Lyde's Amazing Adventures in the Army's Chaplain School.

[...] meeting a number of my classmates (70 total students in this class), we then reported to the Chaplain School where we were met by a very professional staff (and I mean this seriously). There was no [...]

[...] back to the dorms, change into the PT clothes, grab a bite to eat, and get back to the Chaplain School. This afternoon, we were divided up into three platoons (about 20 or so folks in each [...]

[...] This morning was the definitely the most fun I've had here at Chaplain School. We participated in the Team Development Course where teams of 8-10 people are given [...]

[...] certainly makes for interesting discussion. Probably the two hottest issues so far at Chaplain School have been pluralism and the prohibition against chaplains carrying firearms ( [...]

[...] many have dreaded for two reasons: fist day of marching with full packs and the, of course, the gas chamber. After marching over to the NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) area, we spent the morning [...]

[...] in the rain), we were issued our gas masks that we will use on Tuesday when we experience the gas chamber (I'll see if I can get someone to take a picture - that will be a winner!). We then spent time [...]

[...] !). By the way, I tried to get one of the officers to take a picture of me coming out of the gas chamber yesterday, but he inadvertantly took it of someone else who looks similar to me. However, I [...]

[...] of my classmates came up to me this afternoon with a picture of me coming out of the gas chamber. It’s not too bad actually – no snot bubbles or anything. I’ll get it scanned and post [...]

[...] So here it is the day before I report to Fort Jackson, and I’m not as nervous as I thought I would be (or as I probably should be). The antibiotics [...]

[...] Many of you have asked for my mailing address at Fort Jackson so here it is. In order to make sure that it gets to me promptly, please make sure that the [...]

[...] and several other detachments in the battalion). After drill, I hauled buttocks back to Fort Jackson in order to make it back in time for formation (I made it with a good six minutes to spare). [...]

[...] OK, I have now officially completed my first day of training at Fort Jackson. To be honest, it wasn't nearly as intense as I expected it to be, but that will probably come [...]

[...] the squad's, as well as my own, equipment squared away. Much of this help came from the squad members themselves who have prior military experience. Trust me when I say - the only way to get [...]

[...] have everything they need and also to verify that everything is packed correctly. One of my squad members, Randy (a super guy, by the way), has 25 years of military experience so all this packing is [...]

[...] a little PT for good measure. Tonight, I had to meet with the platoon XO along with one of my squad members because he has been consistently late to formations (not a good thing in the Army). We got [...]

[...] became quite a chore for some folks. Fortunately, I was carrying my normal morning coffee and Diet Mt. Dew (the official softdrink of "The Heavenly Realm"), so when my turn came, the Spirit [...]

[...] , I foolishly tried to go through the day only drinking coffee WITHOUT the corresponding Diet Mt. Dew (as always, insert Sacred Pause here) . Well, that was a big mistake! I've certainly [...]

[...] day while staying awake, alert, and attentive to the material. Yesterday, even the coveted "Diet Mt. Dew and Coffee" were only helping to an extent - I was hurtin'! Take care, everybody, and [...]

[...] good to have specific goals to work toward. This Friday will be the completion of this initial phase of training where we will then be authorized to wear the black beret. However, we have [...]

[...] runs at about a seven minute per mile pace – very nice! Now that we have completed this initial phase, we are now authorized to wear the berets rather than the field caps (the baseball cap [...]

[...] an honor to work alongside these folks. Good stuff! I have been asked via this blog what my PT score was yesterday. On the test, I performed 65 pushups, 62 situps, and ran the 2-mile run in 13:38 [...]

[...] remember it & not always in a happy way). I did find out today that I had the highest PT score in the class, and I actually ended up scoring 278 and not 276 as I had initially thought. I [...]

[...] up one person, so we now have 56 people remaining in the class. One great point to this classroom training is that we now have regular PT every morning. They did break us up into separate running [...]

[...] services on base. We picked a chapel located next to were the enlisted soldiers going through Basic Training are housed. It was amazing to see the lively spirit in that service! I'm sure that some of [...]

[...] for good measure. The people who did not pass the initial PT test are required to attend supplemental PT training right after our last class. I may bring my PT clothes and join them for some more [...]