The Family Letter

If you've read the previous blog then you know that we're working six-day weeks here. Fortunately they are trying to make sure everyone gets a CTO day per week, just to keep folks from running themselves into the ground. I've managed to take mine thus far, so have had some adventures on the side.

First off, I arrived with a full day before I reported for duty. On that day I drove up to Denver to see Rebecca at the Cathedral (I got the behind-the-scenes tour), and on to Boulder to see Christian, Brynne, and young John Sutton. That was a neat trip, if short. I'm hoping to go back up tomorrow (Monday) to see the Suttons again and maybe do some sightseeing.

The following week I had Tuesday off, and Matt (another Chaplain Candidate) and I drove to Seven Falls on the south side of Colorado Springs. If you look through my pictures, you'll see pictures of a long waterfall, many, many stairs (224 at one point–the see-through kind that give me vertigo going up, that was fun), and views of Colorado Springs). We drove through Garden of the Gods that day as well (photos of really big red rocks).

Last week we had Monday off, but Matt sat that one out. Deborah (third Chaplain Candidate) and I drove down to Peterson AFB to see the chapel staff and get a tour (I lead), and then on to the Cave of the Winds. That was a lot of fun–I enjoy caves. I'd love to go back and do the lantern tour, where they take you into an unlit cave system that you have to crawl and climb through. There won't be time on this trip, but someday I'll get back here.

This week we had a bonus trip: On Wednesday all three of us drove up to Denver in the afternoon to meet the staff at ARPC. ARPC are the folks that "own" Chaplain Candidates. They issue our orders, help us through the process, and work with us when we reappoint to become full chaplains. We'd only ever spoken to and e-mailed these people, so it was neat to get to meet them in person. After a tour of their facility we went to get dinner at a nearby shopping center in Denver. It is interesting being in a military area, as we didn't get too many odd looks walking around a mall in our blues. As it turned out there was also an Apple Store in that mall (how odd), we stopped to browse a bit. No one made any purchases (phew), but we did find out that all government employees can get discounts on Apple products, even for personal use. It's about comparable to the Education Discount. Very, very cool.

I've been getting a lot of PT this week, what with moving chapel equipment around and marching out to Jack's Valley (previous post). The highpoint, though, was yesterday. Matt, Deborah, and I joined a group of chaplains from Peterson AFB and USAFA, and some youth from Pete, for a white water rafting trip. We traveled 14 miles down the Arizona River. The trip included class 3 and 4 rapids (5 being the highest one can safely navigate) and the section of the river that goes through the Royal Gorge. The trip was incredible. The weather was chilly and overcast, with occasional sprinkles, but it was still great. The area is beautiful, and the rafting a lot of fun. Bring on Class 5! We had a good guide and our boat was fairly good at the rowing thing, so it all worked out. I was glad for the wet suit and splash jacket they loaned us. At one point we moored and some of us climbed a 25-30 foot cliff and jumped into the river. No, I was not one of them. The jump looked like fun, but I didn't want to finish the trip wearing a soaking wet cotton t-shirt, thanks very much. If it had been 10 degrees warmer and sunny, I would have done it.

Today I am on duty from NOON until 1700, and I may stick around for evening services in JV (duty today is out in Jack's, now that the Basics are all out there). We shall see. Tomorrow is my last CTO day, as I depart for the east on Saturday morning. I'm planning a trip to Boulder/Denver tomorrow, probably on my own.

Have I left much out?

At long last, and after many demands, I will finally let you all know what I have been up to these past three weeks!

First, there's an easy way to summarize much of my time: Six day work weeks, work days of 8 - 12 hours. That's been the norm since I got here. We're working that hard at the chapel because of BCT (see previous posts), and the high ops tempo BCT demands at the Academy. While on duty, I've been part of services (there's a liturgical chaplain here, so that's been good), done dorm visits to chat with the Basics (carefully, because a room full of relaxed Basics will come to attention for even a Second Lieutenant), attending classes, giving briefings, and doing odd jobs for the Chaplains (projects, etc.). I have not yet done any counseling one-on-one, but that's hard when the Basic in question wants full confidentiality (which candidates don't have).

More details on the work will be provided upon request. I may add more later, too, as I think of things. And no, I haven't done a service on my own yet… I was supposed to on Friday evening out in Jack's Valley, but the rain cancelled the service. (When there are multiple services, some in outdoor amphitheaters, and one or two are cancelled, you have to cancel all of them. After all, you can't tell the Jewish or the Catholics that they aren't meeting but everyone else is. Equality is a must, even if that means that no one worships.)

A little about Jack's Valley (this map is just the east end of the valley, where BCT 2 is happening–there's a middle and west section, too). I think I mentioned the valley earlier, but if not: JV is a valley (duh) on the north side of the base where the Cadets/Basics do simulated deployment activities. It really isn't far, just a little way from the Hill (what I have found people call the Academy campus), and maybe only a 15-20 minute drive from lodging. It's a fairly big place, and because it is a valley one cannot tell how close one is to the rest of the base. GE (Global Engagement) takes place in the west end of the valley, and BCT 2 is happening in the east end (the two square areas just west of the guard house and south of the confidence course). The courses (confidence, arms, obstacle) are all out there. Chapel has three tents, one for men, one for women, and the main tent. On Thursday morning we loaded stuff on a truck and drove out there to set up the deployed chapel. On Friday all the Basics, permanent party, and most of the chaplains marched from the Hill out to JV. They took a convoluted route, one that worked out to about 7.8 miles. I enjoyed the march. We started on the terrazzo, everyone in formation by squadron, and marched out to a full marching band. Once we left the Hill we began at ease march, and only got formal again as we entered the valley. After a brief opening ceremony daily life in JV began. The Basics set up their tents, got their cots, and began settling in. Unfortunately the weather was rotten on Friday so they mostly were confined to tents.

On the march out we stopped for potty breaks twice. The first time I heard, "Lieutenant Juchter, how's the march!?" I turned and saw Erica. She's doing well, and was enjoying the march, too. JV is a tough two weeks for the Basics, though, so keep praying. I don't know if they'll get mail or not, but keep sending it, too!

I'm going to cut this entry off here and do another one about my "spare" time.