Preparing Myself to Leave and Dealing with the Body

I placed a little blurb in St. Joe's parish bulletin describing that I was accepted to the Navy and would be leaving the parish July 1st. I received a very nice response from people:  a combination of sad to see me go and excited for my journey. It is affirming that people want me to stay.

I have started to encounter events that I won't be around for, usually when looking at the calendar in October or weddings that will be coming late 2013 and into 2014. I am starting to see the activities and people I will miss. I guess it is reminder of what I usually say to seniors in the high school, "look around, enjoy these last months, notice the people who have helped you along the way...the people you will miss most."

I also talked to a priest Chaplain, Fr. Frank Foley from Philly. He was very helpful last year when I was discerning this call to the chaplaincy by sharing his story and experience with me. He will be heading to Afghanistan next month, so keep him in prayer. I am very interested in how he will prepare to celebrate the high holy days of Holy Week and Easter in the desert.

Dealing with the Body

Well, I ran into some minor trouble with physical training. This week my wrists started to hurt a bit. Probably from the pushups and pullups. (Although sleeping wrong on them might have something to do with it.)
Luckily at the parish and schools there are many great coaches. So I talked with Coach Dan Duddy and Coach Cat Werner. They showed me how to wrap my wrists so they won't get in the way of training. I wrapped them today and just cranked out 25+20+40 pushups without any pain. Feels good! Thanks Dan and Cat!

Final Signature, Fingerprints.....Start Training

http://www.navy.mil/local/crb/

I went to the NRD Philly (Naval Recruiting District Philadelphia) to signs some final documents and left with purple fingertips from old fashioned, non-digital fingerprinting.

The next thing is that my recruiter, Lt. Mike Maher, will receive the COMDOCS - Commissioning Documents. When these are received, I can set up being commissioned a DCO (Direct Commission Officer) and I will find out what rating I'll come in as:  either a Lieutenant J.G. (Junior Grade) with 1/2 stripes or a full Lieutenant (two stripes.)

I hope to do the Commissioning Ceremony after 12noon Sunday mass soon after. Stay Tuned.


Start Training.
Went to the gym Tuesday and Tonight. My base in physical requirements so far is 42 pushups in 2 minutes, I did 50 situps (on the slightly inclined bench) in 2 minutes and I ran 1.5 miles in 12:43 and almost died (Not really.) For my age, that would earn me "Good" across the board for Navy PRT. Not bad.

So I have a ways to go to "Excellent," 60 pushups, 78 situps and 1.5 miles in 11:23...

Time for RBA!

Next week, I will start RBA (Ready By August.)  This will be my physical preparation for the Navy PRT fitness test. The Chaplains recommend to be in great shape so the physical part of ODS (officer Development School) and Chaplaincy Training is easy.

So I looked at the requirements for a male age 35 to 39.
The minimum requirements are 37 situps in 2 minutes and 27 pushups in 2 minutes and 1.5 mile run in 15 minutes.

I have been able to do up to 50 situps and 50 pushups and I also ran 2 miles in 16:42 a couple weeks ago. So I think passing is no problem. But - hey - this is for the Navy. Why settle for passing? So I looked at the next steps up, Good, Excellent and Outstanding. I decided to set my goal for getting Excellent across the board. 

The requirements for Excellent are: 78 situps, 60 pushups and 1.5 mile run in 11:23. 

That's my goal. It's a little crazy, but I think it is doable if I work hard.

I have two buds, Mike and Pat, that will be training with me and I may hook up with some other folks for encouragement.

Wish me luck. RBA!

Pat