Carolina Chaplain

New Homes For Heroes Realtor Affiliate in the Charlotte NC area

2011-05-20T19:30:00.000+03:00

I am proud to serve as the Realtor Affiliate for Homes For Heroes in the Charlotte NC area. Homes For Heroes is a non-profit program designed to give back to the Heroes that make this country great. Contact me for more information on how you can save thousands of dollars on your next home purchase or sale.

(704) 575-2736

Charity Bike Ride by Guardsmen

2011-05-14T04:29:00.000+03:00

STONE GUARDIANS 2011 1^ST ANNUAL CHARITY BIKE RIDE

In Memory of SGT CURTIS YANNONE

Stone Guardian’s is hosting an Annual Charity Bike Ride in memory of the life of SGT Curtis Yannone and in support of his family. We will meet in the parking lot of King’s Gate Church International, 161 Sierra Avenue, Hamlet NC 28345 on May 21^st at 10:00 am with line up at 11:00am. We will end the ride at Sport Cycles, 770 E. US Hwy 74, Rockingham NC 28379. Registration is $20 per bike and $5 per passenger. Each registrant will receive a BBQ plate at the end of the ride. For questions or donations contact Rick Shell at 704 400-7516. Please come out and support us as we support the Yannone family.

E GUARDIANS 2011 1^ST ANNUAL CHARITY BIKE RIDE

Entrepreneurship Training Opportunity for National Guard and Reservists

2011-03-02T01:37:00.001+03:00

Operation Endure and Grow is a new online training experience focused on the fundamentals of launching and/or growing a small business. This 8-week training program is open to National Guard and Reserve Soldiers as well as their immediate family members. Operation Endure and Grow is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of families with busy schedules. Typically, it is a family member that often steps in to operate the business of a National Guard or Reservist, who has been called to active duty or deployed.

The program will launch in May, and will offer a program every eight weeks, with 50 openings per course. The training programs will alternate between a start-up focused curriculum and a growth/sustain orientated curriculum. The courses will include topics such as operations, finance, marketing, human resources, government contracts, and learning to write a business plan.

This program is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and administered by the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. With the SBA funding, the cost to the participant is minimal. The participant is responsible for a $75.00 registration fee/per term. Please visit the Operation Endure and Grow website for more information and/or to apply: whitman.syr.edu/endureandgrow Please feel free to contact me directly tkapral@syr.edu or 315-443-8795 if you should have any questions regarding either program or thank you in advance, for helping us increase awareness of these programs.

Operation At Ease

2011-02-18T16:57:00.000+03:00

Rewarding deserving soldiers and their families with a complimentary R&R weekend on the Carolina Coast. Thanks OAE for making a difference by serving those who keep us free!

Free Technology program for Veterans by Syracuse Univ and JP Morgan Chase

2011-02-15T18:19:00.000+03:00

Syracuse University, JPMorgan Chase collaborate on new, free certificate program for post-9/11 veterans
by Syracuse University on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 9:51am.

Today, JPMorgan Chase and Co. announced a new Technology Education Certificate program for veterans, furthering the collaboration between JPMC and Syracuse University. The program will draw on SU and JPMorgan’s very successful Global Enterprise Technology (http://globaltech.syr.edu/) program and the many successful SU initiatives that support veterans, including those in the Whitman School of Management, L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science (LCS) and University College.

The Technology Education Certificate will be a free, non-credit certificate program delivered via distance education and focused on preparing post-9/11 veterans for employment in global technology and service companies, including JPMorgan Chase.

The program is expected to include several paths for veterans, including those toward degree programs at SU’s School of Information Studies (iSchool), Whitman School and LCS, and will enhance the University’s national reputation for supporting veterans, and further the extension of JPMorgan Chase partnership.

This initiative has been announced by JPMorgan Chase as part of a larger announcement detailing their support of veterans. The full JPMorgan Chase announcement can be viewed at http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110215006155/en/JPMorgan-Chase-Announces-Programs-Military-Veterans.

For more information on the Technology Education Certificate program, visit SU’s Veterans’ Resource Center at http://www.veterans.syr.edu/.

Grieving the Recent Loss of Two 1-113th FA Soldiers

2011-02-01T02:11:00.000+03:00

We grieve the passing of two of our finest soldiers in the 1-113th FA BN. This weekend brought us news of the deaths of SPC Ken Carl and SGT Curtis Yannone.

SPC Carl joined the military in September 2001 had completed nearly 10 years of military service. He transferred to the NCNG in August of 2006. He deployed with CO G 230th BSB/30th BCT 11FEB09 to Iraq as a 91F and was deployed previously supporting OEF in March 2004 as a member of the NYNG. He received numerous awards to include the Bronze Star. Currently, we do not have finalized funeral arrangements for SPC Carl. I will post them as soon as I get that information.

SGT Curtis Yannone Jr served with the 1-113th FA, Bravo Battery, Monroe NC.
SGT Yannone's funeral arrangements:

Visitation with be from 1800-2100 on 03 FEB at Kings Gate Church Intl., 935 E. US 74 Hwy, Rockingham, 910-582-1740. The funeral will be at the same location at 1400 on 04 FEB with burial immediately following at Richmond Memorial Park.

I will post additional information pertaining to our fallen broithers as I receive it. This is truly a shock to even mourn the loss of one of our brothers and even greater to mourn the loss of two. In these times we must lean on the everlasting arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. SPC Carl and SGT Yannone, I salute you my brothers and I pray for your families.

Conference helps veterans heal wounded souls

2011-01-13T00:18:00.000+03:00

By: Melissa Lilley

GOLDSBORO – The trauma Jim Johnson experienced while serving as an Army chaplain remained with him for more than 20 years after he retired. For years he kept fighting, telling himself it couldn’t happen to him. “I thought I was immune to this because I was a chaplain,” he said. “Yet, my feelings internally were no different than a 19-year-old draftee,” Johnson said.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) “started eating me alive,” Johnson said. “I was in denial for many years. I was gradually spiraling down.” Johnson remained in denial until well into his 60s and did not begin seeking help until he finally got to the point where he knew he could no longer fight the battle alone. Johnson still struggles, sometimes having nightmares, flashbacks and times of sadness, guilt and anger.

Johnson shared some of his experiences with PTSD during the recent “Coming Home” Conference at Madison Avenue Baptist Church in Goldsboro. The conference sought to help pastors, counselors, chaplains and lay persons involved with or interested in ministering to military personnel who suffer from PTSD. The conference was sponsored by the Office of Military and Chaplaincy Ministries of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC), the North Carolina Army National Guard Chaplaincy and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham.

Organizing the conference was CH (CPT) Thomas Watson, who is assuming some of the responsibilities of CH (COL) Larry Jones, BSCNC Senior Consultant for Military and Chaplaincy Ministry, who is on an extended tour of active duty at Fort Bragg until fall 2011.

Coming home challenges

Keynote speaker for the event John Oliver, chief of chaplain services at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, began the conference by setting the scene for what often happens when service members come home. The military produces men and women who are highly trained for jobs of great importance and who experience great responsibility during their time of service. When they come home, jumping back into a routine that includes seemingly less important tasks such as household chores may be tough.

The returning family member may feel displaced, as other family members and friends sometimes step in to help with family activities. Children have grown up and the family structure itself has changed.

Oliver said the enormity of war can “shatter one’s basic sense of safety” and veterans struggle with learning to trust again after their lives have been so drastically changed or shattered. Veterans often need to re-learn basic skills.

Sometime veterans are withdrawn and do not want to talk to family or friends, especially about what happened during war. “We have to find a balance of caring for the person and not letting them stay in their hole too long, but also giving them time,” Oliver said.

Natural reaction

Oliver defined PTSD as “an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more terrifying events that threatened or caused grave physical harm.” Family members and friends should never assume that a loved one has PTSD and should never try to diagnose it on their own.

Those who have suffered a traumatic experience are unable to process information in a normal manner. The brain actually skips the first step of information processing, which is registering the information to the cerebral cortex (the rational part of the brain). Instead, the brain sends the information straight to the amygdala, or the lower brain. Thus, the brain labels the experience as fear, and fight or flight response memories are stored differently in the brain. The brain links things such as sight, sound and smell to the traumatic event.

Dissociation from other people or events becomes a means of protection from becoming overwhelmed. Some individuals who have suffered traumatic events begin to dissociate, or separate themselves from the events that occurred. This is a protective mechanism that can help people survive in times of crisis, yet can become a burden when those same individuals are not able to re-integrate the trauma and deal with emotional, spiritual and moral effects of the traumatic event.

“Reactions from war are normal,” Oliver said. “Trauma reactions are not indicative of moral weakness or sin.”

Trauma can influence a person’s behavior and their interpersonal life, from inability to keep close relationships to uncontrollable negative thoughts. Sometimes the pain of trauma is more than a person can bear, and some soldiers have resorted to suicide. “This is not a conversation we have the luxury of not having,” Oliver said. “It can happen to those you least expect.” Help is available by calling the National Suicide Hotline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).

Pastoral Care

Four out of 10 veterans with mental health challenges seek counsel from clergy, so pastors need to be equipped to help. Pastors can offer a calm, non-judgmental or non-anxious presence; they can be a safe haven. “Provide a compassionate space wide enough to encompass the awfulness of war trauma,” Oliver said.

Veterans may need help working through their spiritual reactions to trauma. Trauma can lead to confusion about God, loss of previously held beliefs and confusion about morality and core ethical beliefs.

Pastors must listen. Listening does not mean letting the words “wash over you as you think about the next thing you’re going to say,” Oliver said. Pastors must avoid trying to fix the problem, pushing for details about the deployment or offering platitudes. “They want to tell you where they are hurting if you will just listen,” Oliver said.

Oliver encouraged pastors to, as often as necessary, refer people to mental health professionals. A pastor’s referral can help validate the need for such services and even help destigmatize the use of mental health services.

Pastors should avoid prematurely assessing someone’s feelings of guilt. Veterans need to be able to name their fears, shortcomings and strengths. “They need to live through that pain,” Oliver said. “We have to live through the real stuff.”

Oliver said the local church can prove one of the greatest points of grace for returning veterans. “A community that knows and deeply cares for its own war fighters and veterans provides these individuals with the strongest antidote to post-traumatic stress: community,"he said. "It is incumbent on churches to find ways to provide community outlets and ministry opportunities that match the special gifts and challenges our returning military members and veterans bring with them.”

Attending the conference were staff members from the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, including members of the Transition for Returning Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans Team, Women’s Health Team and Suicide Prevention Team. For more information: www.durham.va.gov

Community Service Project for Airmen in Afghanistan

2010-12-28T18:10:00.000+03:00

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT FOR AIR FORCE SERVICEMEMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN:

There is an initiative to raise hundreds of hand/foot warmers for Seymour-Johnson Airmen who are serving in Afghanistan. It is very cold there and the nature of the work requires our airmen to be out in the cold for extended periods of time. We are asking for your help in this project. You can purchase a set of two hand/foot warmers at Walmart in the sporting goods section for $1.97. After Jan. 7 the handwarmers will be delivered to Seymour-Johnson AFB for immediate delivery to Afghanistan. Warm up the lives of those who are serving this great country on the front lines. If you or your church small group, sunday school class, worksite, etc would like to participate in this project then have them send a package of hand warmers to Madison Avenue Baptist Church, 300 S. Madison Avenue, Goldsboro NC 27530 by Jan. 7th. Thank you for your participation.

Coming Home: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Conference/Jan 7, 2011

2010-11-29T18:32:00.001+03:00

Registration extended until Dec 21st!

Family Members of Disabled Veterans Get National Exposure

2010-11-12T22:14:00.000+03:00

I was invited to Syracuse University to participate in the inaugural EBV-F (Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Families' of Disabled Veterans). The purpose of this program is to teach family members of disabled veterans how to start businesses to support their families. We are being educated by some of the best entrepreneurship professors in the nation and will be mentored for 12 months following the one week cohort. I highly recommend this program to those who care for wounded warriors and want more out of life. See the link above for the ABC coverage by Diane Sawyer.

Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Families of Disabled Veterans

2010-11-10T00:23:00.003+03:00

I have the awesome opportunity to be associated with a ground-breaking non-profit program designed to assist OIF/OEF wounded warriors transition from military life to business ownership. Recently, EBV opened their program to family members of disabled veterans (EBV-F) to enable them to become business owners and entrepreneurs. Do you know someone who could benefit
from this program? Read more below.

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from their service to our country. The EBV is designed to open the door to business ownership for our veterans by 1) developing your skills in the many steps and activities associated with launching and growing a small business, and by 2) helping you leverage programs and services for veterans and people with disabilities in a way that furthers your entrepreneurial dreams.

The EBV program is offered by a network of six world-class institutions:
•The Whitman School of Management
•UCLA Anderson School of Management
•Florida State University's College of Business
•Mays Business School at Texas A&M
•The Krannert School of Management at Purdue University
•The University of Connecticut School of Business
The Structure of the EBV
The EBV is designed around two central elements: a) focused, practical training in the tools and skills of new venture creation and growth, reflecting issues unique to disability and public benefits programs; and b) the establishment of a support structure for graduates of the program. The practical elements of the program will involve three phases:

1.Phase I: Delegates participate in a self-study curriculum, facilitated by an online discussion and assessment module, which will be moderated by entrepreneurship faculty and graduate students from one of the partner EBV Universities. During this phase delegates will work on the development of their own business concepts.
2.Phase II: During the nine-day residency at one of the six EBV Universities, delegates are exposed to the "nuts and bolts" of business ownership through experiential workshops and lessons from world-class entrepreneurship faculty representing nationally ranked programs around the country.
3.Phase III: Delegates are provided with 12 months of ongoing support and mentorship from faculty experts at the EBV Universities.
Topics to be addressed include:
•What's a good business concept and how can I determine if my idea is a good one?
•Do I really need a business plan and, if so, how can I write a great one?
•What do I need to know about my customer and market, and how can I get answers?
•How much money do I need and how do I get it?
•How do I make sense of the numbers, and which numbers really matter?
•What's a business model, and does mine make sense?
•What is guerrilla marketing? Are there ways to do more with marketing while spending much less?
•Which activities should I outsource and what do I need to know about hiring employees?
•Where do I go to get the information I need to organize my new venture?

Wedding Bells

2010-10-12T05:20:00.000+03:00

One of the most joyful ceremonial experiences I get to share with my soldiers is the God-ordained covenant of marriage. I was honored to be part of the coming together of Seth Watson and Julie Friday this past saturday evening by the lake at Col Francis Beatty Park. I pray for a long and happy union for you both. God bless.

Recruiting Chaplains

2010-10-05T21:16:00.000+03:00

After 2.5 years in military chaplaincy I now have the privilege to recruit pastors into the Army National Guard to be Army chaplains. On October 1st I began active duty orders for the National Guard Bureau as the southeast chaplain recruiter. My area of recruitment includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. I am excited to work with those the Lord is leading into the mission field of military chaplaincy. If you want to know more about what an Army Chaplain does please feel free to contact me at Thomas.Lee.Watson@gmail.com

Home Again!

2010-01-31T06:08:00.000+03:00

Jan 23rd was an emotional day as the 1-113 FA soldiers rolled into the Charlotte armory parking lot after 419 days of active duty away from home. We were greeted by family, friends, media and our rear det soldiers. We couldn't have had a better reception. Many thanks to all who were part of making our reception a huge success.

Chaplains Host Christmas Caroling at FOB Falcon

2009-12-22T01:47:00.000+03:00

The 30th HBCT chaplains took it upon themselves to rally up some Christmas cheer at FOB Falcon on Dec. 17th and 19th. We invited soldiers to come and sing with us as we walked around and "ambushed" others who were working in their respective areas. We donned our santa hats, raised our voices and infiltrated the TMC, MWR and Brigade HQ. It was alot of fun. Merry Christmas!

COP Meade Baptism Service

2009-11-29T15:02:00.009+03:00

Six of our soldiers publicly confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior! Click on link above to see more pics. This was an awesome time of fellowship and worship.
Soldiers participating in baptism were: LT Park, PV Ortiz, SPC Kenna, SPC Fowler, SFC Patrick, and SGT Malueg
SSG Blasky had the privilege of baptizing one of his own soldiers, SPC Fowler.

Looking Toward Home

2009-11-19T23:56:00.000+03:00

I am reminded by a passage in Genesis 18 that the Lord looked toward a certain city and it was not a good thing. But looking toward home is a good thing for us. We have our families, our jobs, our ministries and our friends waiting on us, yes that is a very good thing. So, I have developed some tools to help our soldiers start the process of looking toward home.

This weekend we will begin part 1 of the "Laughing Your Way to a Better Marriage" seminar. This is the most helpful marriage and relationship series I have ever seen. Mark Gungor has to be the funniest pastor ever and yet the most instructive when it comes to intimacy and relationships. Our soldiers have had more than their fair share of broken relationships, divorces and even extra-marital affairs. All of these things are very destructive to marriage and the family as God designed it to be. Marriage is the second greatest decision of our lives.

Next weekend we have scheduled a Baptism Service for our soldiers. This is an opportunity to be obedient to the scriptures in giving a public witness to newfound faith in Christ Jesus. I am excited about that Sunday. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the greatest decision we can make in our lives.

All of our soldiers must sit through a thirty minute class on "Reintegration" or "Going Home." We discuss expectations of both the soldier and the spouse in order to keep soldiers from being blind-sided when they return home. We talk about intimacy and communication with our spouses and loved ones. The point is we have to prepare ourselves to re-enter civilian life and to handle the complexities that come with it.

I pray that you will have a successful and meaningful reintegration with your soldier and I pray God's blessings on your family.

A Deployed Chaplain from the Family's Perspective

2009-11-11T01:09:00.000+03:00

The following video was created by North Carolina Baptists for the purpose of promoting military chaplaincy.

Oct 22, 2009 Major General Doug Carver... Strength for the Battle - Psalm 144

2009-10-31T14:58:00.000+03:00

Army Chief of Chaplains, Major General Douglas Carver speaking to students at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest NC. He delivers an inspiring and thought-provoking message about faith, strength and service.

Christian Church in Baghdad Bombed

2009-10-31T12:32:00.000+03:00

Bombing of St. George's in Baghdad

[This message was sent for Bishop George Packard at gpackard@episcopalchurch.org.]

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

I rush this news to you of the bombing of St. George's in Baghdad. Please read Canon White's recap of events and consider a contribution to this beloved place which figures so prominently in our recent history of deployments.

Photos of the bomb damage to St. George’s are posted on our website and we will update as more news becomes available. I know you join me in prayer for Andrew and this dear community which sustains not only the Iraqi people but also us, a tribe of wandering Episcopalians, in SW Asia.

Faithfully, Bishop George

UPDATE FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR RELIEF AND RECONCILIATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

PO Box 229

Petersfield

GU32 9DL office@frrme.org

www.frrme.org

+44 (0) 1730 267 673

Canon Andrew White reports...

St George's church damaged in bomb attack:

Dear Friends,

I am very sorry to tell you that the two major bomb explosions in Baghdad this morning have done serious damage to the church compound, the clinic, thebookshop, the school rooms and the mothers' union buildings.

The windows were replaced after the bombings on 19 August, but they have been destroyed again, and this blast hit the church much more powerfully. Even the window frames and the doors were blown out. All of the cars in the compound and the Danish Memorial were destroyed.

And the clinic? The St George's clinic provides free medical and dental treatment to people in Iraq, regardless of their religious or ethnic background. It is staffed by a team of medics representing each of the Abramic faiths: Muslim, Christian and Jew. It contained high quality medical equipment provided by charitable donations to the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East. In a moment, much of this equipment has been destroyed, placing it permanently out of reach of the Iraqi people who need it so desperately.

Outside the church, at least 132 people were killed and over 600 injured. Destroyed fragments of their bodies have been thrown through windows of the church, making the clean-up operation yet more unpleasant. Many of our staff and church members remain unaccounted for. Lay Pastor Faiz and I have been trying in vain to reach them by telephone.

Today was a terrible day for us. But even in the blood and trauma and turmoil, there are things for which we can, and indeed must, praise our G-d. The carnage was terrible, but it could have been even worse.

- At 10.30am this morning, when the bombs exploded, there was no-one in the church. If the bomb had been just a few hours later, the glass from the windows would have ripped through the congregation causing terrible human damage.

- Yesterday an enormous tree fell down outside the church, which prevented the suicide bomber from detonating his explosives where they would have caused maximum damage.

Some people ask us whether days like today make us want to give up. We have seen much of what we have worked for destroyed. We have seen people we love bereaved. But the truth is, it is days like today that remind us why our work in Iraq is absolutely essential.

We must continue to provide a place of worship for Iraqi Christians. We must continue to treat the medical needs of Iraqi civilians. And we must continue to engage with the senior religious leaders from across the sectarian divides, working with them to challenge the belief systems that lie behind this terrible slaughter.

We will not stop because of this. Will you stand with us and help us to restore what was destroyed?

Blessings,

Andrew

P.S. To donate, either by standing order or with a one-off payment, please see the donations page of our website:

http://www.frrme.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=3

Or you could set up a standing order direct into our bank:

Sterling Account

Barclays Bank, Petersfield

Account name: The Naaman Trust (FRRME)

Account number: 33929604

Sort Code: 20-67-49

IBAN: GB23 BARC 2067 4933 9296 04

SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22

Dollar Account

Barclays Bank, Petersfield

Account name: The Naaman Trust (FRRME)

Account Number: 53627000

Sort Code: 20-67-49

IBAN: GB88 BARC 2067 4953 6270 00

SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22

For more information on the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East please visit our website

www.frrme.org

Marital Assessment (for soldiers and spouses)

2009-10-27T17:55:00.000+03:00

Marriage “Snapshot” Tool

Used with permission of PREP, Inc.

This tool is for you only. Your spouse will also have an opportunity to use this tool. It is designed to provide you with a snapshot of where your marriage is today. No one will ask for or collect these scores.
These are validated questions that researchers have used in many studies on marriage. While no tool such as this should be taken as being something that can predict your future – the questions and your scores are designed to help you evaluate where your marriage is today. Remember, you can choose to change the things that are not working, and for things that are going well, you can work on ways to enhance and strengthen your marriage further. A strong and satisfying marriage is your choice."
If your score indicates a need for change or assistance, please contact your unit chaplain, or an installation or local helping agency for a marriage education workshop or counseling. Many issues can be resolved by awareness, skills training and personal support. Do not assume your marriage will grow without some thinking and effort on your part. Remember: there are people available to help you.

Commitment Questions
Please answer each of the following questions by indicating how strongly you agree or disagree with the idea expressed.
1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Neither Agree Nor Disagree
4 = Agree
5 = Strongly Agree
1 2 3 4 5 My relationship with my partner is more important to me than almost anything else in my life.
1 2 3 4 5 I like to think of my partner and me more in terms of "us" and "we" than "me" and "him/her."
1 2 3 4 5 I want this relationship to stay strong no matter what rough times we may encounter.

Total up your answers on the above three questions. The highest score here is 15 and the lowest is 3. Relative to many others who have responded to these questions, we suggest these ranges for interpretation. Since most people respond at the higher ranges of these questions:
14 to 15 HIGH: You scored high like most of people do who respond to these questions.
12 to 13 MEDIUM: You scored in a range we would call medium, but this is at or below the most typical score which tends to be in the higher range.
11 & below LOW: You scored relatively low on this. The further under 11 you scored, the more it might mean that you are struggling with your desire to be with your partner in the future. If that sounds like you, what does that mean to you and your relationship in the present?

Confidence Questions
Answer each question below by indicating how strongly you agree or disagree with the idea expressed. Circle any number from 1 to 7 to indicate various levels of agreement or disagreement.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Strongly Neither Agree Strongly
Disagree or Disagree Agree

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 I believe we can handle whatever conflicts will arise in the future.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 I feel good about our prospects to make this relationship work for a lifetime.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 I am very confident when I think of our future together.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 We have the skills a couple needs to make a marriage last.

Total up your answers on the above four questions. The highest score possible is 28 and the lowest is 4.
25 to 28 HIGH: You scored high, suggesting that you have a lot of confidence in the future of your relationship. As much or more than average.
20 to 24 MEDIUM: Your score suggests some confidence, but also some concerns about how well the two of your manage life together.
19 & below LOW: You scored relatively low on this measure, which could mean that you are not feeling very confident in the future of your relationship.

- Over-

Conflict Questions
Answer each statement in terms of how often you and your spouse/partner experience each of the following situations.
Little arguments escalate into ugly fights with accusations, criticisms, name calling, or bringing up past hurts. Does that happen . . .
1. never or almost never
2. once in a while
3. frequently

My spouse/partner criticizes or belittles my opinions, feelings, or desires. Does that happen . . .
1. never or almost never
2. once in a while
3. frequently

My spouse/partner seems to view my words or actions more negatively than I mean them to be. Does that happen . . .
1. never or almost never
2. once in a while
3. frequently

When we argue, one of us withdraws...that is, does not want to talk about it anymore, or leaves the scene. Does that happen . . .
1. never or almost never
2. once in a while
3. frequently

Total up your answers on the four questions above. The highest score possible is 12 and the lowest score possible is 4. On the first two sets of questions, higher scores are usually better. Here, lower scores are better because they indicate less negative communication patterns of a sort that cause difficulties for most couples.
9 to 12 HIGH: Scores in this range indicate a high frequency of conflict patterns that various studies suggest damage relationships over time. If you scored high and that matches your sense that the two of you argue often and in damaging ways, you should both consider developing a plan (or get some outside help) for how you will turn these kinds of negative patterns around—all the more so if you have children at home.
6 to 8 MEDIUM: Scores in this range mean you might be seeing more difficulties in how the two of you handle conflict than is really good for you or your relationship over time. It might be good to be thinking together about how you could manage conflicts and differences more constructively so that you do not damage the great things about your relationship. Skill training in a marriage workshop may be very helpful.
4 to 5 LOW: Scores this low indicate that you see little to be concerned with in terms of how the two of you handle conflict. The key for you is to keep it that way, since negatives can do so much damage to the positives in life together. It is always a great time to do preventive work.

Positive Bonding Questions
Please answer each of the following questions by indicating how strongly you agree or disagree with the idea expressed.
1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Neither Agree Nor Disagree
4 = Agree
5 = Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5 We have a lot of fun together.
1 2 3 4 5 We regularly have great conversations where we just talk as good friends.

Total up your answers on the two questions above. The highest score is 10 and the lowest score is 2.
9 to 10 HIGH: Your score suggests that, at least from your perspective, the two of you are doing a great job keeping the positive connection going between the two of you.
7 to 8 MEDIUM: Your score suggests that there might be room for improvement in how often you are taking time to be together in positive ways.
2 to 6 LOW: Your score suggests that the two of you are not spending nearly enough time together in these positive ways. You can get by for a time letting this slide, but to really keep your relationship strong you should consider what the two of you can do to rebuild the kinds of positive time you spend together.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Used with permission of PREP, Inc. www.PREPinc.com.
Based on research of Scott Stanley and Howard Markman (and principles in the book Fighting for Your Marriage, 2001, Jossey-Bass, Inc.). 2

Mesopotamia Climbing Club, COP Meade

2009-10-05T01:26:00.002+03:00

The following article is indicative of the creativity of our soldiers in Iraq. These guys have taken advantage of their time here to build something great, a bouldering wall that is raising morale and promoting physical agility and fitness. This is the story told by Sgt. Alexander, the chief architect. I am excited that I was able to help these guys. Many kudos to Ashea Griffin and her SS class at FBC Indian Trail, NC.

Rock Climbing in the Desert
by SGT Heath Alexander

Iraq sucks for many reasons, but it especially sucks for a die-hard rock climber. Nothing but sand and flatness. This is my second time over here, and I really didn’t know if I could handle another year away from my beloved mountains. You see, I am an avid rock climber. There is not much in life that gives me a greater thrill than hanging off the side of a rock face hundreds of feet off the ground, relying on my own physical skill and technical mastery of my equipment to overcome the inexorable pull of earth’s gravitational field. I slowly discovered there were a bunch of other guys like me over here. We had tossed around the idea of building a climbing wall forever. One day I was at Forward Operating Base Falcon, our brigade headquarters, and I discovered there was an Air Force EOD unit (the guys who defuse all the roadside bombs, read: superheroes) who had done exactly that. I got to be good friends with their resident climber. I had my wife ship my climbing shoes over, and I went climbing whenever we went to Falcon. The more I talked to this guy, the more I realized there was no reason we couldn’t do the same thing at our home base, Combat Outpost (COP) Meade. I started asking around at Meade and discovered there was, indeed, a lot of interest in building a rock climbing wall. There were three of us really driving this project. Myself, our medic Derek Taussig, and a gunner, Daniel Mahadeen. Derek grew up surrounded by the mountains, but had never really gotten into true rock climbing. He was really excited to learn and thought the wall would be a great place to start. Daniel worked as a climbing instructor at an indoor rock climbing gym in Charlotte. He was as excited as I was and looked forward to continuing his teaching here with the soldiers at Meade.

What we wanted to build is what is called a “bouldering wall.” The climbing world is sort of divided into two major camps, roped climbers and boulderers. The climbers use ropes and all sorts of specialized equipment to surmount giant cliffs. Boulderers on the other hand, focus solely on the athletic aspects of climbing and stay close to the ground to work out really difficult climbing moves on boulders. The point isn’t to get to the top of a mountain for a boulderer, its to find a way to negotiate the hardest sequence of moves up a wall, but never high enough to necessitate ropes and safety devices. I fall into the roped climber side of things, but Iraq really doesn’t lend itself to that sort of thing, so bouldering seemed like the perfect way to stay in shape for rock climbing and get some new faces interested in the sport.

We decided our bouldering wall would need to be about 12 feet tall and have all sorts of interesting features, like inverted walls called “overhangs,” completely horizontal climbing surfaces, called “roofs” and all sorts of other things to keep the climbing intense and interesting. To do this we would need a lot of wood, mats to fall on, and rock climbing holds. I got in touch with an outfit called Metolius that makes rock climbing holds for walls like ours. They offered to sell us the rocks at cost since we were deployed. So we started scrounging for materials. We found a huge stack of wrestling mats just wasting away in a remote corner of the base. There was a little bit of wood, but we knew we would need more.

Our convoys regularly go up to Camp Stryker, a regional supply area for the Baghdad area. I found there was a huge wood distribution yard, but they refused to give us any wood without a formal supply request from our unit. I went to go see our supply warrant officer, Chief Watson. Chief was pretty excited about our project and simply asked me what I needed. I made a ridiculous request for 40 2x4s, 20 2x6s, and 20 sheets of 3/4 inch plywood. I figured I would make a big request since they would probably not give me everything I asked for. Meanwhile whenever we went on convoys we would look for supplies for the wall. At one base we discovered a whole bunch of mesh nets lying around. Perfect sunshades. We quickly threw them all in the back of one of our trucks. (To those who don’t know how the military works: that’s not stealing its “reallocating resources”) It took several weeks for the supply order to come in, but they finally called me and said that the entire order was waiting to be picked up. I was blown away. It was so much wood I didn’t even know how to bring it back to Meade. I went and worked out a deal with my company’s supply sergeant and borrowed a huge utility vehicle for my next convoy up to Baghdad. We went and loaded up our huge bonanza of wood and headed back to Meade.

We were ready to rock and roll at this point. I went ahead and ordered 180 rocks from Metolius for about $500. I just threw it on my credit card trusting we’d figure out a way to collect some money later. Now the hard part began. Derek became more or less our chief architect. Daniel and I had lots of ideas on what a cool climbing wall should look like, but not a lot of ideas on how to put wood together. Thankfully Derek had worked in construction and was a solid craftsman with a perfectionist eye. There is no way a wall I would have designed would still be standing. We started scrounging up tools from all over Meade asking favors and working deals. Derek started drawing up all sorts of plans and we got to work building. We had a lot of help from other guys who role with us on our convoys. Building the wall became the standby activity whenever we got back from missions. We had our regular building crews who were always willing to lend a hand. As we built, the wall got more and more complex as we thought of crazier and crazier ideas to incorporate. Pretty soon we were actually running out of wood. I had to go back to the distribution yard in Baghdad and beg for more. Luckily I had established a relationship with the guys on my last visit and I was able to swing some more. The building phase was really exciting. “Wall” is a bit of a misleading name for the structure we were creating. It was an amorphous block that had different angles running every which a way to mimic the crazy texture of a heavily deformed metamorphic rock surface. Building it required great creativity and ingenuity. It was anchored to a giant concrete blast wall meant to reduce the effects of mortars. By the time we finished we estimated we had used about 800 feet of 2x4s and 2x6s, and probably about $4000 worth of wood. Thank you, American taxpayers!

The wait for the interminably slow postal service to deliver our rocks was nigh unbearable, but finally they arrived. The rocks bolt on to the wall. We had pre-drilled holds every six inches on the plywood so we could easily move the rocks all over the wall to change the routes easily. Very soon we had people from all over the COP trying out the wall. We started trying to collect donations to cover the wall but that proved to be harder than getting the lumber. I think we managed to get about half the cost of the rocks. I worried that the need to raise money limited the number of people using the wall. We got one of our biggest victories when our Chaplain, Captain Watson, was able to raise $500 from a class at 1^st Baptist Church of Indian Trail. That was huge for us. I immediately went and paid all of our donors back and told them that a church back in North Carolina had been generous enough to supply us with the funds for the wall. We have started the Mesopotamia Climbing Club to consolidate our growing climbing community (check us out on Facebook!). I hope that the club can get even bigger now that we don’t have a membership fee to cover the cost of the rocks. I am trying to get in touch with climbing shoe makers to see if I can get us a deal on a bulk order for shoes for the new climbers. We are also planning to make some cool shirts to remember our climbing club in Iraq. Our plan is to try and keep the club together when we return to NC and plan some climbing outings on real cliffs. It will be a good chance to put all our skills honed on the bouldering wall to use.

Having the wall has been such a great outlet when we get back from mission. I climb everyday until my arms can’t take it anymore. Working out our boulder problems is a great release for so many of the guys here. Bouldering requires mental and physical fitness. It takes as much mental dexterity to figure out the right sequence of moves as physical strength in your forearms to stay on the wall. It can be hard to keep moral up on a little COP like Meade where you can’t walk more than 10 minutes in any direction, but I think the wall does wonders for us. I’m almost a little bummed about the fact that we don’t have that much time left at Meade because I will miss our amazing wall. We haven’t decided exactly what to do with it when we leave. If we turn the base over to another unit we will probably just leave it for them. If we close it down then we will probably leave the wood and ship the rocks home. I would like to find another charitable cause than can use them since they were donated to us. Barring that, I will probably sell them on Ebay and turn the proceeds over to a charitable cause of some sort. I figure since someone was kind enough to donate them to us, the appropriate thing to do is to think of them as on loan to us as part of a chain of love. We need to pass it on to someone else to keep the good karma flowing. But until then, you can find me hanging off the wall by two fingers trying to make a flying leap to the next hold!

Heath Alexander works as a convoy commander in Iraq; when he’s not driving to Baghdad, he’s generally wasting time and taxpayer money. Back home Heath is a college student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Thrill. He is one semester away from getting a BA in American History with a minor in Near Eastern Religious Studies; in other words Heath is a Pre-Unemployment Major. He lives with his wife, Susan, who inexplicably works for the Forces of Darkness at Duke University. Heath maintains a healthy and vigorous fear of children and pets.

How To Be A High-Performance Achiever

2009-09-19T12:31:00.000+03:00

The following principles were taken from Christian Finacial Advisor, Dave Ramsey, in his mp3 titled, "High-Performance Achievement."
In a world filled with debt and chaos, how can we unclutter our lives, get rid of the bondage of debt, and go on to live as high-performance achievers? The answer is not simple but it is attainable with lots of hard work and focus. I would like to pass on Dave Ramsey's (www.daveramsey.com) eight principles for high performance achievement:
1. Establish a big, hairy, audacious goal- a goal that is just outside your reach but attainable
2. Plan out in incremental steps the details that will allow you to accomplish your big goal
3. Find people who have accomplished similar goals and study them
4. Heed warnings from the experts but don't let them become negatives
5. Decide on what you're willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal
6. Stay away from negative people and surround yourself with positive influences
7. Visualize your plan in detail
8. When you win, achieve your goal, then celebrate!
I pray that you will take these principles that have been tested and approved by those who are experiencing high-performance achievement in their lives and use them to reach your goals.

1-113 FA Soldier in Spotlight (excerpt from www.stopandsmellthepeople.com)

2009-08-31T16:59:00.000+03:00

August 31, 2009...12:01 am

Want to know if you make a difference?

Jump to Comments

There are a number of things we do differently on this website than the traditional newsie sites. For one thing we won’t bog you down with car wrecks and the controversy de jour.

Another difference is we don’t tell you an important story one day and then drop it so you never see a follow-up or the progression of how one life or story affects other lives.

The story about a soldier’s death and burial in Arlington National Cemetery turned into two weeks of actions and reactions and culminated in the “Gratitude Wave” witnessed on-line from coast to coast and in military tents through Iraq to Afghanistan. It was a stunning… and you made it happen.

We asked one of the soldiers in Iraq to ask his fellow soldiers for reactions… and to tell us his honest thoughts about the “Gratitude Wave.”

Cody Fowler serving in Iraq.

It was in fact Cody Fowler’s reaction to “One Soldier’s Death” that got us at SASTP brainstorming and set the Gratitude Wave in motion. What follows is Cody Fowler’s response.

I thought the on-line Gratitude Wave was a great idea because so much of the world is connected via the Internet and most have either a Facebook or Twitter account. So why did I stop and think then? The reason was simple: Would enough people actually care and be willing to give up a few seconds of talking about there day at work or some TV show they cant wait for to show they still even remember us over here? So after a little thinking and arguing with myself (I won by the way) I decided to tell Mike that I thought it was a great idea and see what happened from there.

August 12th comes and when I go to stopandsmellthepeople.com Mike has posted “One Moment of Thanks & Start Spreading the News.” So I figured there would be a decent little amount of people who read that and would actually do it. Guess what? Wrong again! By August 13th Mike had gone from telling everyone about this on his site to being interviewed on radio and TV stations. Wow! I never knew that something as small as an e -mail could build into all that!

So Friday, August 14th at 12 Noon EST the wave began. My face book page was covered with thanks and well wishes almost at once. Even the website was overloaded with thanks and heartfelt wishes. I was shocked at everyone who actually took the time and showed they cared.

As I continued to fulfill my daily duties of maintaining the communications and signal for my Battalion, I started talking to people and asking what it means.

[Then Cody received this e-mail from SASTP] “We want to invite you to write something for the site about what the Gratitude Wave had meant to you.”

These seem like simple words and a simple request. Right? Well they were neither, as I learned. I first came to hear about stopandsmellthepeople.com from one of my NCO’S wive’s and our Family Readiness Group leader, April Blasky. She is an amazing woman and a great leader and supporter. She is always posting anything she comes across that has to do with our brigade on her face book (kind of ironic isn’t it?). So as I logged onto my Facebook August 8th, I had no idea my whole life was about to have a new chapter.

Cody Fowler on the line...

As I sat scrolling through all my friends and families posts one April posted caught my eye. The title was simple yet it stood out among all the other things on the page to me; the title was “One Soldiers Death.” So I clicked on the link, never thinking it would lead to where I am today. As I read the wonderful and amazing story by Mike Redding I had tears come to my eyes and couldn’t help myself from writing a thank you to him. I thought that would be that. I would write a thank you and maybe a few people would post a comment on mine and then on to the next big thing. Boy was I wrong again, again!

After I wrote that, I had a reply comment from Mike himself thanking me. Boy was I surprised. A few days passed. I told my friends and family about the site and had even seen a few comments from some of them. Then on August 11th as I was checking my e-mail I saw one titled “HEY!” Its sender was Mike Redding. So I opened it and inside was the following: “Cody, We had this idea as a way of getting as many as people possible to say thanks to you and all your brother and sister soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan… and I wanted your opinion.”

So I started asking around and I got everything from soldiers being speechless to others going on and on about how they feel like they have not been forgotten. I had soldiers telling me about how they don’t have many people back at home and how this made even them feel loved. So to put it in short I think the message worked and is still working.

In my own mind, I never thought the Gratitude Wave would get to the level it did. I was raised by a single mother and didn’t really have any family members to send support… until I met my wife. So I had no idea what it felt like to have that many people really express how much they care for us and miss us and want us home. I married right before we deployed to Iraq and haven’t even had the chance to meet all my new family. Yet that didn’t stop even the ones I had never met before from reading and commenting as part of this wave. It gave me, along with all my brothers and sisters in arms, a new warm feeling that a lot of us had started to lose after being gone for so long.

Probably the only bad thing that comes to mind with all of this is the fact that seeing friends and family and people we have never met before commenting and sending thanks from North Carolina made all of us so ready to set foot back down on that beautiful Tarheel state!

You ask any one of us what we want the most and you will hear “to be back home in the state we love with the people we love the most!” So from a dusty shop in Iraq and a soldier who truly knows what it means to be missed now, thank you all!

Hoping to see you all soon

Cody Fowler

HHB 1-113TH Field Artillery

30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team

North Carolina Army National Guard

On Leave

2009-08-23T18:17:00.000+03:00

My blogging has decreased dramatically as I am on leave with my family enjoying a vacation at fabulous Disney World. My 15 days of leave are down to 9 so I will make this post even shorter. Enjoy the time you have with your loved ones and make the best of what God has given you. Talk soon.

My Response to the Gratitude Wave

2009-08-23T18:15:00.000+03:00

The following article is copied from http://www.stopandsmellthepeople.com/, a blogsite of Mike Redding, Charlotte area reporter.

August 16, 2009...9:41 am

A Sunday note from Army Chaplain Thomas Watson

[As many of you know, Chaplain Thomas Watson is a Charlottean who is serving in Iraq, offering spiritual support and guidance to our troops through some of the toughest times in their lives. I received an e-mail days ago from Chaplain Watson, talking about how "One Soldier's Death" was being read on the front lines. In that e-mail, Chaplain Watson talked about how the article was providing a missing piece for some of our troops... and even healing. The correspondence that followed launched the Gratitude Wave. This Sunday, a word from the Chaplain as he reflects on what happened next. Straight from the front lines... Chaplain Watson:]

Wow!!

The “gratitude wave” reminded me that there is still much love and support for our troops who place their lives on the line everyday to protect the FREEDOM that we have as Americans. I’m shocked that a single reply on a blogsite would bring such an honorable return. This a great lesson on how encouragement pays off when you “give it up” to others.

The troops I’m with loved the idea of the “gratitude wave” because it reinforced their decision to serve our great nation. I have a saying that I sometimes revert to, “Soldiers are dying while America is at the mall.” Now, I have to stop and give honor to those who really appreciate what we do.

Since Sep. 11, 2001 I had an irritating itch to serve my country once again. During high school in 1985, I joined the NC Army National Guard and served for six years as a 19D, Cav Scout. But I never deployed. Things changed after that and we have been at war. After having served as a churchplanter/pastor in Las Vegas for more than three years the Lord allowed me to begin a journey that would ultimately land me near Baghdad, Iraq, near the birthplace of mankind and the center of thousands of years of theological history. God has given me the ministry of encouragement and that is the tool I use as an Army Chaplain.

I created a blogsite, www.carolinachaplain.blogspot.com where I could send stories home that would encourage the wives and children of our servicemen and women. Our families need to hear the positive events of our tour and not just the blood and tears stories they watch on the news channels. I see the good in what we do and I want to pass it on. If you get a chance stop by and read about the 1-113th Field Artillery Battalion out of Charlotte NC.

For all of you who participated in the “gratitude wave” I say wholeheartedly Thank you and God bless you in a mighty way! Your support keeps us going and keeps us motivated to persevere to the end. For those like Rebecca Baldeosingh who have lost loved ones in this war, my heart goes out to you. I pray that God would bring you peace beyond all understanding. I would like to thank my commander, LTC Mac Grimes, Commander,1-113 FA BN for allowing me to minister to our troops in this way. Thank you sir for desiring the best for our troops. Thank you God for giving me the strength to serve you and others. Thanks Mike and Anna Redding for creating the wave of love. It will not be forgotten. Last but not least, by far I thank my wife Jackie, and my two beautiful kids for allowing me to interrupt their lives so I could go to war in service to my great country.

Chaplain 1LT Thomas Watson

A Healthy Way of Handling Anger

2009-08-13T12:40:00.000+03:00

The cluster of emotions that we deal with in combat affect our body, minds and feelings whether we like it or not. Let's be honest and agree that anger is something all of us need help with at one time or another. After all, we are human and when the adrenaline kicks in it's hard to stop it. Your heartrate goes up, your palms may sweat, your teeth clench and then you have to say "yes sergeant!" or "yes sir!". That's not an easy transition. Let's get a few things straight about anger:
1. Anger is not wrong
2. Anger motivates us to take positive action when we encounter injustice
3. Anger isan emotion that comes from God
4. Anger enacts social reform in areas such as child abuse and slavery

Anger in itself is not the problem, it is uncontrolled anger that destroys relationships with those we love. The purpose of anger management is to learn how to control your responses and turn negative reactions into positive actions. A great Proverb in the Bible says, "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." We should all take notice of this proverb and begin to seek the way of wisdom. I will leave you with a five step process of dealing with anger:
1) Consciously acknowledge to yourself that you are angry
2) Restrain your immediate response- (take a timeout)
3) Locate the focus of your anger- (the real issue behind the anger)
4) Analyze your options- (more than one way to skin a cat)
5) Take constructive action- (let it go or confront in love)

In September I will start briefing soldiers on "A Healthy Way of Handling Anger," so get your notebook ready and let's learn together. Thank you and God bless!

A Healthy Way of Handling Anger is adapted from Gary Chapman, PhD, ANGER:HANDLING A POWERFUL EMOTION IN A HEALTHY WAY, 2007, NORTHFIELD PUBLISHING, CHICAGO.

Telling The Real Story

2009-08-08T15:53:00.000+03:00

As a pastor and chaplain I think it is imperative that the truth of the matter be told so we can learn from our mistakes and cling to the hope that is before us. Mike Redding, a Charlotte reporter has given us a forum for the truth in his blog http://stopandsmellthepeople.com/

Mike has an article dated August 6, 2009 titled "One Soldier's Death" that looks into the life of a family who is grieving the loss of their husband and father who died on June 29, 2009 as a result of an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) or roadside bomb in Iraq. That soldier, SGT Carlos Baldeosingh was one of our own. So many times in the past we have heard of countless soldiers who were killed in battle but we did not stop to grieve or think about the chain of events that would follow that tragic event. Now, because of Mike we have a reason to stop and think, pray and even cry for those who have lost loved ones in battle.

I hope you will take the time to read this article and come to understand how honorable it is to serve our nation in a time of war and also to try to understand why a young mother and three very small girls have to bear this great burden. Go get your box of tissues, you're gonna need them.

Axehandle Chapel

2009-07-20T02:31:00.000+03:00

Lifting up the name of Jesus in Iraq!

Article on Fallen Soldiers from A/120th CAB

2009-07-09T22:14:00.000+03:00

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090705/ARTICLES/907059981

Behind the Camera

2009-06-08T16:06:00.000+03:00

To see a wonderful article written by a North Carolina National Guard photojournalist on the burial of one of our fallen soldiers go to http://photoguyiam.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/a-fallen-soldier/

Moving Forward

2009-06-03T13:24:00.000+03:00

It's quite moving to observe the spiritual momentum taking place here. In the last two weeks we have had soldiers receiving Jesus Christ as savior, increased attendance at chapel services and Bible study, and the integration of a praise team. As the Chaplain I am excited about what's taking place but on a more personal level I am in awe of what God is doing among our soldiers. Many thanks to Sgt Boles and SSG Blasky for leading and developing our praise team which includes guitarists, a keyboardist, and a drummer. Thanks to our many soldiers who are taking care of the spiritual and emotional needs of their battle buddies.

Our soldiers are doing a great job and morale is great but we do miss our loved ones. Please don't forget to write often and remember us in your prayers. Also, forward our address to your churches, civic organizations, etc. and ask that they donate care packages to give to soldiers. Please contact me at thomas.lee.watson@us.army.mil if you have any questions. God Bless and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Serving God and Country!
Chaplain Watson

Losing Our Own

2009-05-28T13:27:00.000+03:00

On 21May09, we lost three of our soldiers to a suicide bomber near Doura, Iraq. The grieving has been slow as details of this tragic event have filtered down over the past several days. Lt Leevi Barnard, a 1-113th soldier until just a few months ago was among the casualties. This loss has been a shock as we had been in country only a few days. It is a reminder of why we are here and that insurgents are still all around us.
We take comfort in knowing that the same divine person, Jesus, that grieved over the loss of his loved one, Lazarus, also grieves with us. This loss has strenthened us as a battalion and as a team. We want our loved ones to know that we are doing well in spite of what has happened and ask for their prayers for continued strength and safety as we protect the freedom that has always come with a price.
Thank you families and supporters for being there for us and giving us the encouragement to continue the mission. God bless!

Chaplain's Wish List

2008-11-02T23:56:00.001+03:00

Soldier Needs-
*Spiritual movies/dvds such as Fireproof, etc.
*LCD Projector
*Books: CD, MP3 or DVD format
     The Love Dare, by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick
     Every Woman's Battle:Discovering God's Plan for Sexual and Emotional Fulfillment, by
          Shannon Ethridge
     Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage To Make Us More Holy Than to Make Us
            Happy, by Gary L. Thomas
     The Book of Romance: What Solomon Says about Love, Sex and Intimacy, by Tommy Nelson
     Everyman's Battle: Winning the War On Sexual Purity One Victory at a Time, by Stephen
          Arterburn and Fred Stoeker

Please respond to tommybonz@gmail.com to coordinate the shipment of one or more of these items.

History of the 30th HBCT

2008-10-09T23:18:00.000+03:00

30th Enhanced Heavy Separate Brigade (eHSB) (Mech) "Old Hickory"
The 30th eHSB, headquartered in Clinton, is the largest brigade in the North Carolina Army National Guard. The brigade has three maneuver battalions, two infantry and one armor. The brigade also has a field artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, a support battalion, a cavalry troop, a military intelligence company, an air defense battery and a brigade headquarters and headquarters company.
The 30th eHSB is one of fifteen designated enhanced brigades with the mission of mobilizing and deploying for combat within 90 days notice. The brigade is also part of the 24th Integrated Division in Fort Riley, Kansas. The 24th ID is led by an active duty division headquarters and staff, and consists of three National Guard enhanced brigades.
The unit also has a training associate relationship with the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized).
The brigade has one battalion of M-1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and two battalions of M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The 1st Bn, 113th Field Artillery made preparations in 1999 to transition to the Paladin (155 SP) artillery system.
The brigade conducted gunnery at annual training in 1999 utilizing Fort Pickett, Va and Fort Bragg, NC. The brigade and battalion staffs conducted a warfighter exercise. The brigade received a notification of training, tasking the 1st Bn, 113th Field Artillery to provide a target acquisition battery to the Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The mission was cancelled, just weeks before scheduled deployment.
The "Old Hickory" Brigade has a federal mission much like its active Army counterpart and has received the responsibility of supporting NATO forces since 1982. The brigade has successfully accomplished task force size overseas deployments in 1983, 1986, 1988, and 1992.
The 30th Heavy Separate Brigade also has a state mission and has been called upon several times to help support the citizens of North Carolina during time of hurricanes, tornadoes, and forest fires.
On 5 June 1999, during an activation ceremony at Fort Riley, Kansas, the 30th Heavy Separate Brigade became part of the 24th Infantry Division under the new active/reserve component integrated division concept.
The 2000-2001 six-month rotation of U.S. soldiers in Bosnia was the first time that National Guard troops have patrolled the countryside in vehicles armed with automatic weapons to ensure that the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords are not violated. Although National Guard soldiers have been part of the NATO peacekeeping force from the start, presence patrols in the American sector were conducted by active Army troops until last fall. Even when the Texas Army Guard's 49th Armored Division ran the operation in the spring and summer of 2000, the line units were active Army. One hundred seventy-six infantry and armor Guard soldiers from North Carolina's enhanced 30th Infantry Brigade and 170 infantry soldiers from Oklahoma's 45th Infantry Brigade were the first to pull patrol duty with active Army soldiers. After weeks of intense training back home they joined the rotation commanded by the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Ga.
Hickory Sting - 02 is an exercise conducted in July 2002 at Fort Riley, Kansas to enable the 30th eSB the opportunity to conduct a real world deployment and exercise to facilitate success at their National Training Center rotation in FY03. The brigade planned and executed many of the same missions they will encounter at the National Training Center. The 24th Infantry Division hosted the exercise and conducted it in the same manner it does for it's AC units stationed on Fort Riley. The Commanding General of the 24th Infantry Division (Mech) was committed to making the exercise the most realistic and challenging training the 30th eSB has conducted to date.
The soldiers of today's "Old Hickory" Brigade wear their unit patch with pride. This pride comes from the distinguished history of the 30th and from knowing that they are some of the best trained and equipped soldiers in the world.
Beginning the week of May 9, the Brigade will load more than 1,300 pieces of equipment including M1A1s, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, trucks and other equipment on more than 500 rail cars on eight trains bound for Ft. Irwin from Fayetteville's Ft. Bragg. The main body of soldiers will go to California at the end of the month.
On May 18, 2003 North Carolina soldiers have begun unloading trains carrying the tanks, trucks and other vehicles of the 30th Brigade Combat Team. M1A1s, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other armored vehicles of the 30th Brigade Combat Team
On May 20, 2003 hundreds of soldiers have begun arriving at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif., as they prepare the way for the main body of the 30th Brigade Combat Team which will arrive later this month.
More than 4,500 soldiers and airmen of the North Carolina National Guard used California's Mojave Desert to train for war starting May 31, 2003. They went there for the largest battle training exercises ever held by Tarheel guardsmen during a three-week deployment to the National Training Center (NTC) at Ft. Irwin.
The Army announced on July 26, 2003 that it had alerted two U.S. Army National Guard Enhanced Separate Brigades that may participate in the Army unit rotation plan for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The units are the 30th Infantry Brigade from North Carolina and the 39th Infantry Brigade from Arkansas. The 30th Infantry Brigade would be augmented with an infantry battalion from the 27th Infantry Brigade of New York. This deployment would last up to one year from mobilization to demobilization. These National Guard units would provide capabilities necessary to perform the on going mission in Iraq.
In February 2004, the Brigade began its deployment to Iraq prepared to spend one year "boots on the ground" there.
In addition to the units from West Virginia and Illinois, which are normally part of the Brigade, soldiers from several other states were added to the unit for this deployment. They are the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry from New York; Company B of the 279th Signal Battalion from Alabama; Company C of the 1st Battalion, 107th Armor from Ohio; Company B, 451st Civil Affairs Battalion from Texas; Detachment 1495, 324th Psychological Operations Company from California; and soldiers, but not the entire unit, from the 682nd Engineer Battalion from Minnesota.
In all, nearly 5,000 soldiers made up the Brigade at the time of its deployment.
While deployed to Iraq, the unit disbursed the Northeastern Iraq sector where it was stationed with more than $5.7 million for security, education and water-sewer treatment projects. The 30th BCT also undertook 393 improvement projects, including the refurbishment of schools, mosques and the construction of hospitals.
30th Infantry Division
The 30th Infantry Division was created 18 July 1917 shortly after the United States became a belligerent in World War I. Although the division was new, many of it's components had long and proud histories going back in some cases to revolutionary days, in others to the Civil War and the brief war of 1898 with Spain. The troops comprising the 30th were state militia and National Guard units of Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, most of which had recently seen active duty on the Mexican border.
The 30th was first assembled as a division on 3 August 1917 when it went into training at Camp Sevier, South Carolina. From the outset, the 30th was known as the "Old Hickory" Division in honor of Major General Andrew Jackson (1767-1845). The division shoulder patch contains a blue H within a blue O on a red background with the Roman numeral XXX across the crossbar of the H, symbolizing "Old Hickory" and the 30th Division.
The 30th completed training at Camp Sevier on 1 May 1918 and sailed to England where it was assigned to the British Armies in northern France for training in trench warfare. The 30th entered combat on 9 July 1918 and during the next four months compiled an outstanding combat record; its most notable achievement being the cracking of the Hindenburg Line.
Following World War I and its return to the United States, the 30th was deactivated. In 1925 the War Department reactivated the 30th as a National Guard division, with troops from Georgia added to the original components. From 1925 until 1940 the history of the 30th was the usual one of annual summer encampments and peacetime maneuvers. In September 1940 the 30th was called to full-time active duty and its ranks filled to war strength by volunteers.
The 30th was not committed to combat action until 10 June 1944; however the early days of World War II were eventful ones. During the spring of 1942, the 30th was reorganized from an old-style into a triangular division of three infantry regiments, four battalions of field artillery, and divisional troops. During the times of reorganization, the 30th contributed a sizeable number of cadremen to assist in the activation of other divisions, furnished instructors for service schools, furnished staff officers for higher headquarters, activated tank destroyer battalions, and sent approximately fifteen hundred men to Officer Candidate School(OCS). On 12 February 1944, the 30th embarked from Boston and reached England 10 days later.
During its first few months in England, the 30th prepared for the ultimate reason for its existence - combat. As the spring wore on, it became obvious the long-heralded invasion of Europe was near. In early June the 30th embarked for the wars.
On June 15th an improved combat team with the 120th Infantry as a nucleus, launched an attack in the vicinity of Isigny in the direction of the Vire River. For the first time, the men of "Old Hickory" had encountered the Wehrmacht and the baffling hedgerows of Normandy. On 7 July 1944 the 30th Division engaged in its first offensive action - its objective the Vire River crossing in Normandy. The 30th sustained heavy losses - 3200 officers enlisted men killed, wounded, or missing in action. The 3rd Platoon, Company B, 105th Engineer Battalion earned a Presidential Unit Citation for laying and maintaining a bridge under heavy and continuous enemy fire. From 24 July until 2 August the 30th Division toiled through the deep lanes and hedgerows of Normandy. This battle - the St. Lo breakthrough - was one of the most publicized battles of the entire war.
Following the St. Lo breakthrough, the 30th was withdrawn and assigned to a quiet sector, but had hardly gotten into position when it was struck by a German counter-offensive designed to upset the allied thrust into France. The 30th quickly organized defensive positions and for six agonizing days fought off the best the Wehrmacht had. It was the failure of this offensive that convinced the German general staff that the battle for France was lost. From 2 October until 22 October the 30th was instrumental in the encirclement of Aachen and in exploiting the gap made in the Siegfried Line by allied forces. The 30th played a vital role in the assault of the Siegfried Line.
From 16 November until 30 November the 30th distinguished itself in the allied armies drive into Germany as far as the river Roer. By this time the German commentators were beginning to refer to the "Old Hickory" Division as the "Roosevelt SS", a very high compliment since the SS Division was the elite of the German Army.
From 18 December until 25 December, the 30th contributed greatly to the halting of the German Ardennes offensive, better known as the Battle of the Bulge. By holding fast to the northern shoulder of the German salient at Malmady, Belgium, and by methodically chewing up one of the best German Divisions - the 1st Panzer SS - the 30th contributed materially to halting the final German attempt to break through the allied lines. From 13 January 1945 until 27 January 1945, the 30th participated in the St. Vith counter-offensive which drove the Germans from their Ardennes salient restored the lines to their mid-December 1945 position.
By this time the beginning of the end was evident. The once powerful Wehrmacht was beginning to falter. During the Roer Offensive (25 February - 6 March), the 30th met stiff resistance while negotiating a difficult crossing of the River Rhine. From 1 to 13 April the 30th sped across central Germany, meeting only sporadic resistance. The final episode was the reduction and occupation of the ancient city of Magdeburg on the Elbe. Here the 30th was located on VE Day - 8 May 1945.
On the 12th and 16th of August 1945, the 30th sailed for the United States. Orders for deactivation were received at Fort Jackson, SC on 16 October, and the process was completed by 25 November 1945.
The 30th Infantry Division was reorganized as part of the National Guard. The organization continued until 28 October 1954 when the 30th was again reorganized with the entire division located in North Carolina.
In January 1968 the Division became the 30th Infantry division (Mechanized) and was divided among the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The division was deactivated in 1973 and three separate infantry brigades (mechanized) were formed. The North Carolina brigade retained the lineage of the division named "Old Hickory" after President Andrew Jackson.