A Reflection of Society

So what exactly are we to make of the events of last weekend? I thought about posting my thoughts earlier to the small number of you who read these entries, but I wanted to wait and not jump to conclusions. It still seems a bit early to try and figure out what happened to cause a 38 year-old career soldier to commit such a horrible act. If I were to listen solely to the TV, I’d come away with the impression that he was suffering from acute PTSD due to TBI (a concussion is classified TBI and we don’t claim PTSD for every football player who takes a violent hit resulting in a concussion) and that is what made him snap and murder civilians. Reading articles in newspapers shows a bit more complicated and nuanced picture of what happened. Regardless, we won’t know the truth until a trial and even then we will ponder the unanswered questions that aren’t discussed. So, I’m not looking to figure out what happened in this solitary case. I think there is a larger issue at play that affects not only this particular Staff Sergeant, nor the military in general. There is a larger issue that affects our entire culture and it is one I don’t foresee any media from investigating: a lack of training in our lives of how to make ethical decisions.

Back in the submarine days, anytime some unexpected event occurred we got all the key players around and conducted a critique. I have experienced my fair share of critiques as both the subject of the gathering as well as a neutral observer there to write down the facts and find the root causes. The goal is to find the points that led to the failure and then discuss ways we could prevent it from happening again. Sometimes, there are things you can’t foretell and you are just left holding the bag and have to figure out the recovery. But many times there are distinct and multiple errors that led to the particular gathering with the Commanding Officer and outside agencies offering assistance and possibly punishment. Undoubtedly, there is an investigation in Afghanistan doing similar things right now asking many questions that relate to the specific events leading to a horrific act early one morning. And that is necessary and needed for closure with his unit.

But, I think there is a larger root cause at play here, and PTSD is just a symptom not a cause. I can probably safely assume that everyone who has deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq has suffered some form of combat stress. The overwhelming majority come back, decompress and that is it. A very small number come back and have trouble reintegrating with their families and society in general. We work hard to identify them and get them the treatment they need. Most of the time, it involves talking about what they went through and assuring them that it’s normal to think things are a bit bizarre in the US compared to the life they lived for 7-13 months in country. Some of those who can’t readjust just can’t get back in the swing of things easily so we need to get them specialized treatment because they can’t function as our society expects. If this Staff Sergeant couldn’t function and make decisions he most likely would never have deployed in the first place. So while the PTSD argument is compelling and plays well with the press, I think it is a red herring (there is a chance he saw something and just snapped, but I don’t get that kind of vibe from what I have been reading).

He made terrible decisions with horrific results. I would venture the amount of time he spent learning about ethical decision-making was miniscule at best. Most of the Marines I encounter don’t come from any kind of background that teaches ethics at all. And no, it doesn’t require a religious background to study ethics (though many people will try and convince you of that, probably a reason why we don’t teach ethics in public schools). Many come to the military to get a sense of order in a chaotic life where ethics is the last thing in their minds. We send them to boot camp and some specialized schooling where ethics is presented as this ethereal concept of black and white decisions based on the law of armed conflict and decisions of right and wrong. Then we take these kids who have no real idea of their ethical framework and what drives their decisions and put them in combat, a place where ethics can rapidly become murky for the best trained and informed individuals. You see and hear about things that rattle your worldview and how you order your life. If that is shaky to start, things can rapidly deteriorate.

Ethics isn’t just right and wrong choices (in the military we have to follow the Geneva Conventions, etc.) it’s about our decision-making ability. The way I reason through a murky situation says a lot about the ethical framework under which I operate and my framework is probably different than yours. Knowing how we think and reason is important not only for me, but also for my commander. If I know how I will approach and ethical issue and talk about it with those in my immediate chain of command through open discussion of case studies they know in which situations I may struggle ethically. Some ethical frameworks (relativism) don’t work in a military environment and if an individual won’t refocus their framework then maybe we need to send them on their way.

But, we don’t want to “force” a belief system on people if they work for the government. Our society is libertarian by nature (i.e. I’ll do what I want as long as it doesn’t infringe on another’s rights) and we feel that moral and ethical standards may cross that line. I disagree. In the military (and I would argue for society as a whole), we need moral and ethical boundaries to function properly. When recruits arrive without understanding what comprises ethics and how to reason through decisions fully we are starting them out at a disadvantage. So what can we do?

This is only one approach and probably isn’t anywhere near the right one. In our battalion we talked with every Non-Commissioned Officer and higher in rank about ethical decisions and how to talk about ethics with their Marines and sailors. We described many types of ethical frameworks and let them discover which one they operated under. We talked about the strengths and weaknesses of each. We also talked about how the Geneva Conventions came into being as well as the Law of Armed Conflict and international expectations. We also discussed why the US follows a certain standard of behavior in combat with groups who seem to not follow the rules of war. We let them disagree. We let them vent about it before we got into country. We agreed that it isn’t “fair” but it is what they signed up for and if they had a serious problem with it to come see me. We then showed some movie clips and talked about the ethical ramifications of each as a guide of how to discuss ethics with their Marines. We talked about how they have multiple opportunities each week to bring ethical discussions into their work. Finally, we gave each NCO access to dozens of case studies if they ever needed material to get a discussion started. Most importantly we didn’t make it a forced program and just told them we expected this from small unit leaders and why it would help them in the long run. From every indication, it worked in combat and we’ll use it again before the next deployment and I’ll take the program with me for every command I serve as well as any churches I serve upon my retirement.

I could be wrong on this whole thing, but I just think the media is looking for a quick surface answer because they are scared and finding out their complicity in what happened last weekend. If we are truly honest with ourselves we will see our faces in the mirror as we realize that ethics is in everything we do and we have placed learning about such an important thing in the background or just expect the military to teach a life-long skill in a few weeks of boot camp. It takes a great deal of time and effort to prepare yourself for the short moments where you have to make rapid ethical decisions (and yes, it does happen in the civilian world as well especially in school where cheating is on the rise). And if you haven’t explored where you stand you will rapidly learn your ethical foundation is made out of sand in the face of a tsunami.

If you have other ideas to teach ethics, drop me a line and let me know your ideas. As always if you have comments, feel free to discuss here on this page.

A Humor Break

WARNING: There is some bad language in here. If you don't like people swearing don't watch.

However, if you want a good laugh and things people say to vets that annoys them to no end, watch and enjoy. This has gone viral over the last few days and I couldn't resist.

Uncomfortable with Vets

I know it has been a long time since the last post, but I took some much needed time off work after the deployment and am now getting back into the swing of things. Work has returned with a vengeance, but is starting to settle down a bit and I hope to post at least every other week.

One thing I was asked to do at the end of last month was to speak to my Presbytery (they are the governing body of me as a minister) about what I do as a chaplain, how a chaplain ministers in combat and how churches can help out chaplains. I think this blog has covered the first two items over the last few months, mostly in order to provide a glimpse of life in Afghanistan to the families of 1/9, but I haven't really talked about the last item. Reflecting on the topic before the talk, I realized that chaplains really need to take the lead in speaking out on how to care for our service members who are deployed, combat or not. We have a unique inside angle on the spiritual needs of service members and sometimes we allow ourselves to stay fairly isolated from the larger faith community to which we belong. I realized that at times I also fall into this category and have forced myself to keep that from happening.

There is a distinct divide between those who serve and those who don't. I don't hold myself in greater esteem because I serve a unique congregation, but I think faith communities would do a better job supporting chaplains and their "flock" if they knew what we did and if we actually told them what support we needed. Sure, I could just rely on the military programs for helping my Marines and sailors, but I honestly believe that faith communities (regardless of their theology or beliefs) need to take a larger role in caring for those who have served.

Most congregations I have attended during my years on active duty talk about serving the military. But, they do so through care packages and prayer. I'm not discounting the need for these things. Personally, I am convinced the prayers of many people across the country played a role in my entire battalion making it home alive and with all their limbs. We had many close calls that I could never explain why those guys are still here with me today except through some divine plan I don't understand and probably never will. And care packages are vital for morale as they serve as tangible evidence they are not forgotten. Opening those boxes brings many smiles thousands of miles away. I would just ask churches to contact the receiving unit before sending something. When you send without knowing the needs, some stuff may end up in the burn pit.

In reflecting on the idea of what churches can do for those who serve in the military (and this would probably hold true for other groups who avoid church) is to allow themselves to feel uncomfortable. Uncomfortable sitting beside someone who may have killed in combat. Combat those in the congregation send into combat by the way. A congregation who is willing to sit with and come alongside that individual as they work out what they saw and did in combat. A congregation willing to enter into the murky and uncomfortable world of ethics in combat, what some have called "ethical warriors" or "noble warriors." A congregation that will listen in love and not judge them because they are in the military. Some may come seeking repentance for what they have seen and done. Some may say they have done nothing wrong. Both of them should be welcomed with open arms into our congregations. We say no sin is too large for God, we need to live that out. These conversations are messy, painful, uncomfortable, unruly. But they are beautiful, healing, at times joyful. I know as I have them on a regular basis and many of those conversations don't deal with combat related issues. I encounter more service members damaged from other aspects of society than their deployment to Afghanistan. Even an atheist in my battalion recognizes the need for somewhere for his young Marines to have these conversations.

Without a healthy and supportive environment to work through this discomfort, my Marines and sailors will seek unhealthy ways to navigate the issues. Chaplains are only in their lives for a short amount of time. I have only been in 1/9 for 16 months and almost half of them will be in other units by April. Churches, synagogues, mosques, etc can offer a stable long-term presence in the lives of my service members. Especially if a denomination embraces this call and no matter where they are stationed they can turn to a specific faith group for a loving community to be there if they are needed. If you are reading this and a member of a faith community I challenge you to go beyond prayer and care packages and invite your vets to discuss what needs they have.

I am more than willing to discuss this with anyone who wants to explore ways to provide such a community, regardless of your faith preference. Just drop me a line or discuss freely in the comments.

What I Will Miss About Afghanistan

I originally planned to sit down and provide the list of things that made Afghanistan a place to visit and what won't ever leave my memory soon after the last post. However, work got busy and I haven't forced myself to sit down and provide the 2nd half of the first post. So here goes:

1) The People: The majority of Afghans I met are amazing people doing their best to survive and really just want people to leave them alone. They are resilient and will thrive if given the chance. It is my prayer that the sliver of freedom they glimpse through our work takes hold and they run with it and design a way of life that works for them while allowing their natural gifts to flourish. I have many memories of conversations over tea with smiles as well as meeting the children when out and about.

2) Children: Regardless of where you go, kids will always be kids. They are the same everywhere. It was so much easier to communicate with them despite the language differences because you just knew what they wanted. They were rarely shy about coming up and interacting with us and their presence really helped most of the guys realize why they were sent 7000 miles from home.

3) The Food: I ate some of the most amazing food I have tasted overseas. While the meals were always pretty much the same of chicken, rice, bread and fruit it was always sumptuous. The spice they use for the chicken is wonderful and the bread is highly sought after with many Marines buying that whenever they had the chance. And the fruit convinced me that local, organic produce is the way to live. The produce came from close by and was grown with natural fertilizer with a taste much better than what I usually obtain in a store.

4) The Marines: Serving as a chaplain in a combat zone is a special honor and I am glad to have been given that responsibility. It was a once in a lifetime chance to really be with the infantry. I can't fully describe the respect and love I have for my Marines and sailors and they will always hold a special place in my heart. They endured so much for each other and for people they didn't really know and I hope the experience changed them in a positive way as much as myself.

There are many other things I will miss, but I don't want to ramble on and on. Plus, I have to work on a presentation for my Presbytery for next weekend. I get to speak to church leaders about what chaplains do and how they can assist us as we minister to service members.

What I Won't Miss About Afghanistan

So as I can now do some reflection on the last 7 months, I can say there are definitely things I won't miss about being in Afghanistan (in no particular order):

1) Gravel: The military puts this on almost every square inch of our positions and it makes walking difficult. I am so glad to walk on solid ground that doesn't move with each step I make. I never realized how much I appreciated walking on grass or concrete. This also makes running difficult and I had to reduce the frequency of my running outside due to the gravel and how it was tearing up my feet. It felt so good to run on the road the other day.

2) Military Plane Travel: It just sucks. Waiting at least 6 hours in a terminal for a crowded flight either on a C-17 or a run down charter plane. The wait is painful and for my flights in and out of the US on old charter planes where we had less room than a commercial airline made the wait even more depressing. Some guys get to fly back on commercial name brand carriers, but I didn't have that luxury this time. I think it will be a long time before I complain about commercial air travel as I now know just how bad a flight can get.

3) Dust: Not sand but dust as fine as baby powder. It is called "moon dust" by the military because of its consistency. A slight wind and it gets everywhere and then all travel shuts down. You just can't get and stay clean out there. I have a new idea of what dirty really is and missing a shower for a while doesn't bother me anymore.

4) The Military Industrial Complex: While I didn't reside on one of the large bases, it was completely disgusting to see what all our tax money pays for in country. Millions upon millions of dollars for gravel that isn't really necessary. Coffee shops at the large bases. In a combat zone. Thousands of civilians from odd countries to maintain all the larger positions and do things such as cleaning that the Marines and sailors can do on their own just like at the smaller positions. Chow halls that aren't necessary. We blow so much money on things that aren't necessary in combat. In a recession this is just unacceptable, especially when we could use that money for projects in the country. It takes so much pain and frustration to approve a road project, unless you want to pave some road at a large base. And I never went to the really large places such as Bagram, Leatherneck or Kabul. I can't imagine how my head would have spun there.

Just a few things I won't miss about Afghanistan. I'll post on what I miss and I guess that list might be a bit larger as it was a great experience overall.

Home Sweet Home

We are all finally back in NC. I arrived at Cherry Point at 0230 on Christmas morning and then it took 5 hours to get the bags unloaded, drive to Camp Lejeune and then get all the weapons turned in before we met the families and everyone else waiting for us at 0730. It was a great Christmas present for us all and I am glad to be back.

I went into work today to drop some stuff off and check in. Tomorrow thing start back up with a regular schedule. I kind of like the Navy way of ending a deployment. You pull in and then go on leave as soon as everything is settled with the return. The Marines do it a bit differently. I got one day off and then some today as I didn't go in until the afternoon, but I still will have the rest of the week as work days and then after the new year we have more days of classes and stuff and the battalion doesn't get its leave block until January 11th. Makes it feel less like a deployment and more like a long field operation.

But, the most important thing about our return. EVERYONE MADE IT HOME! No KIA during the deployment and I find that impressive with all the fire fights and IEDs we encountered in 7 months. That speaks volumes to the Marines and their leaders over the deployment. We had many close calls but everyone made it back alive and no one lost any limbs. There are still some Marines in the hospital due to injuries, but again they all came back in one piece. Thanks to all who prayed for 1/9 the last few months.

Goodbye Geronimo

So I am writing this from Camp Dwyer. I left FOB Geronimo late last night/early this morning when the helicopter came in from the darkness to take us away from our home for the last seven months. It was a bittersweet moment as I have really enjoyed my time deployed with an amazing group of Marines and sailors. I know that this will probably be the one and only time I get to deploy in combat with an infantry battalion and will truly miss the experience. It is one that has shaped me and my ministry for the rest of my life. I could fill many posts and pages reflecting on the deployment and the last 14 months with the Marines and sailors of 1/9.

Now I get to stay here at Camp Dwyer and give them their last required brief before leaving Afghanistan. It is nice to spend the last few minutes with them at the air terminal here as they are full of smiles at the prospect of hitching a ride to Manas (0n what they call a "Freedom Bird") and then onto the US when their next plane shows up. Today was the overwhelming majority of H&S company who are now at Manas. I look forward to seeing the others as they flow into and out of Dwyer and am personally starting to realize this is all ending in the rapid future (though I don't think it will fully hit me until I am in the line on the tarmac for the flight out of here).

Hopefully I will post some more before I leave as I have a lot of dead time right now, which is a new experience. By the time I finally get back to NC I will have been in the field for a total of right around 300 days this calendar year. I hope I find some hobbies to fill a the time I have coming up. I know there is some travel, including a trip to Whistler, in my future but it will seem odd to have 30+ days of a light work load.

For the 1/9 families, your Marines and sailors have done an amazing job out here and you have every right to beam with pride for their work. This deployment has affected each of them (in a positive way I hope) and I think they will be better for the experience. I do know they are eagerly looking forward to getting home and getting some much deserved rest.