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!