encore
In the Army Now
A Navy Reserve-turned-Army officer has a momentary slip back to his Navy days while leading his Army Reserve Chaplain Corps classmates during training.
I was a Navy Reserve intelligence officer before and during my seminary training. After ordination, I transferred to the Army Reserve Chaplain Corps as a captain and soon reported for the Army chaplain basic course, where I was named class leader, based on my date of rank.
Being such a new Army officer, I requested someone else be the leader. The response was I would remain class leader, though I could consult with fellow chaplains and school staff. I answered with my only available response, “Yes, sir!” Fortunately, I did not out of Navy habit reply, “Aye, aye, sir.”
At the time, the chaplain school was located at Fort Monmouth, N.J., where we did our academic studies. Field training was at Fort Dix, N.J., about 50 miles away. At school, my leader responsibilities were mostly administrative, and I needed to know only a few basic Army commands.
After classroom training, it was time to “get down and dirty” at Fort Dix. During these full and exhausting weeks, we bivouacked, learned map reading and land navigation, tearfully took off our masks in the gas chamber, did physical training, endured short nights, and got very tired.
Finally, our last day at Fort Dix arrived. Exhausted, we got up early, packed our things, cleaned the barracks, and put on dress uniforms for our final Dix formation. I ordered “fall in,” and the chaplains formed up sharply in front of me. Our drill sergeant stood to the side, observing. Student platoon leaders reported, “All present or accounted for, sir.” A few announcements were made, and it was time to move the chaplains to the awaiting buses, on my right.
So I ordered, “Right face!” As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized my error. The buses were to my right but to the formation’s left. I had to countermand my order immediately or the soldiers would be headed away from, not toward, the buses. My stressed, foggy mind quickly pulled up such an order, but unfortunately a Navy one: “Belay that order!”
I saw the drill sergeant’s head jerk my way, as he mouthed, “Belay that order?” The look jolted me back to Army awareness, and I quickly shouted, “As you were!” Hyper-alert, I ordered, “Left face” and proceeded — with Army commands — to get us on the buses headed for blessed Fort Monmouth.
MO
— Col. Larry Harrelson is a retired Army National Guard chaplain and a retired church pastor. He lives in Meridian, Idaho, and is a member of MOAA’s Boise Valley Chapter. For submission information, see page 6.
Tell Your Story Submit your service-related adventures (or mishaps) of 450 to 500 words by email to
encore@moaa.org or by mail to Encore Editor, 201 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. All submissions will be considered for publication.
92 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2013
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