u/Illustrious_Tap_1914

Hello!

Im Ukrainian, and I’m shipping off to US Army Basic Training/AIT next week at Ft. Sill (OK), and was wondering what icon I should reasonably bring?

I’m not expecting the ability to have some massive full icon corner (or even my own space at all), but I just need some understanding as to what I’ll be able to have/possibly display.

My choices are:

1. A small laminated prayer card of the Theotokos with infant Christ. (Maybe I could hang it in my wall locker? Fine if not, can always just hold at lights out and say a prayer). Thinking about keeping it in my PC (hat).

2. A small icon, about 2x3 inches, wooden, fits in pocket even with other things in them. Pretty ideal choice assuming no other insight.

3. a slightly larger icon, ~4x5 inches. Much less realistic choice, but if there’s something I haven’t considered this may be possible. I can pretty much fit it in my pocket, just not comfortably. Maybe leave in wall locker if I bring it (propped up?).

Just the small card is obviously just as fulfilling, ideally I could have the fullest freedom to bring and display all of them, but of course that’s a pretty brain dead expectation.

Of course I’m not expecting to hang anything (that would be stupid and kinda overzealous), but I definitely want to maintain my faith, as basic training is not exactly eastern-Catholic (I’ll have no liturgy- that’s fine, I love the Mass too!)

Again I’d can’t stress enough how little I’m expecting from the military, they trash your locker if unlocked, and give you like 2 minutes to clean it- just to mess with you. I’m not looking to have a 8x10 inch icon of the Theotokos hanging above my bunk, just something modest to look forward to at the end of the day, and maybe prop up against the wall before bed.

On the plus side there’s almost a 0% chance of the icon being damaged or mistreated, they basically have to leave religious items/books untouched while messing with your. Most people say they destroyed everything they brought, soaked it all in trash water, then left it all around the room- leaving their Bible and rosary nicely on their bed.

This is of course my first time doing this, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Hello!

I’m shipping off to Army Basic Training/AIT next week at Ft. Sill (OK), and was wondering what icon I should reasonably bring?

I’m not expecting the ability to have some massive full icon corner (or even my own space at all), but I just need some understanding as to what I’ll be able to have/possibly display.

My choices are:

1. A small laminated prayer card of the Theotokos with infant Christ. (Maybe I could hang it in my wall locker? Fine if not, can always just hold at lights out and say a prayer). Thinking about keeping it in my PC (hat).

2. A small icon, about 2x3 inches, wooden, fits in pocket even with other things in them. Pretty ideal choice assuming no other insight.

3. a slightly larger icon, ~4x5 inches. Much less realistic choice, but if there’s something I haven’t considered this may be possible. I can pretty much fit it in my pocket, just not comfortably. Maybe leave in wall locker if I bring it (propped up?).

Just the small card is obviously just as fulfilling, ideally I could have the fullest freedom to bring and display all of them, but of course that’s a pretty brain dead expectation.

Of course I’m not expecting to hang anything (that would be stupid and kinda overzealous), but I definitely want to maintain my faith, as basic training is notoriously non-orthodox (I’ll have no liturgy, Orthodox chaplain, etc).

Again I’d can’t stress enough how little I’m expecting from the military, they trash your locker if unlocked, and give you like 2 minutes to clean it- just to mess with you. I’m not looking to have a 8x10 inch icon of the Theotokos hanging above my bunk, just something modest to look forward to at the end of the day, and maybe prop up against the wall before bed.

On the plus side there’s almost a 0% chance of the icon being damaged or mistreated, they basically have to leave religious items/books untouched while messing with your. Most people say they destroyed everything they brought, soaked it all in trash water, then left it all around the room- leaving their Bible and rosary nicely on their bed.

This is of course my first time doing this, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Assalamu Alaykum,

Please don’t skip this just because it’s related to the US military, I understand many dislike the US government and military (and rightfully so), however I’m just an enlistee in the Army- who enlisted prior to reverting.

The amount of Muslims at all in the US military is SMALL, with Shia’s being practically inexistant. Most basic training sites have few resources for all Muslims, much less Shia-Specific resources.

I will be attending OSUT (Combined Basic Training and AIT- Job Training) at Ft. Sill Oklahoma. I reverted to Islam a month or two ago Alhamdulilah, but will be unable to bring resources to training.

Does anyone who’s served, knows someone who’s served, or just generally knows much on the topic know what resources are available during basic training? Particularly from the Chaplain?

Specifically:

1. ⁠Is there any way of acquiring a Turbah, small Quran, and Prayer Mat while I there? I understand prayers may need to be made up, but for instance, at least on Sundays I would like to pray properly.
2. ⁠Again the prayer mat, most of the time is representative of a zealous revert, however in my experience/research- most barracks (sleeping areas) are also attached to the latrines. As I understand, prayer in bathrooms is Haram. Does a prayer mat next to my bunk allow me to pray despite being attached to the latrine?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated, especially in regard to the faith and military, as I want to be a good representative of the Ahl al-Bayt and Islam/Shia Islam as a whole and prove that Muslims are not just the negative that the media makes us out to be.

Also, I just want to say I 100% respect my Sunni brothers, as this subreddit seems mostly Sunni in nature, all I ask is for the same respect back. One Ummah!