A day in a soldier’s life

Stocks of Local Interest
February 24, 2010
February 26, 2010
Stocks of Local Interest
February 24, 2010
February 26, 2010

It started with a plane ride, but it wasn’t your average jumbo jet. Instead, a military-standard C-130 that was said to have served for many years, conducting a variety of missions – including locating hurricanes – and carrying numerous passengers.


The inside was pale green, littered nothing more than the basics of aviation. Clusters of gauges and gears hung overhead and squeaked at every turn we made, gliding quite smoothly through the air. However, I can easily say the seats weren’t built for comfort, as there really wasn’t a “seat” at all, but rather, a harness made of something similar to ratchet straps. It’s what soldiers would call normal. Me? Not so much.

But this time, the bleak interior wasn’t transporting a platoon or Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Behind the thin sheet of metal was a pack of writers and photographers – myself included – and a few employers from the Louisiana area. Our mission: go to Camp Shelby, Miss., and take part in “media day” – an event that aimed to give civilians the opportunity to experience life through the eyes of a soldier in training.


Nearly 3,000 soldiers from the area are being deployed to Iraq sometime next month, many of whom are going through advanced training at Camp Shelby that will prepare them for the difficult trials they are about to face. Things we, or even I, couldn’t begin to imagine – all for the sake of our country and the freedom we wield on a daily basis.


The employers present on the trip had workers in the National Guard. Allowing them to view training exercises and talk with soldiers gives them a better understanding of what their employees will be accomplishing overseas, according to officials who spoke during the event.

Members of the National Guard are valuable assets to our nation’s military, but they serve double duty. They’re not only soldiers, but also ordinary citizens.

This was a unique opportunity for my comrades and me; different from anything I have experienced. It is one that has changed my life for the better and has opened my eyes to a world beyond the regular nine-to-five. For soldiers, there isn’t a daytime shift, or a graveyard shift. It’s 24 hours, seven days a week. And those who are being deployed must face even greater hardships than the time they’ve put in – countless days, even months, away from family and friends along with the grim realities of war.

The life of a soldier isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. Without these brave men and women our lives would be radically different. Freedom would be non-existent and true happiness, a bit more than a stone’s throw away. These service members’ efforts are a proven path to everything we call typical. Just remember their sacrifice comes with great reward, although not always tangible.

As a writer it’s easy to disassociate yourself from the realities of things like war and death, but talking face-to-face with men who are struggling to hold back tears brings forth a much different scenario. Their lives are real. They’re not just “another story.”

Maj. Gen Landreneau talks with soldiers of the 256th Brigade after a training mission at Camp Shelby. * Photo by MICHAEL DAVIS