Now pause to realize their dark, piercing eyes
Just might tell a tale of lies,
For a sweeter side is known by their kin.
To us, the soldier recruits, it’s hidden deep within–
Purposely done for their battle buddies to shield,
Making us soldiers to survive in the field.
Even for those of us who have never enlisted in the military, we have a preconceived notion about the personality and demeanor of the typical drill sergeant. “Listen here, maggot!” he might exclaim just before he demands that you “drop down and give me twenty.” They can be decidedly hard on new recruits. But this high level of discipline and “tough love” comes with a very specific purpose: to prepare these “maggots” for the real thing. When it’s no longer just a drill.
The passage above is a snippet from A Drill Sergeant’s Fame, a collection of poems written by former US Army generator mechanic Kimberly Mae. In fact, it’s from the titular poem from a total of about 30 that provide insight into her experience in the American military, through boot camp to her deployment in Afghanistan.
She explores the heartbreak and renewed resolve when faced with a fallen comrade. She looks deeper into her life during combat training and while deployed overseas. And through all of these “character-building experiences” and “soul-shattering incidents,” she finds clarity… like understanding why drill sergeants are so demanding and seemingly so angry. She learns to give respect where respect is due.
Accompanying each of these poems are journal notes from Kimberly Mae, giving us a little more perspective in how, when and why she wrote that particular piece. We gain a greater appreciation for the psychological impact of war and not the highly dramatized version that Hollywood may present us in films like The Hurt Locker or Saving Private Ryan.
Camouflaged into a shade of black,
Amazingly done with such great tact.
Shielded for no eye to see,
This solider hidden beneath a tree,
Strong and brave down to his core,
Nobody but one shall know about his score.
As parents, teachers, mentors, counselors and role models, we can sometimes feel like we must take on the role of the drill sergeant. Sometimes, we have to push our own “recruits” that much harder, because it really is for their own good and it really is to better prepare them for the real world. They need to be ready for combat. They need to know how to survive in the field.
Note: That’s not Kimberly Mae depicted above.
american army outstanding