Curriculum

According to the Air Force website, this is the expected curriculum and schedule:

Our curriculum is broken down into several areas.

-DRILL AND CEREMONIES:

We are going to teach you marching skills. This is the most effective method of moving a large mass of people from one area to another. In addition, it reinforces self-discipline, teamwork and leadership. We will give you the basic skills and expect you to practice them. Everyone must be able to effectively march (lead) a flight in drill.

-HEALTH AND FITNESS:

We cover the importance of maintaining a good physical fitness program. You will participate in a daily aerobic/anaerobic program. A fitness test will be administered near the end of training. You’ll be required to pass the fitness test to graduate with honors. Additionally, you will participate in several outdoor leadership laboratories requiring physical fitness.

-COMMUNICATION SKILLS (CS):

We will familiarize you with various forms of military correspondence and provide you opportunities to write military-style documents. Besides military correspondence, we will instruct you on the basics of military briefings and thus, you will be given the opportunity to give a short briefing.

-PROFESSION OF ARMS (PA):

You will learn proper military customs and courtesies, military dress and grooming standards for the proper wear of the uniform, the nature of the military profession with an emphasis on Air Force Officership, and the importance of professional relationships.

-MILITARY STUDIES AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES (MS):

You will learn the structure of the Department of Defense including the Department of the Air Force. You will also learn the concept of the Expeditionary Aerospace Force - the Air Forces guiding vision for how we are organized, trained, and equipped to deploy and sustain our aerospace forces for military operations overseas. As part of the International Security Studies, you will learn about the Air Force role in Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW).

-LEADERSHIP STUDIES (LS):

This is the largest portion of our curriculum. You will study various leadership styles, problem solving techniques, and management tools. You will then have an opportunity to put some of them into practice during our many practical leadership exercises. Additionally, you will be trained in the importance of the Air Force Officer Honor Code as well as the Air Force Core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.

The “sample” schedule below will give you an idea of a typical summer training day. Physical conditioning will always be in the morning, but may be conducted inside.
0515-0615: Physical Conditioning
0615-0800: Personal Time and Breakfast
0800-1200: Training/Academics
1200-1300: Lunch/Student Wing Activities
1300-1700: Training/Academics
1700-1800: Evening Meal
1800-2200: Trainee Group Activities/Meetings 2200-2330: Personal Time or Sleep

2330           : Lights Out

Okay, I'm not going to lie - while I was very excited for the last few months, I am beginning to get a bit... anxious! I keep thinking of other Jewish chaplains I know who have gone through it, and I tell myself, "If that putz could to it, I certainly can!" (for those unfamiliar with the Yiddish, putz, you're on your own...)

Preparing to go

Let me introduce myself.  My name is Rabbi Joseph (Joey) Friedman.  My last congregational position was in Norfolk, VA - I left in June 2005 - and moved back to Memphis, TN.  After a series of business setbacks, my wife and I decided I would go to Law School and pursue what had been a dream for a very long time.  The only problem was the reality of getting out of school at the age of 49 with a boat-load of student loans, something that was very disconcerting to say the least.  I friend of mine - former Air Force officer - suggested I consider the Tennessee Air National Guard as a way to help offset my tuition expenses; after all, they provide very attractive incentives for chaplains, as they are in dire need for those billets to be filled.

I met with the recruiter, and was right away confronted with hurdles.  The military has age requirements, weight requirements, fitness requirements... and I wasn't meeting any of them.  Specialized officer positions - JAGs, doctors, etc. normally have a cut-off of 42 years old.  I was already (at the time) 45...  Well, we got a waiver for that, as the military REALLY needs chaplains (the drop dead cut-off is 47, unless you are a Catholic priest - then, you can be older than God! They are DESPERATE for priests!).  For my age and height, I need to be below 186 lbs.  Problem was I was about 210!  Oh - and did I say that I had never seriously worked out a day in my life? The military has minimum running, push-up and sit-up requirements that scared the living daylight out of me...

There is no greater motivator than money - so I got work.  Between June 1 and the middle of August, I dropped 25 pounds, and began doing intensive cardio at home.  By the time of my entrance physical, I was 183 pounds, and was running/walking 30 minutes every day.  After a series of interviews and meetings, we worked out all the requirements and on Dec. 17, 2009 I was sworn in to the Tennessee Air National Guard as a Chaplain (Captain).  On March 16, I completed my first PT (physical test) during which I did 36 push-ups, 33 sit-ups and ran 1.5 miles in 13.55 minutes (I am now up to over 50 sit-ups and about 40 push ups - and I run about three miles every day).

There are two courses that are required for my duty: COT (Commissioned Officer Training) and Basic Chaplain.  The first is 5 weeks long, and the second in 6 weeks long.  I have 24 months to complete them both.  On Monday, May 24th, I depart for Maxwell Air Force base in Montgomery, AL for COT.   I will have to deal with the fact that I keep a strictly Kosher diet - and the Air Force doesn't!  I am also Sabbath-observant, which has its own share of challenges.  But I am comforted by the fact that I am certainly not the first Orthodox rabbi to go through COT (although I may be the oldest - I will need to look into that!!).

I hope to update this blog on a regular basis with a record of the experience and the concomitant challenges - and I hope to add pictures, as well.  Please leave comments if you are so inclined - I will be nice to get the feedback!

Off we go into the wild blue yonder... Shalom!