One Year In The Army

I am happy to announce that today marks one year in the Army for my wife and I. This also marks the day that I receive a promotion from Private Second Class to Private First Class.

On Feb. 7, 2007, I left my beautiful wife and headed for basic combat training at Fort Benning, GA. It was here that I was trained for the next several months. I stayed up late after lights out and tried to write my wife a letter as often as I possibly could. She even posted a few of these letter on this site. You can find them by clicking here.

I graduated from basic training on May 25, 2007 and for the first time in almost four months, I was reunited with my wife. This reunion was short-lived, however. I still had more training to do.

She had to go back home and I continued in my military training. I headed up the street at Fort Benning to Airborne School. During the summer months, the classes are full so some students have to wait for a few weeks before they are allowed into the class. I was required to wait five weeks before I would get in.

During these weeks, I took a two week Javelin Gunner's Course (You can read about it here.) where I learned how to fire and operate an image-guided, shoulder-fired, medium-range, anti-tank, missile system.

Finally after five weeks, I was trained to jump out of airplanes! My first jump was the scariest five seconds of my life. I was the second man off that plane. Before we jumped, I found myself standing right next to the door waiting for the light to turn green. I could see the ground moving past us below. I should probably note that I am scared to death of heights! Then the light turned green and I took a step over and then a step out the door. I could feel my body twisting and turning in the wind...for about four seconds. By that time the parachute was completely deployed and the rest of the trip back to earth was extremely peaceful! The rest were easy. Even the night jump wasn't bad compared to the fear of the first one.

After airborne school, I picked up my wife and we headed out to Washington DC to serve with the 3rd Infantry Regiment The Old Guard. This is where I have been since August 1, 2007.

I praise God for the opportunities that he has given me and the lessons that he has taught me as a result of my military experience. I hope and pray that these experiences only make me a stronger servant for His kingdom. Although I love and am very passionate about serving in the Army, I cannot wait until my enlistment is up and I can, if the Lord is willing, serve God in a full time capacity. God's call on my life is to serve Him either as a pastor or as a missionary. I take extra care to learn everything that they teach us in the army, knowing that many of the principles of discipline and leadership will help me in my journey to serve God with my life.

I am so thankful for the wonderful wife that God has allowed me to have. Diane Cardot has been the greatest blessing that a man could ask for during these times. She has faithfully stood by my side each step of the way and I just want to publicly thank her and praise her for her goodness to me over the past year. I have no idea where I would be were it not for her loving encouragement! She really is an angel!

Thank you also to all of you who have been good to support me and pray for me. Please continue to pray for me. Thank you.