Come here soldier boy

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So, for the last couple of weeks I've been doing the rest of my military service as civilian service.

It's ridiculous.

In 2003 I went to the army. Around 80% of all men Finland do. I was highly motivated. I had started active physical training at least 6 months before the service. I was in good shape. My heart rate was 48 bpm when resting, which was quite good enough.

Percentages: 80% of all the people who have hyperthermia, a heat stroke, die. So clinically, statistically speaking, there's a 20% chance of survival if you get a heat stroke...I'm liking those odds.

I had a heat stroke. My basic training was in the antitank company. One of the shortest life expectancies, one of the harshest training traditions. There's worse places, but I guess it comes from the idea of men fighting armored vehicles, flesh against machines. The jägers got it easy in our brigade. We didn't. (Those of you who've had more extensive military careers have most likely had it worse, but this isn't a competition now is it...)

After the heat stroke, my electrolyte balance had gone haywire. Shot straight to heck. Couldn't relax my muscles. The tendons in my legs grated the bones in my knees. And that was pretty much that. Released from combat training. No worries though...

Since I studied theology back then, I was to become a military priest. "Bless your weapons and go." Although that's not exactly a military priest's duty, but to take care of the minds and the spiritual well being of the soldiers. After three days of that I had come to the conclusion that I had nothing to say about those things. "Read the bible if you're interested. I'm not that much. Amen. Let's sing a hymn." Might've been my lines if I had've given a mass. Or a toss. But then I was already sick and tired of it all. So I quit.

(back to this later, time's running out for now...)

 

Hmm...can't imagine you as a priest somehow!

 

I find it completely unacceptable that these heatstrokes happen when they could be so easily avoidable if the personelle learned to identify the proper conditions and take precautions, but they really don't seem to care. I think it changed somewhat after a man died in Dragsvik 2005 from a heat stroke, atleast we medics were taught to take better precaution but it's the officers who should bear the main responsibility, which they really don't currently. It's basically considered your own fault.

Hopefully you'll have better luck in civilian service.

 

Yuh, there's probably still a few deaths due to heatstrokes every year even with the extra precautions.

Talked with a guy in the same company who'd been there only a couple of years ago and they still have the same drill there. Full outfit no matter how high the outside temperature is...

He'd done and quit his military service there as well. No surprise. We probably had the highest quitting rate in the whole brigade back in my time and I wouldn't be surprised if it's still is that way.

Meh, just gristle for the mill anyhow and that's pretty oldfashioned. More tech, less men. Not much use for that many bazooka-boys these days...