Today is day 25 of my 180 day deployment and already I've been made aware of certain things pertaining to the life cycle of this deployment!
Serving as a Chaplain I interface with practically everyone on base; every agency & unit within all levels of the command.
From our youngest Airmen to our senior commanders
From those fresh out of basic to the Colonel on his 24th deployment.
From those on this side of the track to those on that side of the tracks
I can confidently say that this ministry takes me into the lives of all types of people that make up our Air Force.
It is because I have this privileged look into their spaces that I have the opportunity to be invited in to their intimate thoughts, hearts and lives.
Despite being here just short of a month; I've learned that most Airmen deployed here are generally somewhere between 3 phases.
Phase 1 (1-2 Months) The Adjustment Period
These may find it difficult to adjust to life here, to establish good working relationships, to deal with the reality that they are not home anymore and can’t be in control of things back in the states.
Phase 2 (2-4 Months) The Rut Period
These have adjusted and accepted life as they know it here. Routine becomes the norm; complacency is the enemy and boredom is often too familiar.
Phase 3 (5-6 Months) The Excitement about Going Home Period
These know that they will be going home in less than 60 days, so they are in a better mood, start to make plans when they get back, start to connect with their unit, family and friends sometimes to the expense of those who they are still serving with who may be in Phase 1/2 because the mission may take a back seat to the excitement of redeploying.
Each Phase has it challenges and may dictate how one deals with adversity. For example, what may have been a big deal in P1 may not be that big of a deal in P2!
Much of my counseling interaction is solution focused so that the Airman can return to the mission which is always to Fly, Fight & Win!
Sometimes that may be a point of tension for me because I must always remember that I am dealing with a life and not a robot that I need get back on to the assembly line.
So what do I do with all this? How do I serve His people in this environment who are in these phases of this deployment with love & care as we continue to be the world’s greatest AF?
That’s my mission and my dilemma!
I find comfort in Paul’s words to the Corinthians in 1Cor10:13; when he tells them that "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it"
In context Paul is reminding Christians of the failure of the people of Moses with regards to their lack of trust in God and he encourages them not to make the same mistakes BUT to have faith in God, because he is reliable and is the one that they can find strength in when they are tempted to throw the towel in on their relationship with Him.
Life here is fast and the temptation is to go through someone’s story as fast as I can so that I can get to the next one.
Lest I think that I can put everyone in a Phase and compartmentalize their hurt and pain
Lest I think that I can process a person like a package to return them to the line
Lest I think that I can do this on my own…
His words must ring in my heart and mind……
"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it"
Chaplain Brito
Serving as a Chaplain I interface with practically everyone on base; every agency & unit within all levels of the command.
From our youngest Airmen to our senior commanders
From those fresh out of basic to the Colonel on his 24th deployment.
From those on this side of the track to those on that side of the tracks
I can confidently say that this ministry takes me into the lives of all types of people that make up our Air Force.
It is because I have this privileged look into their spaces that I have the opportunity to be invited in to their intimate thoughts, hearts and lives.
Despite being here just short of a month; I've learned that most Airmen deployed here are generally somewhere between 3 phases.
Phase 1 (1-2 Months) The Adjustment Period
These may find it difficult to adjust to life here, to establish good working relationships, to deal with the reality that they are not home anymore and can’t be in control of things back in the states.
Phase 2 (2-4 Months) The Rut Period
These have adjusted and accepted life as they know it here. Routine becomes the norm; complacency is the enemy and boredom is often too familiar.
Phase 3 (5-6 Months) The Excitement about Going Home Period
These know that they will be going home in less than 60 days, so they are in a better mood, start to make plans when they get back, start to connect with their unit, family and friends sometimes to the expense of those who they are still serving with who may be in Phase 1/2 because the mission may take a back seat to the excitement of redeploying.
Each Phase has it challenges and may dictate how one deals with adversity. For example, what may have been a big deal in P1 may not be that big of a deal in P2!
Much of my counseling interaction is solution focused so that the Airman can return to the mission which is always to Fly, Fight & Win!
Sometimes that may be a point of tension for me because I must always remember that I am dealing with a life and not a robot that I need get back on to the assembly line.
So what do I do with all this? How do I serve His people in this environment who are in these phases of this deployment with love & care as we continue to be the world’s greatest AF?
That’s my mission and my dilemma!
I find comfort in Paul’s words to the Corinthians in 1Cor10:13; when he tells them that "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it"
In context Paul is reminding Christians of the failure of the people of Moses with regards to their lack of trust in God and he encourages them not to make the same mistakes BUT to have faith in God, because he is reliable and is the one that they can find strength in when they are tempted to throw the towel in on their relationship with Him.
Life here is fast and the temptation is to go through someone’s story as fast as I can so that I can get to the next one.
Lest I think that I can put everyone in a Phase and compartmentalize their hurt and pain
Lest I think that I can process a person like a package to return them to the line
Lest I think that I can do this on my own…
His words must ring in my heart and mind……
"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it"
Chaplain Brito
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