Military Experience

Intro (20-18)

Good morning, thank you to be here, and compliment event/performances…first to embarrass Molly banks and say thank you for putting together such a great show.

Name and relations (Brandy and Connor)

Current occupation – Field Service Engineer

I use math and engineering to make sure Doctors can see what they are doing when they perform surgery.

I am here because I’d like to share some of my experience.

Military Exp/Background (18-11)

Why did I join the military? Why would anyone sign up to cut their hair and get yelled at?

9/11 - brief account

Earn money for college/GI Bill

When I first joined I thought I would see the world…I saw TX and CA.

2 jobs in the AF

1st job - Com Nav Msn Sys Spec, Travis AFB

Brief description + other things I did on C-17

Physical Deployed/TDY locations

Manas AB - Kyrgyzstan

Transporting remains

government overthrown, base shut down, ran out of weapons, AT4s

barely getting out of there on a flight home and giant volcano eruption

Al Udeid – Qatar

Very hot

Australia/Diego Garcia

Went to Sydney Opera House

briefly describe island of diego garcia

Ali Al Salim - Kuwait

Dust storms

2nd job - Sensor Operator MQ-9 Reaper

brief description

Creech AFB, NV

Flight locations - Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, other places I can’t disclose

Contractor SO - Al Asad AB, Iraq

What have you learned during your time of serving?

Discipline - follow orders

Self-control –controlling one’s actions when stressed (yelling and missions)

Patience – lots of waiting in military

Training – expertise can be achieved with training (practice)

Titus 3:1–2 (ESV): Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,  to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

You can often push yourself to do more than you thought you could

college before vs after

Spiritual life (11-3)

How has your military experience affected your spiritual growth?

Brief background

Born and raised as a Mormon - Not Christian

Left church at 18 and was decidedly not religious almost my entire military career.

Would I have done things the same, had I been saved before or during my time serving?

yes and no

Yes - would have treated others differently, conducted myself as a Christian

No - career decisions and life choices

God uses us to bring glory to himself

Us - through our life and stories

Others - with who/where we can share the gospel

Would not have my wife and son. Role as husband and father.

When I look back on the things I have done I remember…

People who serve in the military, sometimes have to do hard things in the line of duty.

I remember the Mission – stopping the bad guys who want to hurt me and those I love and to do that means sometimes following orders and people you don’t agree with.

Romans 13:1 (ESV): Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God

I remember that I am Saved through faith – sins are covered by the blood of Christ

“Romans 8:31–32 (ESV): What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

God commanded many in the Bible to protect their families

Boys- one day you will be men, husbands, fathers.

Spiritual leader and protector of the home.

Proverbs 20:7 (ESV): The righteous who walks in his integrity blessed are his children after him!

Ephesians 5:25–27 (ESV): Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

What is my mission now?

My identity is no longer USAF Airman, but in Christ.

Try to serve God in my home and through the church.

think about ways you can serve you home? your church? your community? what are ways you can be a good friend or a good neighbor.

Spread the Gospel

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV): Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Charles Spurgeon - Let us arouse ourselves to the sternest fidelity, laboring to win souls as much as if it all depended wholly on ourselves, while we fall back in faith on the glorious fact that everything rests with the eternal God.

Conclusions (~2 min)

You all are so blessed to have parents who love the Lord and who want you to know Him. Regardless of what you do with your future, make sure to foster your relationship with Christ.

Remind kids to thank all those who serve in the military.

That person you see in the store or at the gas station is someone who signed up to potentially sacrifice their life for everyone here, and that deserves respect and gratitude.

Thank you Mrs. Baxley and the rest of the staff for having me.

Students, thank you being so kind and welcoming me as your guest today. I hope you all have a great day.