The Reality of War

     Being a Criminal Justice major, I've heard of military training, PT (Physical Training) and the horror stories that accompany the strong-willed individuals that enlist. Several of my professors and classmates have served in a branch of the military and I became all-ears when they would tell their stories.  My husband, loving as he is, became the listening ears for those stories when I would tell him about my day.  Watching with him,"Two Weeks in Hell", a special ops training show on the discovery channel, he realized that PT is a strong part of preparing for war.  From running to jumping to lifting your body weight, PT weeds out the men from the boys. I see a technique that separates a man from his ego. My husband see a ridiculous way of humiliating men and women. He believes that training should prepare you, not break you. I agree, to an extent.

     In the show, these men were rolling over logs, running, jumping, lifting, etc.  Several men began vomiting. My husbands reaction was more than I expected. He became a little agitated that the drill sergeants were yelling, humiliating, demeaning, and ultimately chastising these men and women who signed up for the services.  I see a way of building a true group of men and women who put aside the mere thought of exhaustion, working through the pain, to reach a goal and a status. My husband sees the devil in the drill sergeants and believes it is useless to do such measures.

     The outcome is a strong, united, "You're no better than I am" group of individuals ready to die for their country.  Perhaps it isn't a war against a country, but a war against your body.  Reaching past the breaking point and refusing to accept defeat. A war against giving up, a war against mentality, a war against your very own ego, and a war against physics.  Maybe the true war is between your body and your mind, with you caught in the very middle, trying to make a truce.  Training your body to be prepared is one thing, breaking your ability is another... But can you truly be prepared if you don't know your breaking point?

     Until tomorrow,
     LaVonda