My arms were on fire by the time I’d finished the last push-up. Chest heaving, arms trembling, I tried to catch my breath. These never-ending drills were a tool to demonstrate if we were ready or not. Could we scale the side of a cliff if it were necessary? Incapacitate an enemy if the time came? Being pushed to edge of failure with our squadmates day in and day out was meant to solidify not only ourselves, but the team as a whole. We needed to be able to draw from each other’s strength if we had any chance of making it out of here alive.