A Prodigal's Ponderings: A little reminder...

I got the honor, no, the privilege of assisting in an all day training event at Fort Jackson yesterday (Wednesday.) I went with CH Winchester for the day and we trained Chaplains, Chaplain Candidates, and Chaplain Assistants who will be graduating from their initial training on the 31st. We talked with them on how the Chaplains should interact with their commanders in terms of Wounded or hospitalized Soldiers. I then also got to talk with the Assistants on things that the schoolhouse doesn't really teach. It was so uplifting to be with them and spread the little bit of knowledge I've gained in my 2 years in. Of course, CH Winchester had to publicly (in front of the 100+ Soldiers) on how I wanted to get out and encouraged all of them to help encourage me to re-enlist...still isn't working. However, I do continue to think about joining the National Guard at the end of my enlistment. It will all just depend on the outcome of my neck. Aside from the joy of passing on some love of the Chaplain Corps, my heart was pounding all day long...and not because the heat index made it feel like 108 degrees out in the sun all day, but because I could hear the sound of M16s in the distance. And simulator grenades from nearby training sites. And then, my favorite part was at the end of the training sessions we had 2 huge mass casualty exercises where the Assistants and the Chaplains responded to incoming rounds (simulator grenades...so awesome) but also to large numbers of Soldiers wounded that ranged from hearing loss all the way to the dead...in a combat situation. It was soooooo awesome to watch the assistants take charge, starting with putting on the Chaplain's gas masks before their own (I do say HOOAH, gave his life up so that the Chaplain could still do his job) to making the Chaplain duck behind them as they moved tactically from one Soldier to the next. I was ohhhh so proud! I've posted pictures to share. Days like that...make me remember why I joined the Army, and why I love my Soldiers so much...Thank-you CH Winchester and the rest of my office for allowing me to attend and help conduct this training it made a lasting impact on my life!