Boot Camp: week 5
I’ve just completed 200 hours of International Soldier Training!!!
Or five weeks of Boot Camp, as I’ve called it here. It feels awesome and I’m sure I’ve become tougher from it.
Last weekend kicked off with a long hike into the forest, where we put up four green military tents to sleep in. We masked the tents and kitted out the area with washing and toilet facilities a few meters away - it became our home until Tuesday this week.
Lots happened out there, from shooting and throwing hand grenades to putting out fires and entering a gas-filled building with our protection masks, patrolling at night, cooking our own food, keeping the tents warm with fires and being attacked in the early hours, and on the last day – hiking 15 kilometers with our packing and with 10 different test stations to prove our skills on the way.
This time, however, I have to admit that I felt at ease in the forest and with its randomness. Life as a soldier is no longer that weird, demanding or surreal to me. Perhaps I’ve gotten used to life in the army; I am just getting on with what needs doing and I can visualize the end, as well as the goal with the exercise. Most importantly, I know I can do it.
It really feels like such an achievement to have finished the course and with so many new friendships built, new skills learnt and unique insights to the military world.
A big dinner party was held for us to celebrate. It went on until the early hours on Thursday, and after sleeping 14 hours last night I’m back to my normal life again, whatever that means.
