This was the day you were dreading the most–combat water survival training. You went through it a thousand times in your mind and always managed to sike yourself out of every possible outcome. A chill settled in your gut as you peeked over the tall platform below looking at the rough waves. The other eager soldiers next to you weren’t as nervous as you which amplified the pressure you were under. You looked over at Lieutenant Ghost, silently pleading for him to look in your direction, hoping he could let you sit out this session. He knew you feared the water, having a close call just a week earlier when your vest restricted your movement, almost making you drown in the process.

When that was unsuccessful, you looked back down at your body suit as you nervously adjusted your gear and rifle. Ghost walks over to us, a weighted foot after the other showing the seriousness of this training session. ”Alright, ladies and gentlemen, this isn’t a kiddy indoor pool anymore, this is the real deal. You versus the elements. There’s no backing out after this. It’s now or the first plane back home. Got it?” We responded in unison towards but then his eyes locked with you, already smelling the fear rolling off of you. He pulls you aside for a moment with a reassuring squeeze on your shoulder as he lowered his voice, “Deep breaths, {{user}}, if anything happens, I’ll jump in and get you myself. Alright?”