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Published: October 7th 2009
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There are moments on a deployment that jump right out at you and say, “Hey dummy, wake up and smell the roses, you really are on a military deployment.” Today is that day for me.
I have been really good humored about all the silly army stuff that we sometimes have to do. I have spent a lot of time with soldiers and trying to brighten people’s spirits by just being positive during most of my waking moments. But the reality hits home a little bit at a time. I am no different than most any soldier. I miss my family and friends, I count down the days until I can return to my home, I think the food is icky, and I am real tired of wearing my flip flops in the shower.
There are so many things we give up as we deploy. If you can only imagine not being able to go to the fridge anytime you want to just grab a quick snack. You get used to drinking room temperature water because there is no ice. Instead of eating in the messhall we would rather go and spend $4.00 on a piece of pizza because it has a familiar taste.
There are funny smells on deployment also. The rooms have a musty air about them, and every bathroom is like stopping at a trucker’s rest stop. Mold grows everywhere and the coffee we make is so strong you can smell the aroma through closed doors.
A soldier tends to be very adaptable. I understand that in many circumstances we have limited choices and are forced to live in conditions that most civilians cannot fathom. Most of us would not elect to share our rooms with others or take group showers. Somewhere written in the fine print at the bottom of the enlistment papers it states that you must be flexible and cannot complain out loud about anything. This is something that we abide by, not sure why, but it is just in our nature.
I have spent 20 great years in the military and wildly admire the inner spirit of the average soldier. Not only is there an obedience ingrained in most, but there is a yearning for a purpose. In our generation of volunteer soldiers their purpose can easily be satisfied by serving our country during these times of conflict. They continue to wake up each day, look it square in the face and accept the silent responsibility that a nation puts on them. In return, we are instilled with the capability to quietly tear up when the national anthem is played, we watch the flag in earnest as it passes by and we remember history and how it impacts us on a daily basis.
Today is that day for me because I am giving up my freedom. We are going into a “lock down” mode here at the training camp. They close the gates and you cannot go out unless…well people like me will never go outside the gates. It’s funny how we are sworn as soldiers to fight for the freedom of others, so that they may have freedom of speech and freedom of movement within their countries boundaries, and yet the soldier is the most restricted person on the battle field. It is about creating a safe haven and always having accountability and a million other legitimate reasons, but that does not take away the feeling a soldier experiences when told that they must stay within the confines of an area.
I must applaud all soldiers for giving up a part of who they are to do these deployments. I will always try as a leader on this trip to continuously encourage their strength of mind and inner mettle to grow in ways they could never imagine and experience their own adventure that always ensures that they can feel their purpose in the bigger picture of peacekeeping in a nation torn apart by conflict and years of strife.
Welcome to the reality of deployment…
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