Greetings from Fort Jackson, SC. I'm currently attending CHBOLC (Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course) where I'm having the time of my life.
We have conquered Victory Tower which involved repelling off a wall, climbing a rope cargo net, climbing a tall ladder with rope, commando crawled a rope, and walked 2 other single rope bridges.
We learned map and compass reading so we could complete successfully with getting lost on Day/Night Land Navigation Courses.
We also completed Day/Night Infiltration Courses which involved low crawling with live fire zooming over our heads.
We also tacked the Team Building Obstacle Course, Gas Chamber, First Aid, other warrior tasks and learned Drill and Ceremony exercises where we had a competition between platoons. Out of all the competitions, 1st Platoon, my platoon, has won everything except Day Land Navigation. 1st Platoon won the Drill and Ceremony competition as well as Night Land Navigation. I guess we see better at night.
We just graduated from the Chaplain Inital Military Training (CIMT) phase and had the Donning of the Berets Ceremony. This indeed was a proud moment where we earned the privilege to wear the beret. Now, we're on to Phase 1, Phase 2, and then Phase 3.
There are only 8 weeks of training remaining. So far, this course has been very challenging physically and mentally, but I've overcome with perseverance and the Lord's strength.
As I've already stated, I am thoroughly enjoying myself and definitely getting some of the best quality training I've ever received. I'm confident when I graduate CHBOLC I will be trained up and ready to step into my unit seamlessly.
Upon completion of CHBOLC, I will be heading to Fort Bliss, TX where I'll be a Battalion Chaplain assigned to the 123rd Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division. As soon as I arrive, I'll be busy training for our upcoming deployment in August 2011.
I'm absolutely looking forward to serving my soldiers. Wherever they go is where I want to be and whatever they're doing is what I want to be doing. God has tremendously blessed me and continues to do so.
CH (CPT) Sarah D. Tarpley
Fort Jackson, SC
[Editor's comment: We are very proud of Sarah Tarpley. She has learned many lessons as she patiently awaited being commissioned in the Army Chaplaincy. It is my belief that the Air Force failed to select her for reasons I have never learned, but in so doing they lost an outstanding chaplain who could have served them well.
Meanwhile, the Army has selected one of the best women chaplains I have ever met. She has what it takes to be a chaplain who is in tune with her soldiers. She is athletic, energetic, exceptionally bright, and eager to serve God and country, and to represent the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.
It was my privilege to take Sarah and one of her classmates to dinner when I was in Columbia, SC, on Monday evening, January 24, 2011. The occasion that brought me to Columbia, SC, at the Marriott Hotel was at the invitation of the Chief of Navy Chaplains for his annual Senior Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists (chaplain assistants) Strategic Leadership Symposium. I attended the leadership symposium on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. In order to maximize my efforts, I connected with Sarah for a visit over a dinner meal. Keeping in touch with our IPHC military chaplains is a major part of my ministry as director/endorser of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC.
Sarah Tarpley has what I call Spizzerinctum--vim, vitality, energy, drive, motivation, desire to succeed, perseverance, and spirit. May God continue to bless Sarah by granting her wisdom and glowing health. When you pray, remember Sarah Tarpley in your prayers.]
Posted on
Mon, February 7, 2011
by Hugh Morgan