Faith

War is often thought of as a time to find God, as in the ‘foxhole’ theory.  I cannot speak for those outside the wire every single day/night, but Bagram is more akin to a garrison environment at times and as such people are more prone to forget about God than to make time to attend a service or a study.  Thankfully there are many options available through the week for those who want to attend.  In addition to seven different Sunday services, I’ve attended a Monday night Love & Respect study and a Friday night men’s Bible study off and on through the year. The general attitude here is that there is no true day off, thus the concept of a Sabbath escapes most senior leaders. Church is treated as a luxury, important insomuch as it does not conflict with your daily duties.

The main chapel is called “Enduring Faith”, a clever play on Enduring Freedom. I used to play mandolin at the Sunday night service there, but more recently have been filling in on guitar at the smaller (and closer) Aviation chapel. I hadn’t planned on playing much this year but somehow God provided a guitar and the Chaplain asked me to help out. As you can see I also have help on keyboard and vocals from two other talented Soldiers. Most weeks we are lucky to get 30 minutes to practice beforehand then do our best for the service. With only about 20-30 people on average, the tent is still nearly full and the sound travels pretty well.  The Chaplain is a friend of mine so we usually go to the Dining Facility for omelets afterwards. Earlier this week he hosted a morning prayer breakfast, which was not very well attended but was a refreshing way to start the day. You can read more about it here. 

Last deployment, our Chaplain left the unit under suspicious circumstances about half-way through the 15 months and the impact on morale and spiritual welfare was dramatic. One of the First Sergeants, whose father was a retired Baptist minister, did his best to fill in at the pulpit after I played a few songs. The chapel was used daily for military briefings and classes, yet almost empty on Sundays. Now, as a Commander, I appreciate the role of a quality Chaplain more than ever. Military policy bars proselytizing, both towards fellow soldiers and also the locals, to avoid any undue influence due to power or position. So, sometimes I can’t outright say what I think one of my soldiers needs to hear, which is where the Chaplain is ever so useful. He does not carry a weapon, does not come from a strictly military background, and is respected enough that he can say almost anything to comfort a Soldier.

Military chaplains can be a conundrum if they attempt to cater to any and all religions. However, each Chaplain is sponsored by a denomination of their choice and is also constrained to those convictions. If a situation arises wherein a Wiccan Soldier requests help, the Chaplain can easily refer them somewhere else. While there are Jewish and Muslim Chaplains there are no Mormon and the majority are Christian (with more Protestants than Catholics). Hope this helps you to understand the military religious culture.

Keep sending your questions and I’ll do my best to answer them in my next post. Godspeed, Mark

Reader Mailbag

This week the floor is yours. Whether due to lack of inspiration or time on my part, I am open to any and all questions from you, my valued readers. Maybe there is something you want to know about my slice of Afghanistan, or pertaining to my view on an issue, or perhaps my favorite soccer team...this is your chance to ask. Please respond to: neutics@gmail.com.  

FLÜGEN

Afghanistan is one of the most extreme flying environments in the world, with the high altitudes imposed by surrounding mountains and temperatures that soar during the summer along with frequent wind and dust storms. Besides the environment, the enemy presents their own threat through small arms and sometimes RPG's or other lethal weapons. Further, flying a helicopter is commonly acknowledged as more difficult to learn and maintain than almost any type of fixed-wing airplane. Sounds like fun, huh? The picture below depicts a ' one-wheel pinnacle landing' on a Landing Zone (LZ), often practiced though rarely utilized due to the risk and difficulty of such a maneuver. The terrain in Afghanistan dictates the plan for an Air Assault or Air Insertion more than anything else. The highest I've ever personally flown is 13803 ft to the top of Mauna Kea on Hawaii for a training exercise. Anything above 10,000 feet for a certain amount of time requires supplemental oxygen tanks (think scuba) to compensate for hypoxia.

 

 

Well, in my eight months here I have yet to touch the controls of a Blackhawk. Why? I quite honestly haven't had the time or energy. Flying is not as simple as driving a car. Every hour of flight demands at least an equal amount of time towards preparation: studying manuals, emergency procedures, FAA rules, memorizing hundreds of performance numbers, planning the flight route, checking the weather, and getting the mission approved from higher. It is an intensive process which would require my absolute attention, and with 250 Soldiers to take care of I unfortunately cannot afford to spend that much time away from my company.

 

Some days I do miss flying, but I also know in the back of my mind that Jocelyn is perfectly fine with me staying on the ground. For those of you who don't know, I've had my share of death-defying experiences in near misses and enemy contact in Iraq. The medals earned as a result and the requisite stories more than satisfy any notions I had of grandeur. My Lieutenants do ask about it though and all think it's cool so I decided to take them out for a tour of the Blackhawk a couple weeks ago. It made me realize how much I have forgotten, yet also how far I've come since then in learning an entirely different set of logistical skills and in managing such a large and diverse unit. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything honestly, even if it isn't nearly as glamorous.

SSG Wise

This has been perhaps the toughest week of the deployment yet emotionally for my company. We've had a slew of Red Cross messages lately, most of which are for grandparents passing away or with serious medical issues. Unfortunately, the Army doesn't consider them immediate family, so I'm usually the one to break the bad news to the Soldier that they can't go home to see them one last time or even for the funeral. Today we got news that one of our former mechanics had passed away unexpectedly. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer a few months prior to this deployment so was not allowed to go. Apparently the treatment was progressing and he kept a positive attitude throughout, always thinking he was getting better and would be joining us soon. As of last night he was on life support and unresponsive and early this morning he breathed his last in the presence of his wife and parents. The funeral will likely be in Savannah in a few days, but again none of his close friends will likely be there due to the rules.

 

I never met Staff Sergeant Wise, yet am amazed at the influence he had within the motor pool and the impression he made on the entire medical team trying to save his life. Even those who only knew him for a few months were crying today as everyone from my First Sergeant to the privates were affected. A couple months ago we put together a plaque for him and made a video greeting from Afghanistan, which one of our medics delivered in person over his R&R.

 

We gathered everyone together in the chapel to break the news, gave everyone the opportunity to share their memories, and after about an hour the Chaplain gave a quick message to close the service. He cited Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ² a time to be born and a time to die." I didn't feel qualified to say anything at the service, but kept thinking of Psalm 90:12 which says "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." As easy as it is for me to bide away my time remaining here by counting the number of days or months left, I'd rather make the most of every day God gives me as the Commander. In a sad way this was a reminder of our mortality for my troops, since we fortunately have not lost anyone in combat yet this year in our Brigade.

M984 Wrecker

Let me introduce you to the most capable ground vehicle in the Army's inventory: the M984 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) 'Wrecker'. My company has eight Soldiers specially trained to operate this complicated piece of machinery, on-call 24 hours daily for any and every type of mission. These guys are on speed dial with the Bagram Military Police, constantly called upon to move disabled or stuck vehicles off the road to the nearest maintenance facility. They are also the enforcers on base, often towing illegally parked vehicles to the impound. In what was perhaps their most prolific mission yet, an AirBus A380 crashed on landing and clogged up the runway on Bagram for a few hours. The wrecker crew responded in the middle of a rainy night to help remove one of the damaged engines from the jetliner. Everyone involved was simply amazed at the strength and power of this vehicle and additionally in the competence of the crew.

I tagged along with my guys on one of the missions last weekend, which was also unique as it involved an Afghan civilian fuel truck, a.k.a. "Jingle" truck for the way they are often decorated. The truck was broken down right in front of a busy gate and needed to be moved immediately. So, two of my best Soldiers were there right away and had the vehicle hooked up and off the base within 45 minutes.

The vehicle itself is known as the 'Dragon Wagon' and is made by Oshkosh in Wisconsin. It has a 10 ton crane/wench (at full reach) which is used to flip or extract vehicles from the mud and has the ability to tow almost anything, including the new MRAP's and M-ATV's. With internal oxygen and acetylene tanks, the wrecker is also offers mobile cutting/welding abilities.

Enjoy your Memorial Day, and please take a moment out of your long weekend to pay respect to those whom have made the ultimate sacrifice. For me this is personal as 11 of my classmates and two pilots from my last unit have paid this price with their lives. 

I'll end with a quote from General Patton, always a dangerous proposition for a military officer, but it is relevant to this occasion: 

"We, as officers of the army, are not only members of the oldest of honorable professions, but are also the modern representatives of the demi-gods 
and heroes of antiquity. Before us stretches a line of men whose acts of valor, of self-sacrifice, and of service have been the theme of song and story 
since long before recorded history began."

Whose school is the coolest?

Most of you may know that I went to West Point, receiving my nomination from Senator Kent Conrad. This weekend, exactly 6 years ago, I received my diploma from the Secretary of Defense at the time, Donald Rumsfeld. Some of you may also know that Jocelyn is a proud Texas Aggie, having graduated  7 years ago this month, when she received her diploma from the President of Texas A&M at the time (and our current Secretary of Defense), Dr. Robert Gates. Both schools are rooted in tradition and rich with history, and this week I'd like to take a lighthearted look at how they stack up:

Founded -  A&M: 1876     USMA: 1802   (Advantage USMA; we also were the first school in the country to institute class rings, which A&M tried to copy and claim!)

Class Size -  A&M: 8,200      USMA: ~1,000    (I guess this depends on your perspective. A&M definitely had a better male:female ratio)

Mascot -  A&M: Reveille the dog    USMA: Army Mule/ Black Knight  (This is also a toss-up. What is an Aggie anyways?)

Corps of Cadets - A&M commissioned more officers during WWII than both of the service academies combined. 55 of the 60 Civil War battles were fought between Generals from West Point on both sides. Today USMA has grown to 4,400 Cadets, about 80% of whom will commission. The Fightin' Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets is less than 2,000, with less than half choosing to continue in military service. (Winner: West Point)

Rhodes Scholars since 1904 -  A&M: 5    USMA: 85   (West Point is actually 4th behind Harvard, Princeton, and Yale)

Presidents -  A&M: none, though it is former President George H.W. Bush's adopted school.    USMA: two (Generals/Presidents Grant and Eisenhower)

Sports -  A&M has the slight advantage here as it is better at conventional sports such as Football and Basketball. Army excels at Rugby, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, and Lacrosse!

Spirit -  A&M again wins, as their motivation is more genuine in my opinion while West Point's is somewhat forced due to mandatory participation and attendance.

Ranking from Forbes Best Colleges in America -  A&M: 191     West Point: #1 overall!
  

Overall: Well, some categories were close but of course I'm partial to my alma mater. Plus, these are words you don't often hear in football: WEST POINT WINS!

More than anything, I appreciate the role both schools played in our development, much more so than your average state school or elitist private school. Jocelyn enjoyed her experience immensely and A&M helped build a strong foundation for her professional career and also shaped much of her 'Howdy' personality. Who knows, I may be an Aggie myself someday soon. At Jocelyn's prompting, I attended the annual Aggie Muster here on Bagram which a small group of Soldiers and Civilians. This is a solemn ceremony, with a little singing, to honor the Aggies who have fallen and to reminisce about better times in Aggieland. Jocelyn also attended a Muster on the same day in Savannah so, in a way, it was one of the few things we could do 'together' from thousands of miles away.

West Point also holds an annual 'Founders Day' to celebrate the school's founding over 200 years ago. This was a much larger group, ranging from fresh Lieutenants to the 2-star General of Bagram. Good times!

***Disclaimer: Jocelyn is much smarter and prettier than myself. This comparison of schools is merely for fun. We are both equally proud of our respective schools.

Half

“Is the glass half full, or half empty?  It depends on whether you're pouring, or drinking.” 
- Bill Cosby

 This month marks the half-way point of our 13 month deployment, so I'd like to take this opportunity to reflect a little. I think it is impossible for most people to comprehend the immense sacrifice involved in such a long deployment. Many young couples may cry at a single weekend or week apart, and perhaps those that are older may take for granted the decades they have enjoyed together. Including our dating period, Jocelyn and I have lived in the same proximity for one out of the past 3 years. This is not a pity party, but rather reality. I entered West Point with a duty to fulfill a 5-year obligation at a minimum (plus 2 for Aviation). Jocelyn and I committed to each other and our marriage knowing full well that the Navy and the Army are not compatible, expecting this deployment for myself and possibly a short tour for her.


Even among military folks, the Navy and Marines think 7-8 month deployments are a hardship. I still hear Air Force personnel complaining about the change from 90-day to 6-month deployments for critical positions. Yet the Army considers 12 month deployments as a guideline (with 13-15 being the norm) and then promises only one year at home before the next trip overseas. This is incredibly frustrating to Soldiers, who really have no choice but to grin and bear it. Many in my company have been deployed for 3-4 out of the last 8-9 years our nation has been in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention time away from families on year-long excursions to Korea and month-long training exercises in garrison. Most of these are consequently divorced, some more than once, and a significant number suffer from psychological effects such as PTSD and insomnia. It is my opinion that one year is entirely too long to devote to ANY cause if it takes someone away from their family.  Most people's memory cannot even span one year, as they forget about those deployed or make comments about how quickly the time is passing. Try telling that to an Army wife!


So, with approximately 6 months remaining I'm not sure if I even have 1/2 a tank of gas left. Thankfully I'm still entitled to 2 weeks of Rest & Relaxation in August which should help recharge the batteries. But the path will not get any easier from here as we prepare to redeploy and reintegrate. The weather is getting hotter, the enemy is more active then ever, Bagram is increasingly crowded, my Soldiers are getting complacent, and my previous optimism is gradually fading.  Our company is seeing an increased head count at the Dining Facility (30% more than last year), more vehicles to fix, and more patients to treat than ever before.

I realize that 6 months may seem like forever from my myopic perspective, but trust that in a few years this will all be a bittersweet memory. If anything this year has once again reminded me not to rely upon myself, even though 240 Soldiers are counting on me for guidance and wise decisions. My source of strength, grace, and peace must come from the Lord. Left to my own abilities and intuitions I have and will fail.

Thank you for your prayers to get us over this hump. God-willing I'll be home by Thanksgiving!