Friday, August 21, 2009

Preparing to enter last week

Chaplain School is just about over. It has been challenging and educational. I have learned much regarding officer duty and chaplain ministry. We have had some great men of God lead our classes. We are the largest class that the school may have ever had, but at least since WW II.

I will graduate on Friday, August 28th, one week from today. It will be a bittersweet experience. I have missed home and family, but have made some relationships that had sharpened and molded me as a chaplain. It is good to be with other chaplains. The network of relationships will certainly continue into the future.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Finished Phase One

Tomorrow marks the completion of Phase 1. It has been a good two weeks. It took some adjustments being the new guy, but I earned the respect of my squad. We have had a full week. Several papers due, oral brief, two quizzes today. The next six weeks will mark more Chaplain specific training. We will be going to Fort Sumter and touring where the Civil War began. We had a class today that went over the historical nature of the battle at Fort Sumter. It was very interesting. I enjoy history.

Tomorrow is a group run and then I have a make up class on Memo writing. Over all things are good. I'll try to keep you posted on what is going on. If you have Facebook. I am posting daily on it.

Thanks,

Steve

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Arrived at Fort Jackson

Hey All!

I made it to Fort Jackson around 6:30 p.m. Central time, 7:30 p.m. here. Great drive. Alot of traffic. I already have answered prayer. I was hoping to get into Dozier Hall, because it is near the school house and they have a better kitchen for food preparation. I got in, YES!!!!!

I can actually cook on a cook top, it beats microwave summer food.

I also meet up with a guy that is in my Brigade from Chicago area right away. We went out and got a bite to eat. That was a God thing as well.

Tomorrow I'll get a chance to go to church and get acclimated. I have to meet up with our class leader at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night here in the lobby. I will find out then if I have to P.T. at 0600 on MOnday. We will have inprocessing on MOnday at 0730.

You all take care, until Later,

Steve

Monday, June 8, 2009

Blog back up and going: Preparing to head to Fort Jackson

I'm trying to get my house in order so I can be gone for two months. Keep me in prayer! Cleaning up and fixing stuff so Donna doesn't have to mess with anymore than necessary.

Keep posted as more information will be posted in up coming weeks.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Wednesday, January 28 Myers Briggs Personality Inventory training

Hello all. I am doing well. This morning we ran 2.6 miles. I made it, but I had to do a lot of positive self talk. I had an appointment with the Orthopedic department at the hospital to get my permanent profile on my left wrist. I was able to get it and they advised it should not effect my advancement. We did personality inventory training. I had gone through it before, but it was a good reminder.

Tomorrow I have my field service, so be in prayer around 1000 am. It is supposed to ran most the day so we will see how that goes. I only have one and half days and I wake up ( so they say in army training).

Take care and thanks for tracking with me in my quest,

Steve

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tuesday, January 27 JAG training all day!

We had a attorney form JAG in today and taught us on several subjects. It was death by powerpoint. But I survived. I turned most of my equipment this evening. It makes for a reminder that this phase is about over. Looking forward to meeting Donna and Hope in Florida for a few days before returning to Illinois.

Take care,

Steve

Monday, January 26 Run Steve Run!

hey all! Today was a run day and did we run. We ran 2.5 miles in the morning and 2 miles in the evening. More than I have run in one day. Still praying to stay healthy. God has been good. We spent most the day in the classroom. This week will prove to be finishing up briefings and preparing to close out CIMT.

God Bless you all,

Steve

Friday, January 23, 2009

Thursday, January 22 Crawling in the Sand & Soldier testing

Hey all, I survived and was not left behind. Tough day. We started around 0700 with a bus trip to the day infiltration course. there were two lanes that we had to negotiate twice this morning. the first was learning to work with a chaplain assistant and move with him from cover to cover points to assault a location. It was fun, not to far from my police training. But we were wearing our ballistics vests (about 40 pounds) and kevlar helmets (battle rattle).

Now the second course was a boy's childhood fantasy. G.I. Joe stuff. We walked through a wooded area to a sand pit. We had to high crawl (hips on ground using arms and legs to pull yourself) through about twenty yards then low crawl (head in the sand) for about twenty yards then turn over and crawl through barbed wire area then crawl over a wooden fence. It was tough and a mess. But preparatory for tonights night infiltration course. A good leg and arm work out.

We had warrior task training which includes first aid, radio communications, map reading, and gas mask testing. I passed, OHAH! We ate another MRE- vegetarian cheese tortilliani-- it was better than the chicken from the day before.

We moved to another area for the night infiltration. We ate a hot supper brought out to us then lined up to march to the course. It was live fire over the top of us with several pits that exploded literally shaking the ground. It was pretty cool. We had about two hundred basic trainee's lined up in front of us then the 79 chaplains. We layed down in the sand and had about one hundred fifty yards to crawl on our stomach keeping head down. My battle buddy and I came across a female soldier trainee just soping in the sand. She was scared to death. We coached her through the course and all made it safely. I didn't know we were going to do ministry at the night infiltration course, but it made a difference in the young ladies life, I pray.

Well two quizes tomorrow. Got to study. God Bless you all, one week left, we worse is over for me now.

Steve

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Wednesday, January 21 Land Navigation day

We had to be in formation at 0600 hours this morning to move to the land navigation course. It was 23 degrees, pretty cold to be outside all day. We broke into groups and had three posted signed sites to find . They were all about 800 meters apart. We used compass and map to locate. Our group found what we needed in the three hours we had to do it. We also participated in a field service and saw how it is done. We have them coming up soon, mine will be a week from tomorrow.

I ate my first MRE for lunch. It was not too bad: Chicken breast and stuffing.

We moved to another areas and had our Warrior Task Training. Tomorrow is our test. Be in prayer.

We ate supper at that location and then moved to another course for Night Land Navigation. Our squad was the second back in so we were very happy. The only bad thing about it was that we had to wait about 45 minutes for the rest of the groups to get finished. That made for a cold wait.

We had been bussed around all day, but this time we tactical marched about two miles back to the main dorm and had a final formation and released for the evening. It was about 2130 hours (9:30 p.m.).

I am exhausted from being outside all day. It didn't get over 34 degrees today, so I am glad to be setting in a warm room and thawing out while I type this blog.

Tomorrow is another day out. We will be in full battle rattle gear and doing infiltration courses (day and night, live fire night).

Keep me in prayer and especially as I prepare for quizes on Friday.

Steve

Tuesday, January 20, Map Reading

We worked most the day on Map reading classes and compass work. We had the opportunity to go outside and do some basic compass work. At 1700 hours we meet at the athletic complex and had a killer physical conditioning time. Real tough on the legs and abs. Most of us were limping off afterward. We had two almost pass out. It was the toughest yet. I survived although my inner thighs were killing me it was hard to just get in the car and drive. We were up late due to two study guides being due on Friday and two quizes as well coming up. We have a small paper due as well, but I finished it this weekend. Tomorrow is land navigation day.

I got a card in the mail today, it was nice to hear from one of our church members.

God Bless All,

Steve

Monday, January 19 Day Off

We had most the day off today, meet up at 1500 hours for accountability and did some strenuous physical conditioning.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Friday, January 16 First Aid Continued

We continued our first aid in a combat environment training today. We learned how to use different types of dressings and tourniquets.

I went and a saw a occupational therapist about my wrist and they have referred me to the orthopedic department so I can get a permanent profile on my left wrist since it is fused together.

We have a weekend off, but there are several papers coming due next week, so I will be doing school work.

I will attend three more services on Sunday and have to do three reflection papers.

You all take care and Miss you all!

Steve

Thursday, January 15th: First Aid Training

Hello, ALL!

Today we started our training on first aid in a combat environment. it was indeed interesting. The most interesting part was the afternoon. We were advised we would be giving each other!!!!! I.V.'s!!! Yes, we were going to get stuck and to stick someone else. I practiced on a dummy once and then did it on another soldier. It was a learning experience and yes I survived as well as my partner.

We have continued P.T. and I am pleased with where I am at.

It is pretty cold here, but not as cold as back home. So I am not complaining!

You all take care and God Bless,

Steve

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Wednesday, 14th SURVIVED THE GAS CHAMBER

MORE TO COME, WE HAVE BEEN REAL BUSY AND I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GIVE YOU MUCH. C.S. CHAMBER WAS EXTREME- GAS MASKS DO WORK- BREATHING IS A VERY NICE THING--NOT BREATHING IS BAD. I AM GLAD THIS DAY IS OVER. MY SKIN STILL IS BURNING! GOD BLESS, I HAVE TO GET UP AT 4:15 A.M. FOR P.T. IN THE MORNING, SO OFF TO BED I GO.

BLESSING,

STEVE

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Monday, Survived the Team Development Course and Victory Tower

GREAT DAY! IT WAS A VERY PHYSICAL DAY AND I AM EXHAUSTED. TOMORROW HOLDS AN ASSESSMENT P.T. TEST AND GAS CHAMBER. TODAY WE DID VICTORY TOWER, OBSTACLE TYPE COURSE ON A 100 FOOT TOWER. NOTHING LIKE CHALLENGING YOUR FEARS. I SURVIVED ANOTHER DAY.

I HAVE ANOTHER EARLY MORNING. NOT MUCH TIME TO TYPE.

MISS YOU ALL!

STEVE

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Sunday 11th Jan 2009 Service Observations

Today we got up around 6:30 am and got ready to attend three worship services on Fort Jackson. We( about three of us in our group) first attended a Gospel Protestant Service, mostly a black congregation. It was lively and up lifting. Long and Loud. We sat to the back and the speaker was right over our head. The second service was a chapel for new recruits. it was more toward the style that I am comfortable with, although the Chaplain had communion (Lutheran Style) at the end of the service. I abstained. The Third service we attended was Catholic Mass at the main post chapel. It was a Catholic Mass, similar to what I have attended years ago.

We have to reflection paper's on the services.

We had formation at 1430 hours in our p.t. uniforms. We formed up and went over some stuff for tomorrow. Tomorrow is big day, team development course and Victory Tower. Physical tough day tomorrow. Formation is at 0615 in the morning, so I better be getting ready for bed.

You all take care and if your reading this thanks for keeping track!

Steve

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Day Six: Saturday, More Drill and Intoduction to Marching

I got up this morning about 4:44 a.m. and got together with a few guys from my platoon. We did some exercises and ran about a mile.

I had to go to a medical clinic this morning to try to get a medical profile on my wrist so I could wear a brace on my wrist for physical training. They gave me a temporary profile and took me off of push ups.

They want me to go to occupational therapy to get a permanent profile. I will have to get that done sometime before I leave.

I worked last night on my facing movements and was doing be much better this morning. We assembled our kevlar helmets and worked on marching for about four hours.

We got the late afternoon off, so I went out with my battle buddy, Randy Croel, from Wisconsin. We have a lot in common and have developed a great relationship.

Tomorrow we will attend three services on base. We re required to attend nine services and do reflection papers on each one prior to finishing the course.
We will have formation at 1430 tommorrow afternoon. They told us to wear p.t. clothes.

Here we go!

Well I am going to get ready for bed, Take care all!

Steve Bareis

Friday, January 9, 2009

Friday, January 9th; Drill and Ceremony

Well today started at 0530 to leave to pick up equipment. We were issued sleeping systems (sleeping bag with three liners), vest, and gas mask. We were addressed by the director of the school and had a formal service so we could see military ceremony at work.

After lunch we had a class on Military customs and then went outside to start drill movements. I had some difficulty getting my boots to cooperate on the pavement. I am heavy footed I guess.

I survived but verily. It was little discouraging. I worked on it this evening and got better.

I spent an hour and half at the hospital to get my wrist looked at so I can wear a wrap on my left wrist from having surgery several years ago. They made an appointment for me tomorrow morning at 7:50

i am going to try and get up and do some PT at 0500 before i go in for my appointment and then we have more drill time after my appointment.

My address here is: 1LT Steven Bareis, USACHCS, CH-BOLC CLASS#09-001, 10100 LEE ROAD, FORT JACKSON, SC 29207-7090

My last day here is January 30th.

Trusting Him,

Steve

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Thursday, January 8th, 2008

Well we had several briefings today and then had our weigh in so we can start Physical fitness starting Monday. I was still over the army weight standard, but made it through the taping process. so I got a Go! Tomorrow we start training on drill and ceremony (marching) I'll be up at 4:15 in the morning because we have to leave at 5:30. We have to meet up to get further equipment.

The time here is just starting to heat up as far as activity. Inprocessing is over and now the work begins. I have several articles I have to read this evening. I'm going to keep it short.

Appreciate all your prayers,

Steve

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Day Four- Wednesday January 7th: Medical Inprocessing

Today started early. 0515, I got up at 0350 hours. Early, Too Early. We started the day with urinalysis, drug testing. And off course I had problems giving a specimen. Nothing like being told to pee on command. I must have drank 150 ounces of water before I finally went. I was not last to go, but I was close. Nothing like a little humbling experience.

About 1000 we headed over by bus to the medical in processing center. I had to have four shots and the flu vaccine. I had a hearing check, eye check, and blood drawn. It took all day to get all our class mates thru. I got back to the room around 1700 hours. Both arms hurt from shots. I survived.

Tomorrow starts around 0645 hours in class. I don't remember off hand the course of study, but I know Friday we start official physical Training (PT). The P.T. Test has been delayed, but we are on the threshold of a very busy week ahead. I know we have a half day on Saturday, then Monday thru Thursday next week is tough mixed with a little fun.

Hope all is well with you. So Far so Good!

Steve

Day Three- More Inprocessing and Equipment issue

I had the morning off since I am not doing my dental exam at this time. I went with some guys to finish out some shopping and equipment purchase.

At 1400 hours we formed up to go to get our TA-50 (equipment pack). The issuing of it took all afternoon. We then went back to class for some more information on uniform wear. Tomorrow ill be the first day we are in uniform.

We have to be at formation at 0515 hours so I am going to bed early. Good Night!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Day Two- More inprocessing

I had typed something in the other night, but for some reason it did not publish.

We did more paperwork on financing and life insurance paperwork, next of kin etc. Not the most exciting of days of necessary details.

In the afternoon we picked up uniforms. I spent over $500.00 on necessary purchases from their list. I probably have invested almost $1200 . We are to get $600 back at some point.

Tomorrow will be a little later of a start, I am going to get some more food to eat that is microwave safe.

Until tomorrow

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Day One- Start

I got up this morning and got around. I'm am still not used to being without hair. I shaved it again last night to make sure it was regulation.

I met up with about ten other chaplain's for Bible Study and breakfast this morning. We all are bald headed. Well, we had Bible Study and just shared about who we were and how God brought us to this point in our ministry. It was interesting. I'm not the oldest. One guy is 46 years old and several my age or a year more. All concerned about the P.T. testing. There was no breakfast this morning out, so I'm glad a packed some oatmeal and brought some juice and coffee.

Over all a good start to the morning. We will start sessions this afternoon at 1345 hours. Most are staying in Dozzier hall, which is near the school. I am about a mile and half from there so I have to drive over. I have not met anyone staying in Kennedy Hall where I am, yet.

This afternoon went well. There are 85 in my class. Twenty five will be leaving when I do after the Initial training. I've met guys and gals from all over our nation that feel the same call that I have felt. We all have the same apprehensions about passing the P.T. test on Friday.

I'm glad I have a microwave and small fridge, because eating is mostly on me. It looks like a lot of PBJ sandwiches for me. I went to the Commissary (grocery store) and bought a few things in order to eat. They are feeding us once in a while, but this week is mostly on our own; snack foods and fruit for me. There will be a rare provided lunch and time will be scarce to cook anything.

Well I better sign off for tonight. Tomorrow holds more in processing and uniform purchasing.

Bro. Steve

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Arrived at Fort Jackson

I left this morning at 0730 hours for Columbia SC. It was a full day. Just about twelve hours through mist, rain, and fog. I have never driven threw the Smokey Mountains. I enjoyed it. It took me approximately twelve hours, but I am here. I am staying in a dormitory like building called Kennedy Hall. The room is similar to a hotel room with kitchenette between rooms that are shared. I will have a private room, surprisingly. Not quite what I expected, but a pleasant finding.

I found out that they even have a continental breakfast in the mornings at 0600-0900. Did not expect that either. Of course several mornings we start well before 0600.

We start at 2PM tomorrow officially. I will find where the chapel is and attend tomorrow morning.

I appreciate all your prayers and thoughts. I will try to blog every day so you can know my survival rate.

Have a good day of worship tomorrow and Until tomorrow night, God Bless,

Bro. Steve

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Shave My Head today

Interesting experience today. I shaved my mustache, first time in 18 years. The cold weather has already chapped my upper lip. I shaved my head as well. My head is cold. I've been wearing a stocking cap around even inside the house.

Busy today and tomorrow packing up. I will be leaving on Saturday morning around 0800. Should arrive in Fort Jackson around 2130, given a few breaks in my trip. Our first events start Sunday at 1400 hours. I'll try to let you know how things are upon arrival and web access.

God Bless and appreciate your prayers,

Steve Bareis