will be a whole other mountain to ascend. I was under the naive assumption that life would pause while I go train. As it turns out, life could give a crap less. I have a whole new appreciation for military families (and I'm just going for training, not war). It's been simultaneously easy because I know I'm doing what God wants me to do. I have no illusions as to how hard or easy the training will be. There will be good and bad days and I know that. But I've been waiting for this for 24 years, how bad can it be? So this is my rationale for joining. Not for glory, pay, or so I can still give Wes orders in adulthood. I joined because God told me to. Here goes nothing.

"I am an American soldier.

I am a warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States of America, 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 all my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment, and myself.

I am an expert and 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 Solider." Hooah

Intro

Okay, this is just for the family so if you've reached this blog somehow and you're not lucky enough to be biologically related to me, please excuse the inside jokes and possibly poor grammar; I only intend for my family to read this so I'm not putting on airs. I created this blog so you guys can track my progress or lack thereof while at CH-BOLC. Here's what you need to know first:

1. CH-BOLC=Chaplain's Basic Officer Leadership Course.
2. I'm physically at Fort Jackson, SC. It's right outside Columbia, SC so if you want to google it or something have at it.
3. I have no "rank" at school even though I do (make sense?)<<does the question mark go outside of the parenthesis? Anyway, my NCO instructors are in charge at all times even though I technically outrank them. At Army schools you're simply a "candidate". I also have officer instructors that are of a higher rank than I. I say that I do and don't have rank because once the work day is over, I'm a 2LT and people have to salute me and all that jazz.
4. I'm determined to be one of the most "squared away" soldiers here. If I'm going to do this I'm going to be good at it. "Do what you do do well boy" (that's for you Dad). So failure is not an option, unless I fail and then I guess it is what it is.
5. I have my phone and computer. Email, Facebook, or call if you wish but I will only be able to talk to you (if at all) in the evenings. Be mindful that evenings are my "me time" which means I will be watching "Days of Our Lives" from my dorm bathtub (which will no doubt be full of bubbles)...you know, typical Army stuff.

I think that's it. My posts will probably be sporadic because our schedule is crazy and even though the evenings are "mine", I have homework and papers to write. Plus, some days will just be boring. Also, prayers are appreciated this is a whole new world/culture for me. People are very direct (read: rude) and blunt in this culture. I'm used to coddling people as a minister so this is new to me. Furthermore, I'm used to being my own boss so taking orders is new for me but I like it. I like not having to "think" per se. I go here when I'm told to. I stand here the way I'm told to. I eat, sleep, shower, poop and shave how and when I'm told to. I like it. Here goes nothing.

Pro Deo Et Patria
(For God and Country)