I first joined the Army as an infantryman three days after I turned 18. I spent seven years in the Army. During that time, I had the fortune to be stationed in Bauholder, Germany, Ft. Hood, Texas, and Vicenza, Italy. Of course, the best part of the seven years was my three years in Vicenza. That is where I got to exit aircraft while they were still in mid-flight. It is also where I met some life-long friends. And not only did I exit the door, but I also exited the Army.
Fast forward 13 years, add one wife, one daughter and one huge calling from God and I have again enlisted in the Army. I’ll tell more about the family in a different post, but for now I’ll introduce them so you know the cast of characters. Bride is of course my wife and Bug is our daughter.
Let me say now, that my usual writing style tends to be humorous, but this introduction just doesn’t lend itself to too much humor.
So how do we find ourselves joining the Army again? Great question, I’m glad you asked.
About eight months ago, I finished reading a book by John Eldridge titled “Wild at Heart” for the second time. After that I “encouraged” Bride to read it as well, in order to help her to understand why men are the way they are and more specifically why I am who and how I am. About the same time, I jokingly also said that I only had a few more months that I could join the Army again. (I thought I was about to hit the age limit. Turns out I was WAY off.) Well after reading the book and having some intimate conversations with God, Bride came back to me and said, “I think you are supposed to join the Army again.” My first reaction was giddiness. I thought “YES!!!!” Then of course I had to be sober about this. This isn’t just about me going off and playing soldier, this is my family and I have to take care of them. So, I immediately asked God to take away the giddiness and replace it with a sense of peace and calm, an understanding that this is where He was calling us. Over the next couple of days, He did just that.
Bride and I sat and talked in-depth about this new path that He was calling us on. We discussed the various things that have happened during our marriage that have helped to grow us stronger as a couple. We even tried to get God to change His mind and send us to Florida to work in a dive shop, as that is our dream. However, He made it clear to us that this is the path He had for us. So, I told her that I would take six months and get in shape. I had to lose some weight, get stronger, and improve my PT.
Now it is seven months later, and I have signed the paperwork to become a Chemical Operations Specialist. Of course, as a prior service person, I have NO idea where I’m going to be stationed, and with that job I could go to just about any unit in the Army.
This seems like a good place to stop for now. On my next post I’ll write about the actual process of joining the Army.
For now, just remember this: a sucking chest wound is just nature’s way of telling you to slow down.