Ch. Linda Olson

Here's my bit of news - I'm not retiring (from active duty). At literally the last hours before I was to sign my papers and leave, we got orders to Travis AFB, CA, just down the road. It's the only place Mickey and I wanted to go, the orders really should not have come but they did. So Mickey asked me to stay in by saying, "Can you do 2 more?" So off we go to Travis with a new lease on life, empowered by God to keep working.

You know, I'm 59 (grandmother of 2 now) and never thought I'd be in this long, never wanted to go beyond Major (I've succeeded with that and likely won't try to recover and get Lt Col - I'm going to work on a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy) but now I feel renewed and "re-blued" to work a little longer to age 61 or 62, then I have to go.

I'd appreciate prayers for Mickey's health - I'd like to see a miracle healing for his lungs so if any sisters have the faith for that please join me in my prayer! Blessings & Peace, Linda

From Ch Crystal Jones: Blessings to you…As you may have heard, I left active duty after my nine months in USAFE in 2007 (Incirlik) and am enjoying life as IMA to the Senior Protestant Chaplain attached at Andrews AFB, MD...about 10 miles from our home. Although the switch was bitter sweet and the transition is tough, I am enjoying the wonderful time that I now have to learn how to be a wife, mother, and intercessor. Who knew that prayer and housekeeping went so well together :-0! Here’s a picture of me and my girls in summer uniform :0)

From Ch Cassandra Thomas, retired: Two years after deploying to Afghanistan and providing ministry in a Canadian military friendly fire incident and one year after retiring, I found myself in Canada for a military court martial. There’s a long story behind the USAF legal and chaplain service guidance that “encouraged” me to go. But I trusted in God that there was a reason I had to go…there was. This is my recent email to Ch, Col XXXX (who was my command chaplain in 2007) on the results of the court martial and my thoughts on the situation...

Sir, I was not surprised at the (guilty) verdict. It was a tragic accident that needed closure for all involved.

You know that I didn't want to go for chance of being asked a question related to privileged communication. However, I went leaving it all in God's hands. Once I got there I understood why God meant for me to be there...it was to help encourage the chaplain assistants who assisted me with the defendant right after the incident occurred. My NCOIC at the time, TSgt James Hayes, was there and helped but his testimony wasn't as difficult as the other chaplain assistant, Sgt James (Jim) Bearup, US Army, who was the main one that coordinated bringing the defendant to me for pastoral care. The prosecutor harped on statements that Bearup had later retracted per the defense attorney's direction about things said to the defendant that were considered privileged communication per chaplain service instructions. They called Bearup in early and interviewed him daily trying to wear him down. When I arrived at my hotel in Sydney Nova Scotia, I happened to meet up with James and Jim and based upon what they shared with me, I knew I was there to encourage them and support them as chaplain assistants with protection of our chaplain service instructions of privileged communication coverage for them when acting in conjunction with their duties supporting a chaplain. It made the trip worthwhile and taught me a lesson...it's not just about chaplains called to trials/court martials; it's about protecting and supporting our chaplain assistants too. Courts understand clearly about a chaplain's protection of privileged communication but not chaplain assistants. This especially applies regarding NATO military whose chaplains (padres) do not have assistants provided to them as a separate and distinct career field. I'm glad I could support our enlisted-USAF and USA-during such a circumstance as this and would gladly do it again.

P.S. Oh, the prosecutor did try to get me to reveal information said during privileged communication with the defendant, but the judge sustained that and supported me. :0) Sincerely, Sandy

See Canadian newspaper article on trial outcome:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Soldier+shot+comrade+tent+found+guilty+criminal+negligence/1847998/story.html