“If You Are A Private, You Are Treated Like Complete Dog Shit”

From The Editors:
To protect the writer, his identity has been removed from this email as published here. Military Project, which produces Traveling Soldier, will follow up with the writer privately. We welcome other letters from members of the armed services.

My name is [XXXX].

I have never been deployed. I just finished Basic and AIT and am now stationed at fort Drum. The Army's structure surely resembles communism.

There is no freedom of speech. You keep your opinions to yourself. Rank rules all. Even if you know the order you get from your Sargent is wrong, you still gotta follow it. My conscience has been torn in 2.

The Army loses your paperwork, feeds you the shittiest food they have, and then expect you to be grateful for what the Army has provided for you!

The chain of command contain deep control over your life. If you want to do ANYTHING, it must go through them, such as a doctor's visit or mental health. If you are a private, you are treated like complete dog shit, and must do all the shit that the sargents won't do. (clean trash, clean bathrooms, etc..) If you don't sleep or skip a meal, oh well. Mission first...hooah.

I could go on and on, but must stop. Writing this is making me too angry.

Your site, has helped me relieve some of the many stresses I have being part of the US Army. Thank you.
- PVT M, Fort Drum

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