I had some friends from the MidWest send me a few questions. I rather enjoyed this Q&A session.
Do you have anyone leading or discipling you when you are over there? This is a good question. Truthfully I really don’t have a spiritual mentor…at least not one with the same focus and intentions that I was used to during the last year at Fort Lewis with Jamie and Andrew. However, I do have a good Chaplain, and both of my Commanders have been believers. I learn a lot from all of them…just not the same that I learned from mentors back in the states.
Have there been any pranks at “camp” or on the road? Hmmm…besides occasionally messing around with people on the radio there haven’t been too many pranks. We try to keep it focused while out on missions. Laughter is definitely a common noise around the office though. There are so many crazy things that pop up randomly on a daily basis that I can’t help but joke around about them. We have a good time together.
What is one thing you look forward to each day that is your highlight of the day? I actually have a few. First, I look forward to beginning every day at the gym. It is a great way to start the day. Secondly, I look forward to getting Kate’s email every day. She does an incredible job of bringing my mind back to familiar things in the states…it’s a mental break from IRock that I usually need. Finally, I love getting in the Word every day. I do it whenever I can at different time throughout the day. This last one is a huge “must” for me.
Do you have a guitar there to play music and worship? I do have a beautiful Martin, composite body (does better with humidity and temperature changes) guitar in my room, but I do not get to play nearly enough. It’s a hobby I refresh myself on a few times a month, but I haven’t been disciplined enough to play daily. I may work this into a more routine thing. I look forward to getting back to my guitar in the states though.
What is one new food you had over there you would recommend? Definitely a kaubob (pronounced “Ka-bob”. It’s basically flat bread with beef or lamb as the main meat. The locals have all sorts of sauces that you can dip the tasty treat in too. There is one guy, Sheik Ali, that hosts us with incredible food all the time. Also, it’s not really food, but their Chai tea is incredibly addicting. Most locals won’t sit down with you for more than a couple minutes without serving you Chai. It’s different than our Chai in the states.
What is something we can pray for that is not obvious, is there anything that is mentally draining? I would like continued prayer to influence those around me rather than vice versa. These Soldiers need Jesus…plain and simple.
Have you been reprimanded for anything (that includes a stain on your shirt or scuff on your boots)? I don’t really get yelled at as an XO. However, my 1SG keeps me in line. For example, recently he informed me that your hair is not allowed to be “blocked off” in the back. It must have a tapered appearance. I didn’t know it, but now I do.
When are you scheduled to come back? Who knows but the original PowerPoint slide said 11SEP2010.
Are you still planning to have your career in the Rangers or would you look elsewhere after your term? This is actually an excellent question in order to clarify a long disputed argument in the Army. Who is a Ranger? There is Ranger School and there is the Ranger Regiment. I went through Ranger School…a 3 phased, 62 day long, exhausting course designed to push you to your limits while testing your leadership abilities under extreme stress. There is also Ranger Regiment. This is an elite Infantry unit. Picture the most disciplined, well-trained Infantrymen in the movies…that’s the Ranger Regiment. Most Soldiers in Ranger Regiment go to Ranger School and as a result wear the Ranger tab. I am with 2nd Infantry Division…a Stryker Infantry Brigade. I also wear the Ranger tab showing that I went to Ranger School. The Army requires most Officers like me to first serve in a conventional Infantry unit like the 2nd ID, and then afterwards they can go to Ranger Regiment which is a smaller, more elite Infantry unit. So the question is…am I a Ranger? Soldiers in my unit would likely say “yes”. Soldiers in the Ranger Regiment may say “yes” or “no”. I don’t say anything.
Would you ever consider a different form of defense other than the Rangers? I don’t know what life looks like in two years…we’ll see. I doubt I’ll ever go to Ranger Regiment though. It is an even faster-paced lifestyle than I currently live, and I’d like to try some other things in the coming years.
Have you been able to use your mortar training? We shot mortars at a range in Kuwait, but we have not yet fired them in IRock. I doubt I’ll ever get to use this training again after getting moved from the mortar platoon 4 months ago. I spend more time with my computer and emails now than with my rifle. We’ll see though.
