Day 60: Good to Go

Graduation is usually an elaborate program which includes regalia, marching, lots of family, photography, and of course grad gifts. High school and medical school come to mind when I think of my most memorable graduations, but today was far from being anywhere near that. Rather than collecting gifts, sitting through a long ceremony, and smiling for countless photo-ops, my ceremony was blessed with simplicity and brevity. It was an honor to salute at attention alongside my fellow shipmates as the national anthem was played. Although brief, the ceremony quickly reminded me that my job as part of a MiTT (military transition team) is critical, and my job will play an impacting role on the country of Afghanistan. Here is an official definition of a military transition team taken from the program...

"Military Training Teams or MiTTS are elite teams that embed and train with other countries' military personnel. MiTTS advise fledgling security forces in the ares of intelligence, communication, fire support, logistics, and infantry tactics. The aim is to make the host countries military self-sustainable tactically, operationally, and logistically so that the battalion is prepared to take over responsibility for their operation or battle space."

Here is a picture with Chaplain Drake (picture above) after the ceremony. He is the Brigade Chaplain for Fort Riley. He is a fellow Seventh-Day Adventist Christian, and there were several instances during training where he was able to impart wisdom on how to stay rooted in Christ through the trying times that military life may put you through.

Here is our unofficial graduation day team picture. We called ourselves the "Boxkickers" as a majority of the team members are supply personnel aboard ships. It sounded creative at the time until we persistently heared our team being referred to as..."kickboxers", "boxcovers", "boxers", "boxclickers", "boxcutters", or simply "what?". Despite the name we were a solid team. We had such a spectrum of personalities from the introverted, self-sufficient submariner to the flamboyant chief that mans a flight deck to the soft spoken colonel and everything else in between...lets just say we all found room for growth.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NASB