FOLLOWING GOD’S PLAN AS AN ARMY OFFICER

By Gayle Jones

On any given day, I believe our actions provide God with laughter as well as heartache. Some days we just don’t remember God’s words from Jeremiah where He tells us He knows what He has planned for us.

I was at a crossroad. We’ve all been there. The circumstances aren’t the same for everyone, but as one looks at the road, it appears as an immense, empty, scary, insurmountable hole. The conversation I had with God at my crossroad sounded like this: “What should I do next? I’m losing my research job. The one I know You chose for me, but it’s gone. What am I supposed to do now?”

I really wanted God to send me a postcard with options. After careful consideration, I’d choose the appropriate one. Then, He could let me hear the quiet voice, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21), confirming my choice of a God-pleasing path. I’m sure He shakes His head at my childish arrogance. Looking back, I certainly do.

Instead of sending a postcard, He sent a Women’s Army Corps recruiter to the Kansas State University campus looking for volunteers — the primary source for women officers at that time. (Historical note: The WAC was disbanded in 1978. Army ROTC began commissioning women officers in 1976 and the academies in 1980.)

My husband, Chuck, and I followed very different paths into the military.

His family prayed and planned for his appointment to West Point. I just prayed, “OK, God, I hope this is what You intended me to do.” Then told my family what I’d done.

Our initial experiences were also very different. Chuck was sent to Vietnam after graduation in 1968. He suffered not only the horrors of war but also the horror of returning to a disrespectful nation where he was physically and verbally attacked when in uniform.

In late 1975, I was sent to “Learn to Salute School,” i.e., New Officer Orientation followed by Signal Officer Training. It was a time of relative peace between Vietnam and the desert wars in which there seemed to be renewed respect for the military within the country.

Being an Army officer was daunting for someone who knew almost nothing about the military. I remember the day while on a training exercise that I was supervising the installation of our mobile signal equipment. I suddenly realized that if I didn’t do my job — properly training the people who worked for me — they could die. I was shocked, scared, and humbled at the same time. The Army gave me that responsibility, but God gave me strength to fulfill it.

Being an Army officer and an Army wife at the same time felt like being two magnets which repel each other if not properly aligned. At that time, women officers, in anything except administrative positions, were still an anomaly. The officers’ wives in my assigned unit didn’t know whether to invite me to Wives’ Club events or treat me as one of the guys. The officers’ wives from Chuck’s unit had never had a wife/officer before. The fact that I had responsibilities to my own unit for 30 people and millions of dollars of signal equipment was foreign to them. It was a learning experience for everyone. I believe it helped pave the way for present day officer-wives.

At the end of our second year of marriage, we decided that our marriage was more important than two military careers which were badly out of sync. Chuck had 12 years of service and a clear career progression to retirement. I had four years of military service, but also God-given experience as a researcher useful at any major university. I resigned my commission and returned to civilian life.

We were blessed by that decision. Chuck’s last three military assignments were to positions which had direct correlation to possible civilian jobs for him. Two of the three were located in large metropolitan areas which boasted medical schools with active research facilities. Therefore, I was able to seamlessly return to the vocation God gave me before the crossroad. He just planned a little five-year maturing detour I needed to make.

Being in the military was good for me. I learned so many life lessons that I could write a book. I learned the importance of being a good example, especially to the young men and women who served with me. They had to trust that I would do what I said, so that they could trust the orders I gave.

The primary lesson I internalized from my military years is found in Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” I could not have made it through those complicated years without God carrying me over the rough spots.

I’m thankful for the blessings which came from that long-ago crossroad and from the detour. Despite my youthful arrogance at wanting a postcard, God had a wonderful plan for that part of my life. I didn’t doubt that He was there. I didn’t doubt that He loved and saved me. And, I can’t wait to see Him at the next crossroad!

Gayle Jones lives in Littleton, Colo., with her husband Chuck and is a regular author for “Hope-Full Living” daily devotionals.