Day 1 & 2: In-processing and Bonding

So I already missed posting yesterday. By the time I got back to my lodging quarters around 2000 I was ready to pass out.

DAY 1: In-processing, Counselling, Platoon and Uniforms

We had our first lesson in chaplaincy. One of our NCO's gave us a class on how to counsel our 56M (Religious Affairs Specialists). 56M is the job of our enlisted half of the chaplain corps. They are technically a Chaplain's subordinates so it is a chaplain's job to lead them. A counselling takes many forms but the main one's we focused on were initial counselling because those are how we set expectations for them. Rough relationships between a chaplain and his 56M start with a lack of communication of expectations. We were also told stories about good chaplains who really showed they cared for their 56M and bad chaplains who lost their 56M's trust. It was sobering to see the responsibility we have for caring for our Unit Ministry Team.

After the lesson we had hot A's for breakfast after and then we had the opportunity to meet our platoons. I think it is becoming more evident just how much of our class is prior enlisted. It was something I definitely noticed these last two days. Apparently its an unusual amount of experience, from a diverse range of military occupations. Some were officers, some were enlisted. Those were the ones who tended to be placed in leadership roles right off the bat. I have a lot of trust in our Platoon Leader. He has a ton of Army experience and before he did his oath of office on Thursday he was a platoon sergeant and an E6.

But despite the experience of our chaplains there is still that awkward TRADOC environment. I'm getting stronger and stronger Advanced Camp vibes the longer I am here.

Our small group leaders are the chaplains in charge of our platoons. We haven't had the chance to interact with them much, but they did give us an initial counselling and set expectations.

He told us about the history of Fort Jackson and we had some pride instilled in us that we get to be trained on a base like this. Our standing orders are to love and respect each other.

I had the chance to get to know a lot more of the chaplains on Friday. We actually have a chaplain from the Serbian Army special forces. I got to know him really well in class, cool guy.

We did a lot of initial in-processing primarily with finance and preliminary medical stuff. The major medical work will be done next week. We had MRE's for lunch. MRE's aren't very conducive to losing weight when you aren't in the field and aren't doing PT cause of in-processing. They are designed to be high calorie. Hoping we start going to the DFAC on Monday.

After lunch we did more in-processing, so a lot of sitting in chairs and doing paperwork. We got our first assignments. I have a two page essay and I need to memorize the Army Song and Chaplain Song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVXoB17RJ5o Here is the Chaplain Song if anyone is interested. A lot of history there. I already have the Army Song memorized and I wrote the essay before I got here, but I just need to edit it. Its the essay I posted called "Why I Want to Be A Chaplain." Its too long.

We all hopped into buses and went to Army Clothing Sales because as officers we all have to buy our uniforms. I think the average chaplain dropped $600 that day. I dropped almost $200 and I didn't need to buy my OCP's.

Fort Jackson is definitely a training base. Everyone you see is either cadre or a trainee of some training, and when you are walking around wearing khakis, a polo shirt with a camelback on you all the time, you radiate new trainee. Getting used to receiving weird looks from everyone at the base. From what I understand we start wearing PT's next week and OCP's the next.

We got back and ate hot A's for chow and then spent a half hour cleaning. Got home and went straight to sleep.

DAY 2: Bonding

So I found out something very exciting. WE GET WEEKENDS OFF. We are still under the restrictions and SOP's of training so we can't leave post, we can't go anywhere without a battle buddy and we can't go anywhere without a camelback and our education materials but for all intents and purposes we are free on weekends. Today I had the chance to really get to know some of my fellow chaplains.

One was Chaplain K, who has quickly become one of my closest friends here. He is a man who's chief concern is clearly to glorify God and to love others. He has held me accountable for making sure I do things for the right reasons and put God and others before myself. He is an Assemblies of God pastor and while we have our theological differences, I know that he is an incredible brother in Christ who has been profoundly transformed by God and wants to help Soldiers experience the love of God. We prayed numerous times today and set our heart attitudes in the right direction. I think this day, God knew was exactly what I needed. Whatever comes the rest of this training I know that I am here to glorify God. I want to stay positive because when I get to my unit and Soldiers are looking to me to for encouragement, I need to be the one that is staying positive and driving on with them. I am thankful for friendships God has given me while I am here. I will be going to my first AG service tomorrow so I am excited to see what that is like.

The other friend I have is 2LT V. He is a prior-enlisted guy from Texas and a fellow chaplain candidate and a little closer to my age. He went to basic training here at Fort Jackson and we drove around Fort Jackson while he shared stories about training and reminded me how good we have it at CHBOLC compared to the basic trainees. During the time we spent together today he showed me what it meant to really love Soldiers. He had such a deep passion for helping Soldiers. When we walked by a group of AIT students he stopped and encouraged them to keep up the good work and drive on to the end. He reminds me that at the end of the day, God has called me to serve Soldiers and love them well. I am thankful for the time I got to spend with him today as well.

Today was a fun day in my book. I woke up around 7:30, realized I could go back to sleep and did exactly that, woke up at around 9:00. Went with CH K to a local tailor to get our combat uniforms' patches sewn on. We went to the Commissary which is a grocery store on base to get some snacks and hygiene supplies for our hotel rooms. We drove to the Post Exchange to see what kind of stuff they have there. Its a lot like a wal-mart or Target. I might go back and get some Fort Jackson souvenirs the longer I am here. I might grab a shirt or something from my future brother-in-law who is at Basic Training right now here at Fort Jackson. We went to lunch at Chipotle, came back and relaxed at the Hotel for a bit and then 2LT V called me up and needed a battle buddy to go to the DFAC with him so I went with him. After that we went back to our rooms and changed into athletic gear to go do some PT since its been about a week since I have done any. We were planning on going to the gym on base that is 24 hours but we have to go when its in "office hours" so we can enroll our military ID's in it. We ended up going to one of the tracks in a training area and doing some running. I ran 2 miles to see where I am at. If I measured the track correctly and it was really a .25 mile track then I ran about a 14:25 which is decent and will pass. I am hoping if that is where I am now, then by the end of CHBOLC I should be in the 13:00s.

Came back and had a long video call with my fiance. I will probably spend a bit studying some of the Army regulations on Chaplaincy before bed and then I will get up for church and breakfast tomorrow. Monday is when we are in uniform for the first time. PT's to be specific. Which probably means...we gonna do PT. So I am looking forward to that.

Pro Deo Et Patria, For God and Country.

Live the Call, Fiercely.

Emotional Intelligence Lesson of the Day: Situations that bring out emotional responses require deep moments of self reflection to keep something you will regret from happening. I realize that I need to work on self-awareness and self-management. Especially here at training I need to be aware that I tend to panic when stressed and that when something is going on that I disapprove of I tend to project those feelings and it affects the atmosphere of the room. I need to work on being patient, positive and letting emotions process and be rationalized before I react to scenarios. Things will work out and I don't need to stress about them.

(I apologize I haven't done a great job of taking pictures. I haven't had the chance to take many.)