Why military service?

Let’s practise some English in here for a change! Don’t know if I can use the language anymore…

What has happened in the Finnish army path of mine recently is that I got a promotion, the twenty-nine-year-old me and the young generation. More or less 6 months of voluntary military service behind…Wow! Something to think about, a lot to remember. What have I gained?

If you’d ask me now why would a woman want to serve in the army, I’d answer that I have no freaking idea. I had many good, brilliant excuses in the beginning but many times I’ve asked myself why do I have to carry on? It’s tough, physically and mentally.

Wish I knew the correct answer. I just can’t call myself a quitter, not this easily (and easy it wasn’t, don’t get me wrong. You just get used to harsh conditions). And for some reason I believe there’s always a reward for a self-torturer. There has always been, at least the feeling of exceeding your limits, changing your old way of thinking and seeing things.

Life would be so much more comfortable without this kind of experiences but could I call that an interesting and inspiring way of living? No, I wouldn’t want to change these experiences. Someday I may sit in the sun and remember how hard it was and be pleased with myself!

And the army has taught me a lot about me… (To be continued when I’m not this tired… The Christmas holiday just started and I’m exhausted after hours and kilometers of marching in the woods and of days of camping under freezing weather!)