# the average soldier **URL:** \ **Category:** Canada Nissan Automotive\ **Created:** [April 26, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-average-soldier/133386 "2007-04-26T16:29:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-average-soldier/133386/1 "2007-04-26T16:29:11Z")
The average age of the Canadian military man is 19 years. He is a \>short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is \>considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the \>ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his \>country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his \>own car than wash his father’s; but he has never collected unemployment \>either. \> \>He’s a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, \>pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and \>has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or \>swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens \>to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and155mm howizzitor. \>He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is \>working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. \> \>He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he \>can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in \>the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or \>grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs \>foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He \>can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march. \> \>He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without \>spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of \>fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. \>He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to \>brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own \>meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his ownhurts. If you’re thirsty, \>he’ll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He’ll even \>split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. \> \>He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were \>his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. \>He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and \>still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death \>then he should have in his short lifetime! \> \>He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. \>He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in \>combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem \>vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the \>burning desire to ‘square-away’ those around him who haven’t bothered to \>stand,remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in \>and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. \> \>Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is \>paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He \>is the Canadian Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over \>200 years. \> \>He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and \>understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and \>admiration with his blood. And now we even have woman over there in \>danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our \>nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. \>A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their \>helmets \> \>Prayer wheel for our military… please don’t break it. \>Please send this on after a short prayer. \> \>Prayer Wheel \> \>“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they \>protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they \>perform for us in our time of need. Amen.” \> \>Prayer : When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a \>prayer \>for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in \>the air, and for those in Iraq. \> \>There is nothing attached… This can be very powerful… Of all \>the gifts you could give a Canadian Soldier, Sailor, or Airman, prayer \>is the very best one. \> \>I can’t break this one, sorry This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in \>everywhere. Pass it on to everyone and pray.