Different military occupational specialties require different durations of training time. Determined to complete both Army basic training and military occupational specialties training in one summer and return to college in time for the beginning of fall classes, I enlisted in a job with one of the shortest training periods without any knowledge of the duties it required. Enlisting was one of the best decisions of my life — made in the dumbest way possible.

In training, I discovered that combat engineers work with landmines and other explosives, among various other combat and building tasks.