Essay on The cold teeth of winter

Submitted By Freedom009
Words: 490
Pages: 2

The junior cadets huddle together by the waning fire, cupping their hands over their miserly but warm rations. The disposable forks each one wields are frozen to their gloves, unable to dig into the meager packets of prepackaged spaghetti and chili. The crackling fire provides a taunting reminder of the comforts easily taken for granted at home, though the heat it produces somewhat protects them from the cruel, snarling wind. The fire burns effortlessly through the tinder it is offered and greedily demands more in exchange for its warmth. Though the tedious task is discouraging, the act of supplying the most unpredictable and tempestuous yet providing of Aristotle’s elements is an invaluable lesson of survival for the future pilot candidates.

Gazing over their subordinates, reminiscing about being in the younger cadets’ situation, are the senior cadets. Now veterans of the unpredictable nature of these survival exercises, they are both better prepared and well accustomed than their green comrades. Despite their advantages, they still have to conceal the shivers racketing their bodies from deep within the combat boots acquired from military surplus stores and through the olive drab fatigues to keep the moral of the younger cadets from becoming hopeless. The snow compacts under the force of boots designed with withstand extreme force; the crunch of the trampled snow attempts to drone out the merciless wind yet does not succeed.

Within yards of the fire and those gathering around it, though they might have been kilometers away to the frozen feet of all the cadets are the beginnings of small shelters that shall become the homes of the cadets for the weekend. Although nothing more than half a tent with branches covering the exposed sides, the durable fabric and foliage mixture are absolutely crucial for survival no matter how cold its occupants will be under its cover. The winter landscape possesses a beauty that has no equals yet its beauty is a double edged sword.