Chaplain Snack Time

Due to the generosity of care packages from people I know and those whom I do not, I got to hand out candy and snacks to sailors around the ship. I told them all that it was “Chaplain snack time.” We are all tired, hot and busy. Their smiles were such a reward. I may need to institute this on a more consistent basis.

God Willing, the future chaplains are already amazing

I have been working with two students who, God Willing, will become Navy chaplains when they are ordained from JTS. They have been asking me questions about how I handle different aspects of chaplaincy, other religions, being Jewish on a ship… and so these two amazing people put together a care package that specifically included stuff for my Muslim sailor. 

They sent him Halal jerky.

Because they cared.

Because they understood that being an observant minority is hard everywhere, and especially on a ship.

'They are the embodiment of what every chaplain should strive to be – one who cares for everyone, period.

FWWD – fresh water wash down

Consistently, throughout the deployment, we use fresh water to wash off the salt deposits on the exterior of the ship. Basically, we do a car wash for the ship. I should have worn civvies, rather than my coveralls. Just like a car wash, you get wet. But it was a great time to spend with my sailors.

The blessing of a Liturgical tradition

This past week, when Shabbat came, I felt at peace. I closed the Siddur (prayer book) and davened (prayed) with more appreciation for our liturgy than I have ever had before. I watched the sun set from the 4^th level deck and recited the words I knew by heart. I was comforted by the words I know so well. 

The difference is, that each night I write evening, and I have to be creative. Each night, I have to come up with something new and meaningful … something.

Sometimes I struggle to come up with a prayer. The ideas do not always flow so smoothly.

But Shabbat came and I did not need to create or write. My mind rested as I recited the words we have be reciting for generations.

Post Yokosuka - Getting back into the rhythm

We pulled in to Yokosuka for a second port visit, and though it was a working port, I got to go to my family’s home every night we were there. For three nights, I slept on a bed that did not rock, the phone did not ring at all hours, and chains were not being dragged across the deck due to late hour flight ops. 

I got to shower in a shower I did not share with 14 other women, shave in the shower without falling over, without having to wear shower shoes, that did not rock back and forth, and that drained normally.

I got to sit with my family at dinner and talk late into the night. I was loved and supported.

And then we went back on deployment. It was harder than I thought to get back into the rhythm. 

Reinlistment: Not on the Main Mast (Semper Gumbi)

It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to reenlist a sailor. So, having only been on the ship for 10 months, I was incredibly honored to have HT2 Abercrombie ask me to reenlist him. 

Though we were supposed to do it on the yard arm (the top of the main mast), the weather did not cooperate, and we completed the reenlistment in the pilot house. 

BZ Abercrombie! You are the embodiment of what the Navy standard for all sailors should be.

First Qual: ALOFT

In the military, you work to get qualified in your area of expertise, as well as additional qualifications that help keep the ship ready to make mission at any time. 

Unlike in the Marine Corps, where there is a chaplain version of the FMF (Fleet Marine Force) qualification, the Navy does not have a chaplain version of the SWO (Surface Warfare Officer) qual.

That said, it does not mean I do not go for any qualifications. It means I go for ones that are non-weapons based.

In this case, I was asked to reenlist a sailor at the top of the main mast. To go up the mast (aloft), I got my aloft qual. We were really high up, but the weather was cooperative, the seas were calm and my instructors were supportive.