October 2
I checked in with my Team triad today.
He asked me when I left the ship. I mentioned that I transfered yesterday, and checked in 30 minutes later.
Without pause, he ordered me to take 2 weeks off – consecutively.
He was right.
I needed a few weeks of recovery, sleep, and reset before going jumping in with both feet to a very busy schedule.
Plan for next PCS/PCA: Take at least two weeks off, that DO NOT include the moving process.
(self care, self care, self care...)
0830 Bonged of
USS Lake Erie, Pier 3, “Wet Side” at 32nd Street
0835 Get bagel
from bagel place on base, park, and eat said bagel
0930 Arrive at NSWG-1
HQ for check in
I took 30 minutes of transfer leave.
People generally take 30 days.
I am rethinking my decision.
In my military career, I have never been the first to do
anything, until now.
On 1 OCT 2020, I became the first rabbi ever assigned to the
U.S. SOF (Special Operations Forces) community.
There was a history of military rabbis not being sent to
operational billets, so they could remain on base, and take care of the
community. But we saw, that when it was time for promotion, they were not
competitive against their peers. With some patience and strong voices, that
changed. My joining the SOCOM (Special Operations COMmand) this fall, I have
shattered the argument, “but we don’t send our rabbis there.”
I am thankful that not only could I open a door for future
rabbis to be assigned to SOF billets, but to be reunited with chaplains I
served with in Okinawa.
I have not made Challah in over two years.
So, since I had a three day stay-cation, I made challot for Rosh HaShannah.
In appreciation for everything I did for the John Finn, they gave me a Spot NAM.
I may have gotten a little teary eyed, but I blamed it on possible allergies.
You know what's great?
When your CCPO (chaplain candidate) coin you!
The note they sent went into my "Love Me" binder.
