Reflections

Has it really been over a year since my last blog....As I reflect this morning, so many things have happened....good.....bad.....ugly.......and yet God is still good all the time, even if all the times arent good. 

I came across this letter I wrote to the chief of chaplains accessions board over two years ago.  I really had no idea the chain of events this letter would put in place....as Bilbo says, dangerous business stepping outside ones door, you never know just where the road will take you....



Why I Want to Be a Chaplain I feel God has called me into full time service as an active duty chaplain in the United States Army. I have been in professional ministry for 24 years, first as a family pastor then the last 12 years as the senior pastor of a church of 200 that I founded. Ministerially speaking, I am well qualified, performing over 200 weddings, over 100 funerals, counseling couples for marriage, pre-marriage and divorce counseling numbering in the 100s. I started and pastored Elk Creek Church in McCall, Idaho where I preached three services every Sunday for 11 years. I oversaw a budget of 450,000 dollars a year, overseeing a staff of 5 full time pastors as well as oversight of all programs, boards, and ministries. Educationally, I hold a Masters in Theology, a Masters of Divinity and will finish my third Masters in Counseling this May 2011. Physically I am in incredible shape just finishing my first triathlon this last year. I am a runner, avid outdoorsman and mountain climber, having just summited the tallest peak in Idaho last summer, Mt Borah 12, 800ft. I passed the APFT in Florida in October with a score of 324. Other Certifications include: I am a certified ILS medic in the state of Idaho with 11 years experience as an EMS Captain in charge of the weekend crew. I am certified to teach EMT-I and EMT-B courses. I have extensive training in incident command, triage, crisis management, and critical incident stress debriefings, trained in the Mitchell Model. I have been a hospital chaplain as well as the fire department medical chaplain for 11 years. I spearheaded a multi-faith suicide awareness and prevention program in our community. I am currently serving with the 478th BN Airborne and will be attending Jump school in April after CHBOLC. I am easily approachable and have an extroverted personality that people immediately open up to. I play guitar, lead worship and sing. I will be a great active duty chaplain! Troy S. Bates 03 FEB 2011

Well two years ago I was accepted on Active Duty and it has been a whirlwind tour......Key West Florida- 478th, South Carolina, CHBOLC, 25th ID Hawaii, 3BDE 3BSTB -Forward Deployed Jalabad Afghanistan, Baghram AFB, Kuwait, Manas Krygstan, Leipzig Germany, Alaska, Ft Benning Georgia, (where I broke my back on my second training, jump, proceeded to jump my third training jump, and then had to stop after the third jump to allow my body to heal,)  I will be going back in a couple of months to finish my last two jumps....and then Colorado Springs, where I am currently serving in 10th Special Forces Group 3rd Battalion. 

I feel I am ready to share again some of my journey....so if you still read....bless you...if not....it is my safe voice....

Blessings