Jason was a twelve-year veteran noncommissioned officer of the reserve component when he received word that his unit was activated. As a father, I was concerned for his safety. He’s a good kid. I know the amount of training that a reservist goes through. I knew that he would be seeing things in battle that he could not even dream of. I wondered if he would come home safely. As an admiral, I was also concerned about what our actual mission was there. These were questions that many of my colleagues at senior levels had. Is this a just cause? If so what is the strategic plan? Now it was more personal. What is the impact going to be on my kid and all the other kids serving over there? I had the personal emotions of a father as well as the emotions of an admiral, and sergeant, who has also been in combat; who understood how difficult war is.
I gave Jason many words of advice. The thing I stressed most was not to ever feel complacent or safe in a combat zone. Always be aware, looking around. When you’re out on patrol or on a convoy, when things look good, and when it’s quiet you always have to be thinking ahead. You have to be asking yourself what would happen if we got hit. What is the immediate action drill for a near ambush or a far ambush? You don’t have time to think and react. You do it instinctively. I gave him a mini tutorial in combat. I didn’t want to scare him. But I wanted to raise his awareness. It was one way I tried to prepare my son for war.
Having been a person who has dealt with emergencies it takes a lot to push my buttons. Whether being an operator, lifeguard, trauma nurse, or surgeon, emergencies have been a part of life. This was different. This time it was my son. I knew where he was. I would hear the battle reports from the day, and I would wonder how he was doing. Every few days we got a reassuring satellite call or an email that would say everything was fine. Having been in combat myself, you know about its uncertainty. The reality is that there is no certainty until that plane lands on U.S. soil and you’re okay. As it got closer to his return you start thinking, I hope it’s not my kid that something happens to a week before coming home.
May we wholeheartedly love, obey, and serve you, Lord, in our youth and as we get older. May we never become half-hearted in our loyalty to you, God.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
October 22
LIBERATING THE OPPRESSED
My experience in special operations is much like many who are in combat now. You see the worse the world has to offer. When you see that, your faith is often challenged. You ask questions like, “Why did this happen? Why are all these children dead? Why are there suicide bombers?” All of us have those questions. With our mantra being to liberate the oppressed, you feel a sense of responsibility to make things better for people. We euphemistically call that doing the Lord’s work. We are there to do what’s right, just, moral and ethical.
Now that I was in an administration that set policy, my conflict was trying to align the role of liberator with the political challenges of being in a foreign country. Individually we are there for the right reason. When you’re older and have been around long enough to reflect, you understand at some level we are simply the extension of political policy for our nation. That is where faith comes into, “Would God put me here if it wasn’t right?”
“Freedom” is a word that conjures up a lot of images for us. For most of us it means freedom to worship, to go to school, to travel, to get an education. It means freedom to pursue life and to maximize your potential to benefit society. Those are things Iraqis have little knowledge of. Bringing freedom to others is a valiant struggle but it’s also quite complicated especially with the political struggles these countries face. From a soldier’s standpoint you feel a sense of righteousness, a moral and ethical drive that you’re there for the right reason. When you get to the politics, it makes it more convoluted.
Freedom is a desired goal for most people. It’s defined differently throughout the world. We need to fully understand the cultures that we’re embedding ourselves in. Our vision of freedom is not always shared by other cultures.
Dear God, thank you that you so love the world. You don’t desire any to perish. Instead, you want all to come to repentance. Please save men and women, youth and children from every continent, nation, and people group. We pray this for your eternal glory, honor, and praise.
“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3–4)
October 23
FAMILIES AT HOME
I’m involved in a number of projects with the Department of Defense focusing on veterans and their families. Military families have just as much stress as the combatants. They worry everyday about the health and safety of their loved ones. They worry about their children not having mentors, leaders, fathers or mothers in some cases. They worry about keeping the family running. The family is very important. Soldiers in theater are worried about the environment their families are in. Are they safe and secure? Are their physical and emotional needs being taken care of?
It’s a two-way street. When the family is cared for, the operator is able to stay more focused on the mission. Also, the family needs to feel that their loved one had the best training and is equipped with the best equipment to keep as safe as possible. This allows them to feel less apprehensive about their loved one being in combat.
My advice to families is to spend time before the deployment period and talk through all the issues. Talk about combat. How do we tell the children? How do we reassure them? How do we relate to one another over the next year? Who is going to watch over the family while I’m gone? How can I support you while I’m gone? These are very difficult discussions, but they must take place. Soldiers must be mindful that their families will worry about what can happen. Their minds are filled with what if scenarios, “what if you don’t come home?”
These issues cannot be ignored. The families that remain at home also must have a support network. They need to be connected to their community. The community easily recognizes a uniform, but it does not always recognize the family with a loved one deployed. It is important to share that burden with others. It is imperative if the soldier is to focus on the mission abroad.
Dear Lord, please give me opportunities to share your love with those who have a loved one deployed overseas. May I bless them as you have blessed me, and may you draw each one closer to yourself, God.
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” (Colossians 4:5)
October 24
