An Interview With An Officer

The Biblical Perspective of a Military Veteran

Why don’t we get another person’s perspective? My last post was about ministry and serving in the Military, but today, I continue that discussion with an interview I conducted with my Father, a retired 25-year veteran officer in the US Air Force. 

He discusses his thoughts and beliefs about several different topics having to do with the ministry in the military, and serving the Lord where He has been placed. 

So now, let me introduce to you, Colonel Crane. 

How important, in your opinion, is representing Christ in the Military Environment?

I think that representing Christ in any environment that I find myself, Military included, is my preeminent calling. Because Christ is the One that redeemed me back from sin, and I ought to serve Him.

Have you had any struggle representing Christ in your military experience?

I don’t know of any environment on earth where there is no challenge in representing Christ - the military is no exception. But frankly I sensed it was easier to be an ambassador for Christ [in the military], because the military calling (especially forward operations) gives you a special appreciation for our  need for our Creator, and an eye opener to our national indebtedness to His providence. 

Would you say your military experience has changed the way that you serve?

Definitely. The Military has been my life for the majority of my years on earth. It shaped the way I serve and my perspective, because it opened my eyes to dynamics of life I hadn’t known. One of those dynamics is the appreciation for what is important in life. Moving from place to place, culture to culture, and challenge to challenge revealed how relatively pointless some of the things were that I was caught up in as a comfortable American. I was given a better appreciation of what people went through in the world, and the value I need to put in people, not stuff.  

It reminds me of what Peter wrote in the New Testament about Christians being citizens of Heaven first and foremost. And sometimes we forget that and we start acting like our chief identity is our citizenship in this world. Sometimes wherever the world drifts, wherever our culture points, seems the way we must go…to adapt and conform to that.  But Paul tells us in Romans to “be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.”

You start realizing that things and comforts aren’t as important as they first seem in light of the plight and sacrifices of many peoples around the world.  You start to see what this world is coming to and vividly see our need to trust in a Savior.  People are why God has us on this earth, and I need to take my mind off myself and see them with His eyes. 

Was it hard to find good Christian churches in your travels around the world?

I never found it difficult to find Christians, but If you are talking about a traditionally organized church like what you would find in America, then yes, sometimes it was difficult to find them, especially in countries that are hostile toward Christianity. 

Can you explain something about ministry in the military that a civilian might not understand or know?

One of the dynamics is that people are always coming and going. Unless you find a military community that has a lot of long-term residents that are retired,  people are always moving every few years, and so it’s hard to get the stability of their relationships. 

On the other hand, because it’s so dynamic, many people have learned that you need to engage and get involved very quickly. And so that was a refreshing part of working in the military, because people were more readily jumping in as soon as they got there, knowing that they have a limited amount of time to serve. They wouldn’t languish for years and years, not getting involved.

In conclusion:

I hope you learned something today! My father is a good example of how you can learn to serve the Lord wherever He puts you. And I hope that you might be able to take this example and put it into practice in your own life. Because, like my Father said, our ultimate citizenship is in heaven first and foremost.

It’s just another day in the life of a military kid.

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Ministry In The Military

There's no atheists in the foxhole. 

You may have heard the famous phrase, “There’s no Atheists in the Foxhole,” which basically says that those facing war tend to seek for God’s supernatural hand of protection. This isn't universally the case, but the point that I am trying to make is that we in the military typically have a more serious mindset towards life. We understand the reality of losing our soldiers, airmen, and sailors to war, and it sobers us. It makes us appreciate life more, and causes us to seek the Lord in our lives. 

It is this environment that my family has learned to minister to. 

My family believes that the Lord has called all Christians to serve him in every aspect of our lives, from what we eat, to who we spend time with. The Bible says that whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we are supposed to do all to the glory of God. 

So we believe that since God placed us into the military environment, it is our duty to serve Him by ministering to those there however we are able. 

While we did our best to serve in every aspect of our lives, we were able to serve specifically to three different groups. 

1. Ministry to other families

• Military families stick together. We all share common lives, yet different lifestyles. So to help each other along the tough road, we tend to support each other as much as we can - it’s in our nature. My family has been able to minister to an incredible amount of people over the years in many different ways. We’ve helped people with their yards, we’ve babysat kids, we’ve moved them in and out of new houses, etc. If we had a chance to help them, we would jump at it.  

2. Ministry to active duty members

• There would not be a military environment if it weren’t for the men and women that serve our country in the military. They sacrifice so much to protect us and our nation, and they deserve our respect. My family has been able to minister towards these individuals by supporting their families, giving them simple blessings (like coffee in cold weather), and having them over for meals (especially the new folks who are still getting used to the military). You’d be surprised at how far a simple gesture of kindness can go.

3. Ministry toward folks of other nationalities

• Being in the military, we’ve traveled all over the world and met folks from many different countries. And each of these nationalities seem to have their own idea of what “Americans” act like - some think highly of us, but others not so much. But my family has been able to minister toward these folks and give them an example of what Christians act like, instead of only what Americans act like. We’ve made many friends, and I believe we will have these friendships for many years to come - as long as we keep in mind that we are here to minister to them, not the other way around. 

So in conclusion

My family found ways to minister to others in our lives and to bring glory to God, whether it be to other families, active duty members, or people from other countries. We did our best to represent Christ to them, as we have been commanded to in the Bible. 

So as we continue to minister to those in our mission field, I challenge you to minister to those in yours. The Lord has provided the field, it’s time to go harvest. 

It’s just another day in the life of a military kid. 

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Holidays in a Military Home

With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, I thought I would explain a little about what it is like to experience a holiday in a military family. 

One thing that I have to clarify is that not all military families are the same. Yes, we all share some common attributes and habits, but every family has their own way of life that they practice. This is one of the aspects that make up the military lifestyle. We are a widely diverse, and very different from one another, yet we still stand united under the same cause for freedom. 

So with that understood…

Let me explain four attributes to holidays in a military family.

1. Differing Locations

Being in the military, the most we’ve ever spent at one assignment was about three years. (And that was quite a long time) So naturally, we spent almost every other Christmas in a different home, all over the world.

Now some would hear this a cringe, but there are others who would love it. There are ups and downs. 

The ups are that we’ve been able to spend our special days of the year in very amazing places. 

I can remember one Christmas in particular - we walked through an old town square of a small village in Germany. The snow lightly fell as we explored the many different christmas stands that were set up around the square, and sipped from steaming mugs of cider and hot chocolate. Christmas music filled the air, and they had fires set up randomly throughout the square. It was practically storybook beautiful. 

But one down is that we don’t get the opportunity to spend too many holidays with extended family. Every once and a while we get the chance to visit, but most often we don’t get that experience. 

2. Traditions

In order to combat the changing environments, my family has created many traditions that we practice, especially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time of year. 

These include small things like always inviting friends over for thanksgiving dinner, or opening a present on Christmas eve.

These small things are what we know to look forward to, and they make our holidays so much more fun.

3. Meeting People (again, and again, and again)

The military is a small place. It’s not uncommon to be stationed with one family on one base, and then turn around three years later and be stationed with them again on a different base. There’s a constant circular door in the military and its great. 

So it’s not uncommon to spend the holiday with someone at one base, and then spend that same holiday with that same person at a completely different base. It’s a revolving door of friends. 

4. Care Packages

So many times in military life active duty members are sent overseas to fight for our country. And on many occasions, these deployments happen over the holidays. So to make due, families will send care packages filled with presents, letters, treats, and love from home to these soldiers, airmen, and sailors. It's one way that we cope. 

In closing:

Think about what YOU do for your holidays. Are there things that you do with your family and friends that are different than most other people? What are the things that you love to do, or would want to do?

And then why not make some new memories this year? Go out and do something different, and maybe you’ll find a new tradition for your holidays. 

It’s just another day in the life of a military kid. 

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Vacations As a Military Kid

Do military folk even get vacations?

Very simply put, yes we do.
Active duty personnel work hard and long - just like civilians - and also get vacation time - just like civilians. We are given a set amount of days off, and we try to make every moment of those days count.

So then what do we do?

Often times, military families take their vacations wherever they are stationed. Growing up in a different country or state every two years gives you many different options to choose from. So it is not uncommon to visit amazing places like the Eiffel Tower, or the Great Wall of China. 

But there's nothing like our family camp.

I know this might sound cliché, but despite how awesome and amazing all these new sights can be, there's no place like home. 

Somehow, in spite of all our traveling, my family was able to visit one camp all through my high school. This military-focused retreat center, White Sulphur Springs, gave us a concrete place that we would be able to go to for rest, relaxation, and fun for the family. 

I can't explain all the incredible memories I have of this place, and hopefully I'll be able to continue to visit for the rest of my life.

In conclusion:

 I am including a quick video of this camp to give you an idea of what I am talking about. It is incredible the things that this center does for military folk, and I hope they never stop.

(p.s. It looks awesome in HD)

It's just another day in the life of a military kid.

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What To Do On a Military Base

I mean, is there really anything to do?

A lot of people think that military bases are just official compounds surrounded by barbwire with guys in uniforms running around with guns. However, most bases are a quite different than that.

Yes, there is barbwire surrounding the bases, and yes, there are military police who carry guns, but those aren't the only things there. This following presentation will give you a very brief overview on what is available for you to do while living on base. 

Queue the presentation:

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Experiencing A Deployment from the Home Front

How We Survived

Almost every military family will experience a deployment at some point in their military experience. 

Obviously this is not universal, but it is very common to see families around base that are temporarily missing a family member due to a deployment.

I have personally experienced my Dad deploying on two separate occasions, and interestingly, both times were very different. Granted, his deployments were several years apart from each other, so there was a large age difference between the events. But this life of deployment is something that most civilian families don’t understand. 

So today, I would like to explain to you a short version of what it is like to experience a deployment from the home front. 

It starts with the orders for deployment. 

Sometimes they will give this order with much breathing room to prepare, but other times they only give you a few days or weeks heads-up. Either way, it is always hard to receive the news. 

In fact, both times that my Dad received his orders, my parents kept the news to themselves for the first few days, just to prepare themselves to tell us kids. But no matter how carefully they worded it, it was still a shock to hear, and extremely tough to accept. 

We receive the orders, and Dad goes through the training and lectures in preparation for the few months, weeks, or days before the actual day comes, and then…

 

The tough part is goodbye. 

Before he would leave, we would take about a week long vacation away with him. This is a common tradition for military families - to take some time with their loved ones before their deployment.

So the day came, and we would drive him to the airport, and tearfully wait for him to board the plane. 

Above most everything else in the deployment process, this part is probably the hardest, especially for my Mom. The few agonizingly short minutes before he left were filled with tears, hugs, and “I love you"s. 

And then he was gone.

The word I would use to describe the time that he was away would probably be “endless”. The days upon days living with him away seemed to go on forever.

We were able to maintain our sanity by keeping in touch through letters, care packages, phone calls, and even a few Skype sessions, which we all looked forward to with great expectancy. 

But still, time passed very, very slowly. 

And finally, he’s coming home.

Excitement grows the closer the day gets. Mom would get more and more thrilled as the time came close, and us kids would become rowdy and hyper. There was an underlying tone of happiness that would never fail to increase. 

And then the day would come. We would drive the same rout to the airport that we did many months back when we were dropping him off, but on these times the mood of the car would be completely different. The excitement was static. 

At the airport, we would stand together as a group, holding our “welcome home!” signs high, and wearing our red, white, and blue, proudly. 

And then he would walk through the gate, and nothing could hold us back. 

The months of waiting finally paid off during those few moments of reunion, and I cannot express the joy we all experienced during those embraces.  

In conclusion:

These experiences are one of the elements that define the military family life. They’re hard, yes, but still needed. I am proud that my Dad has served our good nation on many different occasions, and I wouldn’t ask him anything different. 

So next time you see someone wearing a yellow ribbon or a service star, please thank them for their sacrifice. For they are serving our country as well. 

It’s just another day in the life of a military kid. 

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Snapshots From A Military Kid's Life

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

At times, you can explain more with a photo than you can with words. So in light of that, I have created a slideshow that has a few snapshots of things that a military brat would see everyday. 

Each photo should have some type of caption that explains a little for you. 

*all photos taken and copyrighted by myself*

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Another Opinion

How much is my opinion and experience worth? 

I can write and explain how I see things all day, but in the end, it’s only my opinion. So understanding that, I think it’s a good idea to talk to others - to learn the way that they think, and the things they believe. 

*My Best Friend, Nick

Therefore, let me introduce to you my best friend, Nick. 

Nick and I met about five years ago when both of our families were stationed together on the same base, and we became great friends as we both experienced the same things that military life throws at you. Nick, just like me, has been a military brat his whole life. (follow this link to see what ‘military brat’ means) His Dad serves in the Army, and he has been stationed in over 12 different places. 

I met up with him the other day to ask him a few questions about what he thought about being a brat. 

These are his responses.

Q: How are military brats different from civilian kids?

“You can’t really stereotype them, so you can’t say that the same is true about everything. But one thing that I have noticed is that people in the military tend to be more outgoing, or quicker to make friends, I think, than people that aren’t in the military. 

And I think its due to the fact that you live in the same place for two years, you have to make friends really closely, enjoy it, and then you know you’re moving on. You want to treasure what you have, even if it’s for a short time. So it’s just quicker - it comes more natural to you.”

Q: What was the most exciting thing about being a military brat?

“Well you know, getting to know new people, getting to know friends all over the world, getting to travel around and explore new places. Not very many people get the opportunity to do that. 

I think on one side of it, I’ve always wanted a home town to grow up in, a family and the same friends for my whole life. But then on the other side, that’s one of the biggest blessings - it’s that I get to travel all over. 

Q: What is it like moving all the time?

“Really for us, it wasn’t a whole lot of planning. It was just a sudden ‘Hey, we’re moving in a month or two, just get ready.’ And I had done it my whole life, so it seemed kinda normal. It was really sad, having to say goodbye to friends and church and all the connections you make. But it was exciting too, I mean, going to someplace new was always a little nerve-wracking for a kid. But there is always that excitement, that wonder of going into something new.” 

Q: How do you cope with leaving friends all the time?

“I think it was totally different now than when I was a kid. But even when I was younger, there was Email, I guess, but usually you just leave them, and you have to deal with it. 

But now I left my friends and I haven’t talked to them in four years, and yet I know every single thing that’s going on in their life, and I can talk to them face-to-face almost at any second of the entire day. So it’s not like you leave people anymore.”

Q: How good of an education do military families get?

“I mean it depends - I was homeschooled, so I consider that pretty good. So I feel adequately prepared for school. But you can go to a public school, or you can go to a base school that they provide, or you can go to a private school. Really you have the same options as any other kid.”

Q: What have you learned while being a military brat?

“I learned - it’s a big thing for me - to just trust in the Lord and be flexible. And, you know, as much as I would like to have just lived in the same place with my friends, sometimes it’s just not what He has planned. And you just need to be willing to go where He leads. 

So to just trust Him and not worry about the little things, to just take a step back and see the great adventure that God’s taking us on. That He can use for His glory - to spread His word.”

*Myself and Nick

In closing:

Nick and I share a very similar mindset on most topics having to do with the military brat life. We’re proud to have been through these experiences, and I don’t believe we’d trade them for anything. 

So next time you run into a military family, perhaps you can relate a little more to the kids there. Maybe even give them an encouraging word or two - I’m quite sure they’d appreciate it, because I know I would. 

It’s just another day in the life of a military kid.

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Three Aspects of Military Brat Life

*From USAF Official Facebook Page

I'm a military brat, and proud of it. 

Now that phrase may have you assuming that I’m a bratty military kid, but let me stop you and explain what “military brat” actually means. 

Most believe the term “military brat” was coined all the way back during the British Empire, when the british soldiers were expected to fend for themselves during times of war. To help with that expectation, many of the soldiers would bring their families to cook and wash for them. These civilian families were labeled Military “British Regiment Attached Travelers,” and thus, Military BRATs. The term evolved through the years, and now simply refers to the children of active duty Military members. 

Now, everyone knows that living in a military family makes life a little bit different than most Americans, but not very many actually know what everyday life is like. 

Today, I’d love to introduce you to a just few things that we go through during our lives, and perhaps you’ll get somewhat of a picture of what it’s like.

The Three Aspects of Brat Life

 1. Uniforms Everywhere.

If you live anywhere near a military base, you are almost certain to see quite a few uniforms around, but as a military brat - uniforms are all you see! In fact, its rare to see anyone in a suit at all. And it’s not uncommon for us to be able to recognize what branch each member is a part of, simply by studying the type of uniform. 

2. The BX/PX and Commissary

*From USAF Official Facebook Page

When your parents go to the store for groceries or supplies, they might frequent a grocery store or mall. But as a military brat, we have BXes and Commissaries. 

The BX (or PX) stands for Base (or Post) Exchange - these offer basic home supplies, electronics, movies, games, clothing, etc. They’re basically our go-to stores for anything besides food. 

And then the commissary is our food store. They offer a wide variety of foods, from different cultures to different brands. They offer pretty much everything.

3. It’s a Small World

One of the most interesting aspects to being in the military is how small it makes the world. My family moved almost every two years of my life, and in each of these places we meet a whole new set of people. But the thing is - when we move so often, it’s not uncommon to run into people that you’ve been stationed with in the past. There’s a sense of “Don’t worry, we’ll see you again,” every time we move away from friends. 

So there’s three little aspects of being a military brat. 

They don’t cover everything, but hopefully they give you a taste of what we experience everyday. 

It’s just another day in the life of a military kid.

*From USAF Official Facebook Page

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