For anyone who has never had the pleasure of going into basic training for any military branch entirely out of shape, let me tell you, it’s not as fun as it looks. And, for most people looking at it, it seems like pure torture. Before someone can become a soldier, the military first must break them down and test their limits, physically and mentally. It’s not a pleasant process and can reveal a lot of hidden truths about a person’s character and will to push through adversity. Many fail to make the cut when it comes to basic training.
However, many soldiers don’t have the luxury of kicking back and relaxing for the rest of their military careers after they’ve made it through fundamental. For specific jobs, a soldier must always have a physical and mental edge to perform their duties properly. When folks think of grueling post-boot camp training, the first thing that may come to mind is Navy Seals training, a service that takes members from all military branches. The training is so grueling that many candidates “wash out” within the first few hours or days, leaving only a small elite number of soldiers to make the cut. However, other professions require similar levels of intense training after boot camp, such as an army field medic. In this video, US Army Captain Sarah Cudd is taking a torturous field test, which involves a grueling 12-mile road march in full gear (which can weigh well over 100 pounds) along with her rifle (adding another 8 pounds or so). You can tell, by the time she’s reached the finish line, that she has nothing left. The soldier collapses on the ground in sheer exhaustion.
But, with the encouragement of her fellow soldiers, she somehow summons the strength to pick herself up by her rifle and tough out just a few more steps to the finish line. Her act of courage and fortitude is a shining example for everyone who falls down in life. There is always strength somewhere within us to get back up and stay in the fight.
You can watch Captain Cudd’s incredible video below.
