Chapter Four - part one

                        Chapter Four

             Doolies and Duty

    The bus ride up to the Hill was much as he had expected it to be. The cadre, the older cadets in charge of training, did a lot of screaming and yelling. James saw several of the other new recruits, called Doolies, on the bus with him get yelled at a lot more, because they smiled or did something else to draw more attention. It made little difference in the end though. Everybody got yelled at sooner or later. Once on the Hill they were dropped off the bus and began to form ranks for the first time. There were footprints painted for them to stand in, but in spite of their best efforts they still got screamed at. It was all part of the training. The remainder of the day soon became one big blur. There never seemed to actually be a time when he couldn't at least hear someone screaming at some poor Doolie. He took his fair share of it too. By the end of the day James was both physically and mentally exhausted. He doubted that any of the Doolies were much better off and a few were likely a lot worse off than him. Most of the Doolies could and would make the adjustments that were required to stay on the Hill. Some wouldn't be able to though and they would leave. James even wondered which he would be.

    The next morning started before dawn. They were rudely woke and hustled out of bed. Another long day had begun. A lot more yelling and correction took place about the proper way to get dressed. There wasn't much that they could do properly, not as far and the cadre was concerned. He did spot Jeremy during the morning. Jeremy looked as content with things as anyone did among the Doolies. One of the first big things they all had to do as a group was making the oath of allegiance as cadets. They had marched out in front of everyone, including some parents and other visitors watching from the Chapel wall to take that oath. James had been more than a little relieved when he heard several add the words 'so help me God' to the end of that oath. It hadn't been required for a long time and from the looks he received adding those words was probably frowned upon, but apparently there were more than him who were still willing to make it an oath before the Lord too.

    Most of the first couple of weeks was spent learning what it meant to be in the military. There was now a proper way to speak and even a proper way to ask permission to speak. Doolies could do nothing without permission, not even breath, or so the cadre said. There was also scheduling and testing to be done in preparation for the coming academic year. James tested out of a lot of the normal first year required classes in math and science. That alone was enough to earn him extra attention from some of the cadre. He soon began to wonder if testing out of those classes was going to be worth all the added grief he was getting now. Still it seemed to have earned him a little more respect along with the added grief. He still hadn't seen Shanna or Sabella since they were separated at in processing. He wondered how Sabella was handling all of this. She wasn't one to take kindly to being submissive, regardless of the reason. Shanna could likely handle it fine, but he still wondered how they were doing. He had seen Jeremy a couple of times and had even managed to exchange smiles with him without getting caught. It was tough, but nothing he hadn't expected. In fact there had been less done about his Bible than he had expected them to do or to say.

    As the days past, the physical training became more intense. They would soon be headed out to Jack's Valley to begin the actual basic training. James had managed to make a few friends among the other Doolies in his unit. He had even managed to earn the respect of a couple of the cadre. That had happened partly because he was a quick learner and partly because he was able to keep up with them during the physical part of the training. One of the more severe cadre had tried to break him the third day in, by running him until he dropped. James had struggled a little, but in the end it was the cadre who broke. They were both drenched with sweat and gasping for air when a real officer had stepped in. The next day even the cadre who had tried to break him had shown him a little less attitude.

    The march to Jack's Valley was a long hot march, but James was ready for it. Most of the Doolies were ready. They all dreaded it, but they also looked forward to it. After this was over they would soon be starting classes. Life might never return to normal for them again, but at least attending classes would be more normal than it was now. The march out was one he wouldn't soon forget. It was exciting marching off to face unknown challenges. They would have new cadre in charge of them too, so that would mean learning an entirely new chain of command. Pastor David had been right, life was filled with changes. Every day there seemed to be a new requirement or duty they were expected to know by heart. At least they were making progress. Every day that passed was one day closer to becoming true cadets. Right now as far as the cadre was concerned they were all just Doolies and not worth the trouble they caused. James enjoyed marching outside in the open spaces. It was great to be away from the Academy grounds for a change. It was almost like a taste of freedom... almost.

    Jack's Valley was a big tent city. The Doolies did most of the work setting it all up. The training areas were already set up and waiting. That first day and a good part of the second they spent doing the set up in their individual areas and getting familiar with the place. They did plenty of running and exercises too, but mostly they were just getting familiar with their new home and routine for the next few weeks. They had marched out on Friday, so they would have a weekend to get set up and ready for the three full weeks of intensive training that was about to start. With each day that passed the Doolies had grown closer to each other. Bonds were forming that would last their entire careers. Those bonds would be further strengthened here at Jack's Valley. James enjoyed that part of the training. The physical part wasn't a problem and the psychological wasn't really that bad either. There were issues that did bother him though. One of the first had been on that first Sunday at Jack's Valley. They had a day off for the most part on Sunday. Oh they still had certain duties and places to be, but a lot of their day was free. James had been going to services at the Chapel while at the Academy grounds. He had asked one of the cadres he liked about church services in the valley. Joe had frowned and motioned for James to step aside with him. Once out of earshot of the others, Joe had spoken softly to him. "I like you and I know that you are a Christian. I haven't said anything about that Bible you brought along, but you need to back off. You have the makings to be a real leader. You could go far. A lot of the guys above me have noticed you and I think a lot more will... but you have to let go of this religious stuff. At least while you are a cadet. Just say your prayers and do your thing in private, if you start asking about church services and doing that kind of thing openly they won't keep overlooking it. Forget all that religious garbage until you get out of the Academy. It will be a lot better for you, if you can do that."

    James had been stunned at first. Then he started to get angry, but he managed not to let that anger show. Instead, he decided to see just how serious this was and why Joe was warning him against something as simple as Sunday services. When Joe was finished James nodded as he spoke just as softly. "Sir, I appreciate the warning, but you need to know something. That Bible isn't just to look at, not for me. I read some of it almost every day. I am a Christian. I won't hide that or be ashamed of it. Now I asked about Sunday services, because I would like to go, if they have them here. I fully understand that being Christian may cause me a lot of trouble with the folks in charge here. So be it. I could go do my thing alone, but if possible I want to do it with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Now, will you tell me where I can do that or do I ask somebody else?" Joe had just shook his head and told James to go towards the mess tent and he would find what he was looking for. Then Joe had walked away looking disgusted and disappointed as well.

    James went back to the tent he shared with other Doolies and got his Bible. Then he headed towards the mess tent. Joe had been right. He spotted a small gathering of Doolies and even a couple of cadre seated under a small tree. There wasn't much shade and what there was had a single occupant. James was surprised to see a full bird Colonel in that spot. When he approached closer he was even more shocked to see it was a woman. She had her hair cut very short and it was mostly grey, but she wasn't really that old. At least she didn't look old enough to have that much grey hair. She was watching him closely until she saw the Bible in his hand. Then she smiled and indicated a place for him to take a seat. She went back to talking with one of the cadre. James recognized him as one of the firstees on the senior staff. Firstees were in the senior class at the Academy. This would be their last year before they became officers and assumed their assigned duties in the Air force. The Colonel and the firstee both seemed to be old friends. They talked about a lot of stuff, but nothing to do with God or church.

    Finally the Colonel looked around again and then turned her full attention to those gathered around her. Smiling she spoke for the first time to all of them. "Good morning to all of you. Well it looks like everyone that is going to join us has arrived, so let's get started. I am Colonel Katherine Ann Madison. You can call me Colonel Madison. If by some chance you manage to make it and become officers perhaps you will see me again during your careers. If that happens then with luck you can call me something besides Colonel Madison. I think General Madison would be nice, don't you?" She was smiling, but until the firstees finally burst out in laughter the Doolies were all afraid to do anything, even James had been bothered by her serious tone of voice. Once the laughter began she joined in and then everything seemed to ease up. She spent the next few minutes explaining who she was and why she was here. She was, well a hero, who had earned the right, and the privilege to pretty much choose what she wanted to do inside the Air Force, within certain limits. That was why she was able to be here today and would be every Sunday during the remainder of basic. Her next words after explaining why she was able to be there was to tell them why she chosen to be there.

    "I am a Christian. I serve my Lord and master before all others. That even comes before my oath to serve as an officer in the United States Air Force. That doesn't mean that the oath I took to serve and the one you hope to take means any less or that I won't honor that oath. In fact your oath as an officer should mean even more to you. How many of you here had the true faith and courage to add the most important words of all, 'so help me God', to your allegiance pledge?" She looked around as did everyone there. Most, but not all of those present, raised their hands. Nodding she continued. "Whether you added those words or not, the pledge you made, and the oath you will take will indeed at some point require just that...God's help. Without God's help, none of you will be able to do what you must do as both a Christian and an officer. You will eventually be forced to make a decision one day that will require you to choose who you serve first. Unless you truly do serve God first and do depend upon His help; I can promise you that choice will be an impossible one for you to make. It will be impossible to make it or to live with it after you do make it. I know because I have faced those types of decisions and had to live with them. Without God, you are truly lost. I can stand here before you today, because God stands with me. Without God, I would have fallen long ago. I assure you, I face constant scrutiny and even some harassment from those around me, from both those under my command, and those who command me. I am certain some and perhaps all of you have already faced a minor amount of the same. Rest assured it has only just begun. Once you return to the Academy to begin classes it will increase many times over and in many ways. Look around and notice how many of you are here today. Now look at how many are upper classmen. Look at the three who remained all the way, the firstees. They have strength of faith that few people have. That faith has sustained them all the way here. But they will tell you that faith alone didn't get them this far. God did."

    She stopped for a moment to let it all sink in. Then she continued. "That was the doom and gloom speech. Now let me show you the light. Open your Bibles to 1st Samuel 16. I want to talk to you about another man who served our God. I want to talk to you about David and the path he followed. It wasn't always an easy path and he didn't always make the best choices, but he never stopped serving God." The next few hours were spent listening to one of the most motivating talks James had ever heard. Colonel Madison was not only an outstanding officer, she was a devoted Christian. She made the stories of David come alive. She made them see themselves facing those same kinds of challenges. When she finally closed services with a prayer she had even the firstees wiping tears away when she finished that closing prayer. James finally understood what a sacrifice she was making by just being there with them. For the first time he knew that the next four years would indeed be a test of not only his heart, but his faith. He also knew that he wanted to be like her. He wanted to be a Christian willing to walk into a lion's den unafraid because of his faith in God.