3. Here I come to a crossroads. An oath must be taken today. The months of basic have been strenuous, yes, but they are nothing to me compared to the leap that must be taken today. It's worth mentioning that in most militaries one takes their oath before the simplest of instruction takes place. This one does not.

All the maltreatment and misuse has lead up to this. It has been ruthlessly hammered into us from the opening day that we live to serve our country and it's people - our people. It's likely that this oath has as much historical significance to some obscure, misunderstood event in their past as it is a final, minor test.

Minor to them, perhaps. Do I give up my individuality, my person, my life, my freedom, me, to these men?

I must go now. I hear their calls, beckoning me to make a rushed decision of immeasurable importance.

~

4. I lie in the darkest corner of the troop airship, pouring my head out into this cup. No one bothers me, and I gratefully return the favor. My head is one step away from swirling with thoughts of the year to come, our destination, and the actions we'll undertake there. I've given my life, but will they keep it? They've set my physical destination, my moral destination, my purpose and my hopes.