Have you ever been camping?

You ask whether it counts.

Whether something qualifies.

Whether calling the army “camping” makes it… well… camping.

And the answer?

Yes.

But only in the same way a storm is “a bit of rain.”

Because life has a funny way of dressing things up in softer words. We take something harsh, something structured, something built on discipline and grit… and we wrap it in a term that feels familiar. Comfortable. Almost harmless.

Camping.

Like a weekend away. A flask of tea. Maybe a dodgy tent and a damp sleeping bag.

But this isn’t that.

This is early mornings that don’t ask if you’re ready. It’s mud that doesn’t care about your boots. It’s carrying more than you think you can, and then being told to carry a bit more. 

And yet…

Strip it back, and what is it really?

You’re outside. You’re sleeping rough. You’re dealing with the elements. You’re learning what you’re made of when the comforts are gone.

Sounds a lot like camping to me.

Just… without the marshmallows.

Stay safe
Bc