Meaning of Being a Soldier and the Factors Why Trainees Quit Training in the Military

Valley Forge, the land where thousands of soldiers collided and argued and broke out in battle. Being a soldier involves being physically fit and having muscles, both of which I do not have. Also, I am very good at quitting and some people say it isn’t good but I say it is. Besides being lazy, there are many reasons for quitting or never wanting to be a soldier. Many factors about my decision to become a part of the army come into play when deciding upon being a soldier such as cleanliness and health.

The first reason for quitting is on document A. Recorded in December 23, 1777 there was a total of 2,898 illnesses. Later in Febraury 1, 1778 there was a total of 3,989. With a high number of illnesses, there would be a higher chance of myself becoming sick. With the lack of food and other unhealthy scenerios, this could lead to death. In the time period of December and June, there was a total death estimate of 1,800 – 2,500.

The second reason is the document C article where Dr. Waldo described the events in the Continental Army to which many grew “sickly”. He describes it with “Poor food – hard lodging – cold weather – fatigue – nasty cloaths – nasty cookery…” Many of these unhealthy and harsh conditions could, in the end, lead to death. In “A Description of Valley Forge from the Diary of Joseph Plumb Martin”, he has claimed that he “…had to lie whole stormy, cold nights in a wood, on a field, or a bleak hill, with such blankets and other clothing like them, with nothing but the canopy of the heavens to cover me.” Sleeping in just the outside wilderness with just a thin layer of some linen and a blanket is not something comfortable or will help me get rested.

When joining the army, I am met with many difficulties of surviving. When joining, you become more prone to becoming sick and ill. When becoming ill, you have a higher chance of becoming dead. When joining the army, there are more chances of your body becoming weaker and prone to death. I would also not want to die due to a sickness but rather for fighting for my freedom. It seems as if there is a higher chance of death from weakness rather than being shot for standing up for what’s right.