Getting Ready....Running....Exercising. Thank God for the nice weather!

It's been too long since I have written!  Since my commissioning on February 17th, I've been getting ready.

Getting Ready to Move

I have been packing like a maniac. Trying to get my life organized into boxes labeled: "Take with me to the Navy,"  "Keep for Future Parish Use" and "Give away."  After talking to Chaplains Fr. Joe Coffey and Fr. Frank Foley, I realized that I won't be able to bring much with me. Fr. Joe told me, "Pat, just remember you have to lug this stuff wherever you go! So pack light."  Fr. Frank said pretty much the same thing. I thought I was going to bring a whole bunch of books on Scripture and Theology with me in case I needed them. However, I realized I can't really bring much. This will make me depend on God more. Imagine that.

I am surrounded by full and partially packed boxes. I have given boxes of books to the library and parishioners and clothes, etc to Ocean County Hunger Relief. I have more stuff to get rid of. Feels good to detach and declutter. It's is hard to let go, though.

I will be leaving St. Joe's on July 1st. Then training until mid-November. 

Getting Ready to Train!

I have been running and hitting the gym. Pushups and situps. Getting ready for the PRT physical test. I did a "mini-PRT" last Saturday and did 42 pushups in 2 minutes, 57 situps and then ran 1.5 miles in 12:07!!! I was very surprised at the situps (increased from 50) and the last 1.5 miles was 12:33. So I took off another 23 seconds!! Getting there. I am going to break the 12:00 minute mark!!

Today  ran the longest run so far 4.6 miles in 45.5 minutes. I want to be able to do at least 5 miles before August. 

My goal is to make it to the excellent range: 60 pushups 78 situps and 1.5 miles in 11:23 by August training. I still have a long way to go.

Thank you God, for the beautiful weather last week and this week. I ran 4 days last week in high 50s - mid 60s and it was bright blue skies and the trees are blooming. Awesome to run around Toms River this time of year!

Wish me luck!

An Officer in the US Navy!

On Sunday, February 17th, I was commissioned a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Navy. About 250 people stayed after the noon mass and were present as my recruiter, Lieutenant Mike Maher, swore me in. It was very exciting. I hadn't been that excited since my first mass here at St. Joe's!

Here are some pictures. Lt. Maher began by expressing his thanks for everyone that came. He said he expected just a few people so it was a bit overwhelming to see all the support. I appreciate the kind words he said about me.

 Then he swore me in by leading me in an oath:

"I, Patrick McPartland, having been appointed a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the United States Navy, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

After that, I was presented with a certificate stating that I had been appointed an officer by the President

Afterword, we have some light refreshments and many people congratulated me. I took some pictures with the Knights of Columbus Motorcycle Ministry members, whom I ride with. Then I gave them a blessing. My nephew, Brandon joined in some of the pictures.

I took some more pictures with my family, including my cousins Rosie and Rose.

Then some with mom and me....

Then a couple with me and Lt. Maher.

What a great event. People have been asking me about it the last few days. So many people support me in this journey. How awesome!

COM DOCS

Today I received a call from Lt. Mike Maher. He told me that he officially received my COM DOCS - commissioning documents. Now I can schedule when to be commissioned a Navy Officer. I will be looking to schedule the Commissioning ceremony after the 12 noon mass soon. 

The letter states that I will be commissioned a Lieutenant J.G. (Junior Grade) which is 1 1/2 stripes or one silver bar. Very cool.

On another note. I have a cold and it's stopped me from exercising for now. Grrr! I am on antibiotics and hope to be back in the game soon. I had just run 1.5 miles in 12:35 - 6 seconds faster last Tuesday. I won't worry too much - I still have 6 months to train!

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

"You have been selected..." (so excited)

Got a call from Chaplain Joel DeGraeve today. He informed me that the Navy selected me to be a Navy Chaplain! I had a great feeling of excitement for the future at his words.

I will stay at the parish until July 1st (the next regular rotation of priests.) Then I will head out for training in August. 5 weeks Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport followed by 7 weeks of Chaplain School at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

In the next months, I will get all my ducks in a row and double my efforts to be in shape -- the best shape of my life. In the words of Chaplain Joe Coffey, "you can get a little fat over Christmas, but in January, hit the gym!"

Stay tuned, my friends....now the Journey starts to get interesting!