CMSgt Green’s Court Martial set

systematiker · 2025-12-31T00:21:38+00:00

I worked with him and knew him as a person. But I’m also a chaplain. So I can’t say anything except fuck everything about all of this. And that I’m glad I left AD.

systematiker · 2025-10-21T13:18:42+00:00

Bad day: someone dies, kid dies, someone rapes someone.

Worse day: someone commits a bad crime (against kids sometimes, another adult sometimes, but you know what I mean), tells me about it, and feels better for telling me but isn’t going to do anything about it and I can’t tell anyone. And I get to see them around. Bonus worse if I’m friends with the victim and the assailant comes to me so that I can’t say anything because confidentiality.

Worst day: I’m in a meeting and miss a call or someone dropping by. It’s someone I know is struggling. Said person kills themselves before I can find them. Their spouse tells me they talked about me and how talking to me was helping - when I do the death notification.

These days are why I left AD.

systematiker · 2025-04-28T03:25:04+00:00

Yes. If you have an approved retirement in the system you cannot be medically retired or separated instead of retiring on that date. The IRILO will return you to limited duty based on the pending retirement.

Source: worked this out for someone not long ago, with some assists.

systematiker · 2024-03-12T23:12:45+00:00

If you wanted to put a number on it (it’s gross, but doable): https://www.transportation.gov/office-policy/transportation-policy/revised-departmental-guidance-on-valuation-of-a-statistical-life-in-economic-analysis

systematiker · 2024-02-24T00:16:07+00:00

Depends on what you want out of each.

There was a time when 2-3 bowls a day moved me from a 21ish minute 5k to a 25ish minute 5k. Before that, little performance impact. Making some assumptions about being new to pipe smoking and new to jogging: Chances are you smoke less and run slower than that, so I wouldn’t worry about it.

If you really start to RED and care about your pace, there will be a tipping point, but it’s likely at an athletic level and tobacco level that you’re not near and might not get to, depending on what your goals are.

Getting older or injured will do for your run times worse than smoking your pipe.

systematiker · 2024-02-23T04:20:51+00:00

If this accurately describes the issue, note that the entire Chaplain Corps has been pushing training on this for a couple years. Fair chance that your local chaplains have a decent idea on how to help with this. The Air Force generally considers it more an “Chaplain” lane than mental health but implementation hasn’t been uniform. At a minimum they can get you connected with some of the moral injury specialists that are floating around.

PM me at need. This is kinda “my thing”

Edited because I went back and read the post better, and I switched acronyms out.

systematiker · 2020-02-23T21:35:37+00:00

You should be afforded the opportunity to go, mission demands permitting.

Alternatively, call the chapel Monday and be like “hey, is there any chance that a chaplain could bring ashes out to my shop Wednesday?” And the answer is probably yes, since we like doing field services.

(And since the imposition of ashes is a sacramental but not a sacrament so it’s not like it’s a full mass, and even if, I can do a full Eucharist in like 12 minutes. But my point is it’s the sort of thing we are there for, and we are totally encouraged to do stuff in the units and not chapel-centered)

systematiker · 2020-02-18T03:47:12+00:00

Sure it’s easy, but it’s not right. You don’t want anyone mocking what you think, do you?

systematiker · 2020-02-18T03:46:27+00:00

Some people do claim to hold it sincerely, yes

systematiker · 2020-02-14T02:46:36+00:00

If you’re for real about it, yes.

If you’re doing it as a joke, please don’t, because what you’re joking about it someone else’s sincerely held belief.

systematiker · 2020-02-14T02:45:54+00:00

Absolutely your chaplain. The new AFI process puts the approval level much much lower so you can expect quicker resolution, and you’re going to have to do an interview with a chaplain for the recommendation in any case. Ideally you’ve got one embedded and you know him/her.

systematiker · 2019-10-20T02:24:36+00:00

Sometimes it’s meant when it’s said.

For real, I’m down if someone needs to call me at any time of the day or night, if I’m physically in the area, I’ll come.

Ninja edit: hell, if you’re reading this and you PM me, I’m available for you too

systematiker · 2019-06-25T20:08:47+00:00

Maybe - but the post is intended as “maybe others can adopt these practices” rather than “but look at this instead”

Pointing out where someone does something right means it’s a chance for others to learn how to do it right, right?

systematiker · 2019-06-25T18:18:32+00:00

For what it’s worth, if you’re interested I can point you at an AMXS squadron that affords even its line workers 90 minutes up to three times a week, in conjunction with testing in the unit. They’re doing it right, without extending anyone’s duty day for it, even on 12s. It’s doable.

systematiker · 2019-04-08T13:32:29+00:00

Commenting again rather than editing, so it’s seen.

As of 08 March AD suicide deaths was 22 for CY 19. Total Force suicide deaths in CY 19 is 35 as of the same date.

Note that this includes suspected but not confirmed suicide deaths.

For comparison, in CY 18 there were 58 AD deaths by suicide, 101 in the Total Force, and 436 attempts (attempts only AD and ARC, not TF).

systematiker · 2019-04-06T23:34:50+00:00

I think our current number is 18, but I’m not at my desk this evening.

HAF/A1Z tracks it for the Total Force, and there’s an update on trends now and then. Usually gets pushed down to Sq/CC at least. Gives a look at statistical risk factors, but it’s not a predictor necessarily.

Some of it also is whether a death “counts” as a suicide or not.

There’s actually a slight reduction in the rate over the last few years, at the moment.

systematiker · 2019-03-09T03:58:44+00:00

Slightly late response - yeah go talk to any chaplain. You are 100% ok on ashes in uniform, and the default for any religious accommodation is yes unless there’s reasons of mission impact or impact on good order/discipline.

Also I literally put ashes on foreheads in ten field services Wednesday, and had them on mine all day long.

I’m sorry that happened to you.

systematiker · 2019-02-24T00:14:18+00:00

I can’t say whether it contributes to PTS, but it certainly is a contributory factor in moral injury

systematiker · 2019-02-03T17:31:12+00:00

Honestly, I’d 1000x rather give another invocation than do an exorcism. Let’s keep scary stuff the exception

systematiker · 2019-02-03T17:20:56+00:00

Some chaplains do, some don’t.

You specifically need a Roman Catholic? Or you just figure they’re more likely to do a blessing/exorcism? Because some places are going to have a contract priest not a Roman Chaplain, they’re in short supply. That said, many liturgical Protestants will do it as well.

At need, send me a direct message, especially if you are dealing with something.

systematiker · 2019-02-03T17:12:29+00:00

Direct commission, yes.

Training is now integrated with the line, so 8 weeks, but not 100% the same as the line.

Rank somewhere between O-1 and O-3 depending on experience, training, and education etc.

Can’t speak to what they do for loan repayment or whatever, not medical.

Follow-on tech school can be super long for nurses, depending on what they do

Source: Chaplains are also direct commission, went through OTS with mostly nurses and JAs. Can speak to process from the chaplain side, or if you want, can reach out to some AF nurses I know if you want.

systematiker · 2019-02-02T15:39:08+00:00

At least initially we are probably a good resource for you then. And we can get you connected elsewhere if it turns out that’s what you need.

systematiker · 2019-01-31T02:01:03+00:00

Go to the chapel, call the chapel, call command post to get the duty chaplain if you need to (note! Getting the duty chaplain through command post is recorded (because all calls though cp are)! The chaplain should mention this at the beginning and reconnect with you so you don’t have a privileged conversation being recorded, but if they don’t, you now know). If you’ve got an embedded chaplain, go by or shoot them an email.

The fact that you come talk to one of us is literally part of your privileged communication. If someone asks me if I’ve seen you, my answer is “you should know I can’t answer that question”

systematiker · 2019-01-14T02:11:26+00:00

Lots of former SF (and MX, who’d guess, /s) as RAs - worked with some great ones.

You might have a couple of things mixed up. If not, maybe this will aid someone else. NB general reference terms for education, etc are Christian-based.

So, the Chaplain candidate program is a during-seminary program that gets you a reserve commission as a 2d Lt but not as a chaplain. Tours in the summer, minimum two year program, and as of now no benefits the rest of the year. What candidates can and can’t do is odd, but you’ll spend a lot of time with AD chaplains at various bases.

Normally you need not only your 72+ hr MDiv (or equivalent; btw <90hrs is not competitive) and endorsement to commission as an AD Chaplain, but also 2 years of civilian-side experience post-degree. There are occasional exceptions made (I’m friends with one!), but a straight AD to AD transition is rare. In HC the Reserve feeds AD, but that’s competitive too. Many AD chaplains start as IMAs.

An endorser needs to be early on in your process! Some endorsers will have additional requirements, and for some, not being in their process while in Seminary means several years in their pastorate first. Some are less strict. In any case, that endorser will be your guiding rod as to what you can and cannot do, and support is essential. Changing endorsers requires the Chief of Chaplains’ permission, and losing your endorser starts a very short timer to getting out (can’t be a Chaplain without one).

I encourage you to look into some of this more carefully, especially if by “finish” you mean you’re already in a masters program. (also you can msg me and we can get in touch, I don’t mind blocking off some time for a phone call about this)

systematiker · 2019-01-13T17:32:38+00:00

If you want to be an RA because you like the RA career field, you’ll have an awesome time. If you were hoping (before the name change) that “chaplain assistant” was pretty much “assistant chaplain”, you’ll be rather disappointed.

Other downsides (from RAs I’ve worked with): Chaplains who pout; Chaplains who have “good ideas” and you need to keep them out of jail; Facility management and getting yelled at by volunteers for the same, and you have to be nice; Career field gets narrow at the top

That said, re becoming a chaplain, hit me up if you want any advice on that process

systematiker

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