Yesterday and today, I was able to return home and spend some time with loved ones. It was wonderful to escape from the grueling timeline of events that take place here, all hours of the day and night. Sleep and a regimented schedule are seldom found here. Often, we can manage the Dignified Transfers with one chaplain, one assistant and a mental health technician along with a few volunteers. On occasion, however, when an escort accompanies the fallen, we are tasked with meeting them on the aircraft and taking them to see the family, if permission is given. Otherwise, we have to take them to where they will stay until the fallen servicemember is processed and released to the family. It is an additional duty that the chaplain assistant is given. Since there are only two of us here in support of 4 chaplains, we are tasked heavily and are often times on duty together working missions in tandem. One of us is at the "Center For The Families Of The Fallen," while the other is meeting the aircraft and taking care of the escorts that arrive. It's tough to plan for some time off, when you can be called in on a moments notice to perform escort duty, or handle the DT. We are heavy laden with all sorts of communication devices to manage all the alerts and messages that go out to the teams. At times, I'm juggling keys, phones & Blackberries, so that I'm prepared for duty.
I just returned to my room after a bowling event at the base bowling alley. The crew from the Air Force Mortuary, scheduled a social at the alley for us all, so we could get together for a few laughs and some competition on the lanes. We won "Best Looking Team," so I guess you can conclude that we didn't win the tournament! It was still great fun and helped us all grow our friendships since we will be in this together for the next 5 1/2 months.
I have to report at 12:45pm (0045hrs "mil" time) for a DT tonight. We have several fallen coming in and I am to go out and pick-up 2 escorts on the flightline. On a side note, it only took 5 arduous days and 6 painful tests to obtain a flightline driver's license. Couldn't believe that they wouldn't accept that I drive in the Washington DC Metro area as sufficient experience. Go figure.
Anyway, when I get back from this mission, I'm hoping to get some rest and report in the morning around 8am or so.
This will be a very intense and busy week for the team. We have much to accomplish, including a chaplain sponsored dinner on Thursday night for approximately 45 people. I have no idea yet what we will have, all I know is that we don't have a kitchen to prepare a meal in, so we're going to have to get real creative. The prior team had some great meals, so I'm sure we're capable of the same. I've got to rally some helper's, so that will be my goal tomorrow and Wednesday.
Dignified Transfers witnessed (26)
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