by Sherrey Dennis
The following is adapted from a previous blog post Sherrey wrote.
I did it! In April of 2008, while my husband was deployed, I competed in the Combat Spouse Competition. The 4th Brigade spouses of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA joined together to become “soldiers for a day.” We participated in the same testing that our husbands do as soldiers, including the physical fitness test (PT), Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT), the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), Litter Carry, Drill and Ceremony, and the Combat Infantryman’s Test (CIT). It was a full day of work and training (not to mention the months of working out prior to the competition day.
Starting the day with the PT test, we completed all three of the components that the Army requires for its soldiers: a two-minute round of push-ups (full-on…not girlie), a two-minute round of sit-ups (not crunches), and a timed two-mile run.
After the PT test, we broke up into groups by battalion to complete the rest of the events. Our first event was drill and ceremony where we were “trained” by an actual drill sergeant. He even made us drop and do push-ups because we “looked too happy.”
After drill and ceremony, our battalion moved to the MOUT exercise. We camo-ed up and got our weapons ready to clear a building of hostiles. My job was to clear the stairwell and keep it guarded. I was pretty tough on the lady coming back from the bathroom.
We also tried our hand at weapons qualifying using the EST, an indoor, electronic shooting range. We took two tests, firing at targets at varying distances and then took a test firing in an actual scenario.
The litter carry was probably one of the toughest things we did. We had to low crawl, under the wire (which for us was streamers tied across a portion of the field), secure our wounded, and then low crawl him back to the helo-pad. Let me tell you…that is not as easy as it sounds or looks. I could not get the hang of keeping my rear-end down, not kicking the person behind me, and dragging the stretcher all at the same time.
Last, we took the Combat Infantryman’s Test, a written test covering history of the brigade and each individual battalion, rank insignias, Army medals, historical Army dates, and a variety of other topics. After all the events were completed and scores tallied, we had a ceremony announcing the big winners, and this ceremony was the perfect ending to a perfect day. It just so happened that we were standing at the platform when 1700 hours came around. As soon as the notes for “To the Colors” began, LTC Colls, the rear detachment commander for 4th Brigade called out, “Present Arms!” Because we were still soldiers, we, alongside the rear-detachment soldiers who worked with us that day, saluted as the flag was lowered. I cannot tell you how much pride I had not only for myself for what I had accomplished, but for my husband and for this new Army life. After the flag was completely lowered and the last notes faded away, LTC Colls said these words, “Today shows why we are not just Army, but why we are Army Strong!” I was overwhelmed! I finally felt like a real part of this Army Family.
The Combat Spouse Day taught me a lot about the Army family, our soldiers, my husband, and myself. First, I learned that the Army really is a community, a family all its own. I spent 3 months preparing with other Army wives for this one day of fun. We encouraged one another, spurred one another on to be all that we could be, realizing that we are all in this together and when one of us succeeds, we all succeed. Second, I learned that the Army is full of a prideful people…men and women who are proud to wear their uniforms, proud to salute their flag, and proud to defend our nation. By participating in this Combat Spouse Day, I found a whole new respect for all that our soldiers go through on a daily basis, whether they are deployed or at home. I felt like in some small way, by participating and trying hard to do my best that I helped my husband, that I encouraged him on his long journey back home, that I let him know that what he is doing is important to me. And I am no longer just his wife….I’m his Army Wife!
At the end of the day, though, as I reflected on the time I spent preparing for and participating in the day’s event, I found it quite amazing that God used this Combat Spouse Day to remind me how we, as followers of Christ, are called to develop our spiritual lives and interact with our Christian family. I trained for months prior to the big day, but we all need to strive to train our hearts and minds in Christ even more vigorously.
I Timothy 4:7b-8 says, “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Finding a group of ladies to train with made all the difference in the world when it came to this competition. I’m not even sure I would have participated with as much gusto if it had not been for the encouragement, support, and competitive drive my battle buddies gave me.
In the same way, Hebrews 10: 24 instructs us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together … but let us encourage one another,” and Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” It is our job to come alongside our sisters in Christ to help them succeed in their walk and to find those who will do the same for each of us.
And, finally, God reminded me that just like the men and women who serve in the Army wear their uniforms with pride, salute with dignity, and defend our nation with honor, as believers we are to stand “not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). I am so thankful that I participated in the Combat Spouse Competition, but I am even more thankful that God had a different objective for this mission: to prompt me to be all that I can be as a soldier for Him. And in this Army, I’m not just a soldier for a day…I’m a soldier for life! After all, I’m in the Lord’s Army! ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS!
About the Author:
Sherrey has been married to Scott for 17 years, the last 3 1/2 of those spent as an Army chaplain wife. They have two children, Mary, 11 and Joseph, 8 and are currently located at Fort Sill, OK. She enjoys homeschooling, writing Bible studies, and all things Texas.
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Good for you! And what a great event! I wonder if they have a Navy equivalent…