Stripes: Reservist draws on war lessons in his day job: Iowa lawmaker

[lebkuchen]

When it comes to the military, Iowa state Rep. Royd Chambers has a better command of the topic than most politicians.

That’s because he’s still in the military, serving as a staff sergeant in the Air National Guard.

Chambers returned to his district last week after completing a three-month deployment to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, where he worked as a chaplain assistant. The tour at the hospital, which has treated thousands of casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan, has opened his eyes to what servicemembers go through.

“Folks can be very supportive of the military,” he said, “but if you haven’t been in the military, there is a lack of complete understanding about what kind of situation that is, what kind of lifestyle these people have, what kind of pressures are put on them, what kind of mission they have to perform.”

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?article=32180§ion=104

What's strange about this article is that there is a demand for the MOS of chaplains and medics in the field. Why didn't Chambers volunteer on the front, to learn some real "war lessons?"

BTW, Chambers sponsors Resolution 33 in the State of IA:

A resolution urging the United States Senators from the State of Iowa to support President Bush's Nominees to the federal courts and to the United States Supreme Court.

http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&ga=81&hbill=HR33

[Name removed]

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[lebkuchen]

2. Because the article says he volunteered for Landstuhl

He volunteered for duty at Landstuhl, where he helped support hundreds of patients — some of them severely wounded in combat.

BFD

Why not volunteer for where the action is, for a real "wartime" experience?

[Name removed]

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[lebkuchen]

6. He volunteered for Landstuhl i.e. non-combat arena

I wonder why.

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[lebkuchen]

13. MOSs for medics and chaplains in the field are not being filled

and so the DoD must rely heavily on the NG/Reserve units.

Military fatalities

Period US UK Other Total Average Days

10-2005 32 0 1 33 2.54 13


US military fatalities Afghanistan

Period Total
+ 2005 89
+ 2004 52
+ 2003 47
+ 2002 43
+ 2001 12
Total 243

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[lebkuchen]

17. Landstuhl is on an army base, near an air force base

The patients are predominantly army/marines.

As an AF chaplain's assistant, perhaps his services could be better served at Luke AFB, AZ? It would be all the safer. Photo ops aren't as prime, though.

[Name removed]

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[lebkuchen]

21. Then whether a chaplain's assistant is AF or army or navy

at Landstuhl, or, for that matter, at Balad AFB, Iraq, from where the wounded are flown to Landstuhl, it wouldn't matter.

Since Chambers is Air National Guard, wouldn't he be better suited for, not to mention, most needed, in Balad, at the heart of the "operation?" Or does he not have the 7 weeks required training time available for even the most rudamentary of chaplain assistant positions? If not, then what the hell is he doing at Landstuhl?

[Name removed]

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[lebkuchen]

24. maybe

oops. There goes another one. One hopes he had a chaplain, or at the very least, a chaplain's assistant, by his side, no matter what branch of service. They're needed!

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Casualty_Report.asp?CasualtyReport=20051015.txt

[tx_dem41]

3. I don't begrudge any of his experience.

For a man to serve as a chaplain at one of the main medical centers for casualties in this war is an honorable duty.

[lebkuchen]

5. Chaplains are a dime a dozen at Landstuhl

I'm sure you don't begrudge the Girl Scouts delivering cookies to the wounded, either, but it doesn't deserve a newspaper distinction.

This is just another RW photo-op.

[Name removed]

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[lebkuchen]

9. So are their "assistants."

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[tx_dem41]

11. You have noticed that this is from the Stars and Stripes haven't you...

You might not think it deserves a newspaper distinction....I don't think it deserves a slam.

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[Benhurst]

15. And he's continuing to serve

the Bush Crime Family at home. At least he's consistent.

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[lebkuchen]

19. Chimpy "served" too.

I expect to see Delay, Frist, Rove and Libby at Landstuhl any day now--though they shouldn't count on a front page article and a standing ovation. When Rumsfeld tried to photo op at Walter Reed with a handful of amputees awhile back, the wounded refused to participate.

I know, first hand, because I know a prosthetic specialist there.

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[lebkuchen]

22. It was an analogy

never mind.

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[lebkuchen]

26. Rummy controls those stats now, all branches

You might want to send him a memo.

[Hobarticus]

27. Methinks much ado about nothing...

I did notice this:

"One of the first things he plans to do when he gets back is to make sure returning troops are getting the support they need from the state."

Guess he'll be switching parties, then.

[lebkuchen]

28. I most noticed this:

Chambers returned to his district last week after completing a three-month deployment

and this:

He is the ultimate public servant. In addition to juggling duties as a state lawmaker and guardsman, the 44-year-old is a full-time high-school teacher. He is married with two children.

What NG wouldn't love to get a three month deployment, to Germany no less, not to mention his job back upon return, and then showered with accolades for being "the ultimate public servant?"


and I hate "me thinks"

[Hobarticus]

29. Yeah, three months is pretty light, any more

Not exactly hard duty. Think S&S is trying to find happy stories anywhere they can.

And I hate italics.

[lebkuchen]

31. Do you hate bold, too?

Regardless, I think the point has been made.

[Hobarticus]

32. A splash of bold is a nice touch. n/t

[Skidmore]

30. This is an aside, but why the heck would you

name your son "Royd". A kid could come up with a bad attitude going through adolescence with a name like that. Might as well have named him "Sue".

[lebkuchen]

33. Chambers is regal, though

not like Gaylord Focker, but still...

[Benhurst]

34. So that you can point at and say,

"Him Royd."