I don't update this very often, but I go to drill every month. So I should update this every month. But I don't.
This year I went to Warrior Leadership Course (WLC), or 
"sergeant school." That was 2 weeks long. Then I went to Annual Training (AT) which is no longer called "summer camp" and will not be called AT anymore. It'll be called Extended Battle Training, or something. Whatever. And next month after drill I'll be going to a CERFP exercise a few states away.
The upshot is that I'm spending one weekend a month and several weeks away from my family every year. I could hate it. But I don't. Between drills I get sorta grumpy about the Army and think "I'm not gonna reenlist, I'm sick of this dumb stuff, I can't wait to get these footlockers full of uniforms out of my garage." Then I get the boots on, and go help soldiers. I love doing my job.
The year before last I was at Ft. Jackson for my MOS school. Last year was my first AT. I've noticed that we don't get a lot soldiers coming to the Chaplain with issues during an average drill. We might get one or two, and we've gotten more as the unit has gotten to know 1LT B_ , our Chaplain Candidate. But at AT last year, we had a lot of stuff. It's like people can put on the "I'm away from my trouble" armor for a weekend drill, but after a few days at AT it cracked open and the issues spilled out.
This year we hit the ground running, and stayed in motion the whole time. We received a Red Cross message before we had ourselves unpacked, and a second one came in while we were arranging for that soldier to be sent home to take care of family. Two trips to the regional airport before the Tactical Operation Center was operational.
I didn't get to do any of the training this year. I was kinda disappointed - the training lanes included an off-road HMMWV driving course. Bent frames, damaged transmissions - all kinds of hair-raising muddy driving fun, and no counseling statements! And I missed it!
But that was okay - for once I was able to DO MY JOB. I had an office (weird for National Guard - I'm used to sneaking my laptop into whatever room at the Armory isn't being used, or operating out of a tent, even at the armory) and we shared a history-funky old chapel with several other Unit Ministry Teams supporting their units. I met other Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants. I helped set up for service, I typed up Service Bulletins for several Chaplains, and I drove a soldier into town to attend his first Alcoholics Anonymous meetings ever.
I'm sorry that soldiers have issues, but I'm glad to be able to help them. That's what I signed up for.
Guess I'll keep going.
