We truly underestimate the severity of training and the brutal conditions in which the men and women who serve our country endure. The protection, freedom, and safety that we live out in our daily lives is taken for granted, because it is what we have grown accustomed to. The luxury that this country provides has made American people beyond spoiled. Other countries fight for the freedom to be able to speak their minds or live without fearing for their lives day in and day out. We fight for the newest Apple products or limited edition Jordans. This is all thanks to the soldiers who risk their lives so that our fears do not consist of life vs. death on a day-to-day basis.

As much as I hate to admit it, I forget about the fact that there are people with families at home, fighting and protecting so that I may enjoy my family and live a life full of freedom and expression. However, one of my best friends since middle school began basic army training at the beginning of this summer, and now these things cross my mind all of the time. It’s hard to picture a condition or a purpose in regards to something that you have no experience with. Now that someone I love an incredible amount is going through all of this for me and every other person in this country, I appreciate what these men and women do more than I can put into words. It is hard for me to see one of my best friends go through ruthless stages of training and feel painfully homesick, but I have so much respect for what she is doing.

Having a friend in the army is so much harder than people might imagine. It’s not all “Dear John” letters and hearing stories about her playing hero. It is heartbreaking. Due to the fact that phones and Internet are not permitted, I do receive consistent letters written from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. There are so many things that you would never think of that a person training to be a US soldier has to go through. They eat only meat and bread, gaining mass amounts of weight in just a few weeks. It is over a hundred degrees daily and they have to wear full body suits, boots, and patrol caps. They do not sleep; soldiers are required to help out with firewatch, staying up essentially all night making sure that the camp is safe for everyone on base. Due to getting pretty much no sleep, sicknesses are contracted much more quickly. They share rooms with about fifty other people in the intense heat. They have to train on obstacle courses dozens of feet in the sky, some people breaking bones and being sent home after only a couple of weeks. They have about fifteen minutes of free time a day…to shower. Everything is dull. 

My friend said she misses colors more than anything and out of all the things she could have asked to be sent over, she requested pictures and crayons. They are reprimanded for talking or laughing, even if it is at dinner. There are tornadoes all of the time in Oklahoma due to the heat, and they have to train in these conditions. None of these conditions are ideal, but warriors come from trials.     

All in all, just remember the life that they are giving up, so that in return you’re giving up nothing. Freedom is a gift.