Well I should back up a little, while we in Texas we had a chance for a four day pass which was good, I got to see some of El Paso and eat some good steak as well as visit the wonderful mall and Wal-mart, I know very exciting right?  We were told many times don’t go to Mexico don’t go to Mexico, We could see it from downtown but I didn’t go.  The real gem was the cigar lounge I found. http://cigarselpaso.com/  This place was top notch, they had a community open bar you could bring some stuff and have what was there.  I visited it a couple times; the owner was former military and was one of the nicest guys I met in Texas. 

During the four day some guys flew their families to Texas some flew their girlfriends to Texas and some just stayed around base and chilled.  I stayed in the base hotel with a buddy and had a great time.

So after our pass we trained some more and had a three day pass, this one was kind of a surprise and went by quickly, actually it was cut short because of one of the soldiers not making good decisions.  So my time in Texas was good and but I looked forward to getting to Kuwait and getting to my mission even tho I had already started my mission by getting to know the guys and building those relationships.

Well it has been a wild beginning to our time here. We left LA on January 25th after an amazing going away ceremony at a great church we packed up and left for the airport about o’dark30. We embarked on the first leg of our journey.
When we got to Texas we checked into our barracks (pictures coming soon) and had some down time before the first of many many formations. Our time there was filled with paperwork, training, briefings, paperwork, shots, training, paperwork, and paperwork. We ended up leaving around March 1
We went through some interesting places, Newfoundland CANADA and somewhere in the Netherlands, both places we just got to see the airport (pictures coming soon)
When we arrived we had been traveling like 26 hours only to find we could not land due to some dust and the airport lights being out, so we were diverted to some Air force base south somewhere, it wasn’t bad we stayed there a couple days then off we went. We arrived at Camp Arifjan like 2200 and checked into our rooms and slept for couple of hours then more briefings, formation, paperwork and a driving test in order for us to be able to drive here in country. Well that was the first month or so of my active duty experience. I’ll add more about our transition training soon. Thanks for reading.

Well today we leave to go down south for my deployment ceremony, it’ll be a nice drive clear and sunny.  The next couple days should be good it will be nice to have my family down with me hopefully all goes well and they have a great time.  Saturday we leave for more training before the big move over.  I am excited and ready to tackle this new challenge but before me.  I know I have a strong support system back home and I know I have been trained well for this, above all I know God is looking out for me and I can always count on him to get my back.  Stay tuned for more exciting news

Planking

Planking (fad)

Well there I was in class a couple months ago with a couple ladies and they started talking about planking, I said what is planking?  So they tried to explain it to me and showed me a video on YouTube, and off I went.  The next weekend my brother and I went to Reno for a Golf Tournament and I told him about planking and you can pretty much guess how that all went down…..All Weekend……

So while at training I had the wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with some great weapons used by our military, while I will probable never use them they were fun to play with as you can see in my pictures.  As you will notice in one pic I didn’t have a weapon, I was meaning for that to be my Where’s my weapon pic…so anyway here you all go for your enjoyment

November 12, 2011

Well today we go to do one of my favorite ranges, when I was active duty we called it the walking range here they call it reflexive fire.  You walk up close fire two to the chest one to the head then back turn sideways and turn quick fire, then you set back 25 meters run to 10 meter stop and fire.  It’s really fun.  After that we dropped people off at the big guns range and to my surprise I was suppose to qualify on the 249, so I was pleased to be able to shoot that machine gun.  When I finally went to qualify my gun jammed twice so I got another go at it.  Over all it was a fun training day to be at the range.  The two days after that were mostly classes with a short combative course thrown in there.  We are all excited to be going home in six days.  We hear that there will be an end of cycle party…………that should be interesting.

November 9^th 2011

Today Chaplain was staying back to finish some of the on-line training; I finished all of them before we left California so I was happy about that.

So we got up ready to go to the M16 qualifying range, it was cold and raining.  After breakfast we got back to the area and it started snowing, pretty heavy kind of that sideways snow.  We were all ready to go anyway we had snow gear and it was going to suck but hey we are in the Army.  Then word came down that the range was cancelled and we all need to report to classroom.  So there we were in class ready to start when a high-ranking NCO came in and said “ Stop complaining we are shooting today”  um…..ok so we went got all mounted up to head out in the snow really heavy in even heavier Humve’s unfortunately for me I had to drive the commanders in my vehicle, I learned a bunch about driving in snow even though I informed them I had driven in snow many many times, we got to the range and received a brief….”It’s cold so bundle up, follow the range rules, and no horse-play like snow balls or snow angels.”  Well it was difficult to follow that rule but I found a place to hook up a snow angel or two.

It was so so so so cold laying on the ground firing, I couldn’t really see very well my glasses kept fogging up and when I had to but the gas mask on I was more like guessing where I was pointing the weapon.  I finished my turn after about an hour and fifty bullets later.  I passed the Gas mask fire and the limited visibility but needed to shoot qual again, so I waited awhile in the warming hut waiting for my turn.  The snow stopped and it was a bit warmer and I had no problem with it.  It was nice to see our commander who doesn’t have to qual with M16 shoveling snow, usually a job someone of lower rank would do.  This group is unique but has some good leaders. We finished the day, cleaned up the range and were back in time to head to PX to get a new pillow to replace the rock hard one they issued me.  Great day to be in the Army.

This is the Soft Top Humvee they gave me after I broke the other one, it was cool at first but when it started getting

cold we were happy to get our Up Armored one back with its heater

Yup I got a ride

Nov 8th

Life at training center is pretty routine.  We tend to have worship services every couple days, we get up at 4:30 out to breakfast at 7:00 then back and train till about 11:30 lunch then train from 1pm till 5pm and dinner.  So far we have done a bunch of classroom work but soon we will be switching it up a bit and heading out to do some exercises and ranges. I have enjoyed it for the most part. Some things are difficult for me such as some quiet time, and most of the guys on my floor are younger then me so their priorities are different and they conversation isn’t always wonderful.  I have found a couple guys that are in similar life situations as me, married kids not a drinking party guy.  I have really enjoyed meeting most of the higher ranking guys they all have really neat stories and I have enjoyed hearing where they came from and what opportunities the Army has provided them.  Well off to dinner.

Nov 2^nd

Well today we moved out to get some training in another state in a colder environment.  We got set up on bus about 4:45 and headed to LAX, we were all in uniform and made it with all our gear and everybody accounted for.  So we were fortunate enough to be on a direct flight. So after a three-hour flight we arrived at our destination, got on another bus and two and half hours stopped at a funny little restraint called all you can eat steak…after that it was about half an hour to the base.  We unloaded and settled in our home for the next twenty days.

Tuesday Oct 18th

So today was my kind of training, it was all-interactive with live demos and a great deal of action.  If everyday could be like this that would be great.  Driving at night with night vision was super fun.  We also got to walk around old houses in the dark, lots of fun Army stuff.

Monday Oct 17th

0430 is what time I had to report this morning, we moved out to a different training site.  The group I went with wanted to leave early to get breakfast near the area we were training at, it was pretty good chow.  We sat in class for half the day then the other half we got to play with HUMMVEE so that was fun, we then moved out to another training site we would be at for three days

Sunday Oct 16th

Well today was our first service as a UMT (Unit Ministry Team) I knew my Chaplain was a great Pastor and I was looking forward to starting to have some regular services and get it going.  We talked about what we would do for service; he wanted to have some kind of food for the soldiers that attended.  I suggested Veggie trays, and he suggested Ice cream Sundaes, well he is the boss so ice cream it was

Thursday Oct13th

I got down here pretty quickly not much traffic; I checked into hotel and went to get some food.  I was pretty anxious about starting training and especially about the Physical training.  I have been working out for month or so pretty steady but I knew I was still a ways away from where the Army would want me to be.

Army change #1 we are not leaving till February, I’ll be on and off training till then. Home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, more info later

Last week on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday I went to the reserve center in Vallejo to do some make up days and get some paperwork done.  I was supposed to be going down to LA to meet my new Unit and process in there, but the paperwork was delayed and that didn’t happen the way we thought it would.  I was talking to my Chaplain Thursday about 4:30 and he said it probably wasn’t going to happen this weekend either and we will just do it all on Oct 1^st.  Then when I was in class on Thursday night I get a call from him saying our commander approved it and we would be going down on Thursday for a couple days.  Alright I was excited to be able to meet the unit and get to know my Chaplain better since I would be spending a year with him pretty much 24/7.  The trip down went really fast we talked got to know each other’s ministry history and shared some nightmare church stories, it was a good time.  We got down to LA pretty quick and checked into our hotel and hung out for a bit then went got some Sushi it was a relaxing time.                                                       

On Friday morning we got to the unit and sat in on a great PP brief then met with the Commander and started prepping for a suicide brief we would do the next morning part of the Army Safety Stand down, which just means we take the morning to make sure everyone knows not to kill themselves and how to make sure your motorcycle and car is in proper working order.  Chaplain and I met the staff and talked to the guys and Gals who would be going with us.  Over all this entire Unit was very welcoming to a new Chaplain and Assistant.  I know God is going to use us in a big way here and I look forward to what is coming.

Well here I am back at the reserve center in Vallejo.  I ended up getting taken off the case I was working and being put into the Sub pool, I have a couple make up days so I decided to come back here and get some fun paperwork together.  

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that 9/11 was on a Sunday, since this was an important day in my life I wanted to share some thoughts and encouragement to the congregation. I was kind of nervous about it and wasn’t sure what i was going to say.  While on a trip to Reno with my Dad I had a dream where I got up in front of church read a statement and sat back down, my family was there it was one of the clearest dreams I had ever had.  When i woke up i told my dad about this dream and he said I should write it down, so i did.  After I read it out loud it sounded pretty good, I added a few minor touches but I knew this was a message from god.  I am always amazed how God talks to us and encourages us in times when we need him Most.

On September 7th 2001 I joined the US Army to serve as a Chaplain Assistant, I felt God was putting this on my heart and I listened eventually after I got over my own selfish desires. 

It was the right thing to do.

My journey has been long and filled with joy, sadness and frustration.

I served in the Special Forces as a Chaplain Assistant on active duty for four years then transferred to the Army Reserves in 2008

Today we remember a tragic event that happened ten years ago. Many good Men and Women lost their lives that day and others continue to live without loved ones  

It was a senseless act of violence against out country because of hate.

Even if you don’t agree with the war going on right now, I think you could agree that our men and women who are serving deserve our respect and support

We still have young men and women away from home in danger everyday

We still have towns all over our country that are missing key people in their communities

We have wives and husbands missing their significant others 

We have sons and daughters missing their parents

It is an honor for me to have served for the last ten years, it has been quite a journey and learning experience and in January I will have the honor of serving along side my Chaplain in a war zone helping minister and bring our soldiers home.

I will be in a place that isn’t safe and comfy like my living room couch

My wife will be without her husband while I’m gone

My two little girls will be with out a father at home while I’m gone

My Mother and Father and Sister and Brother will be without me while I am gone

But like I said it is an honor for me to be able to serve my country in this way

A country that allows me to be a Pastor and help students find their faith

A country that has allowed me to attend any college I would like and study anything I would like

A country that allows my children to go to school

So In January when I board that plane out of the comfort of a country that has been so good to us I will be proud. 

And as I board that helicopter to the base I will serve at

I’ll be holding my head up, honored to be able to serve this great nation I love

As you reflect on this day please take a moment to remember those serving and those who have served this country we live in.

Please pray for my family during this time.

Thank-You and God Bless 

Jonathan

Chaplain Assistant

United States Army