The Army

Having rested for a week I am back to my normal energy levels. The second of our “pre-Cold Response training sessions” finished in Boden last week. And now, just as I have gotten used to being at home again – it’s time for another work trip.

However, this time I know how to survive a military mission.

The trick is to surrender completely, and forget about your normal life and routines for as long as the exercise last. Forget your interests, books, food-or drink preferences, family or usual activities. Don’t expect to have the time for anything else than the planned military activities, 24/7.

Imagine joining a summer camp for pre-schoolers, but instead of a teacher telling you where, when and how to do something, you have a man (obviously) dressed in a green costume telling you his expectations. Your job is simply to listen and if asked – be prepared to repeat the order in front of everyone, and go with the flow.

As I told my mother the above, she enthusiastically exclaimed; “Sounds like the most wonderful holiday! Not having to think!” Just how much one is expected to think in the Army and to what extent, definitely comes with practice. I’ve had to learn the hard way, and in regards to missions - nobody briefed me in advance. Perhaps it's all too obvious to the already military trained?

Well, I have never before experienced a military mission during my 33 years of life. My role and employment in the Army may be of civilian rank, but I’m expected to lead the life of a fully blown soldier especially when there is training or missions on schedule. And since I haven’t complained or asked too many questions in regards to this (a highly unaccepted behaviour in the Army btw) – it is now clear to me how to adapt during missions, in order to keep my sanity.

It’s easy to realise why I found it tough at times during my first assignment in Italy – the mission all self proclaimed hard-core Army studs called an ”ice-cream holiday”, which at first made me feel like a super weak person. For me it wasn’t all easy to live and work at the Italian Psyops base.

Also when packing for Italy I had my personal computer, yoga video and Yantra mat with me – thinking I’ll be able to stick with some of my personal routines and joys whilst living abroad. It feels silly to write this now, as I know better.

On mission – there is nothing called individual routines and in a way, I wish someone had told me ahead of the trip! Not once did I have a chance to enjoy a yoga session on my own, and the only time I used my Yantra mat was during a weekend away at a hotel, when the activated peptide hormones gave me a severe headache for the rest of my break – and it lasted the entire mission.

I never managed to have a good night’s sleep in Italy. We’re talking five weeks of not sleeping here… Oh, and there was plenty of mold on the walls giving half of the Swedish crew breathing and throat problems – me included. Each night I was woken up several times by other people snoring in the room, or from my own turning in the tiny, squeaky and terribly uncomfortable and extremely hard bed. In total, the room had three iron beds and three lockers – that’s it. So a sort of echoing sound spread from each movement, and any noise from outdoors also found its way into our room.

Back then I thought normal earplugs were too large for my ears and I was never able to use them the correct way. During the night I repeatedly used to wake up without them. I was also extremely cold in the night, since the Italians were too cheap to turn the heating on.

Not until my training mission in Boden last week, have I learnt how to squeeze the earplugs into tiny worms and force them into my eardrums! It hurts, but that’s the way to do it, and it blocks all sound out until the next morning, when removing them. On my recent mission in Northern Sweden, I also had to drop my Psychology studies since studying started to stress me out – it’s impossible to find the energy and time to study on mission. I just have to accept getting behind with my studies while away. And the Yantra mat is not coming along next time.

As long as I have a shower each night, I’ll be relaxed enough to go to sleep.

On mission, the trick is basically to forget who you are and the life you prefer, and to welcome with all your cells – the regimented Army existence. Get up when everyone else is getting up. Eat at times when everyone else goes for breakfast, lunch or dinner – and consume all that is on offer, since you’ll be in need of the energy. Stick together at all times and don’t – not in any situation – get behind!

There is nothing that bugs military officers, and your colleagues for that matter, more than lateness.

The only thing to take personal control of is your own hydration and warmth, so change socks and remove boots whenever possible. Keep your own equipment close at all times and with all gear in the right place and fully fuelled, such as hot water in your thermos. Accept that nobody may know anything about what’s going on, or what is ahead – not even your boss. It’s a common thing in the Army since the hierarchy has a pacifying effect on people. In such times, it’s best to practise mindfulness and take a nap, because who knows when you’ll next be able to rest?