TEARS OF A SOLDIER. A Military War Story. Part 1 Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. PART ONE: THE LAST PARADE The final sunrise over the Nigerian Defence Academy did not feel ordinary. It lingered in the sky like a silent witness to five unforgiving years. For @Pirtim “Bali”, the day had finally arrived. Passing Out Parade. Presidential Commissioning. The moment five cadet bars would give way to a single shining star. Five years earlier, more than 400 young men marched through the Academy gates full of swagger, fear, pride, and boyish dreams. Now, only 222 remained. Some were withdrawn. Some relegated. Some “dashed” unable to endure the grind. Others were simply consumed by the system designed to break boys and rebuild officers. They survived: Endless drills under Kaduna’s unforgiving sun Obstacle crossings that tested bone and will Live-fire exercises and weapon mastery Punitive “buying job” routines that taught humility And the hardest lesson of all composure under pressure Or as preferably said: learning to be a gentleman. I often joked that cadets fell into four categories: 1. The Legacy Bearers: Sons and relatives of soldiers heirs to the uniform. Some carried passion. Others carried expectations. 2. The Avengers/Women Men seeking revenge under the cover of service, Active in weapon drills, absent in discipline. while others in same category join because there know it Will get them women effortlessly. 3. The “Legal Killers” Men obsessed with the gun more than the oath. Forgetting that rules of engagement define professionalism. 4. The True Believers Cadets like Bali, @BM_Akus, @DejiAdesogan and Sir Kay men who claimed they would serve even without pay. Men who sacrificed comfort, relationships, and certainty just to wear the uniform or at most tried to wear. Despite their differences, they now shared one truth: They were officers. A Day of Pride The parade ground exploded with colour. Parents arrived in regal attires and elaborate headgear. Friends waved banners. Souvenirs carried their names. Cameras flashed like celebratory gunfire. For a brief moment, they stood on top of the world. They did not yet know that the oath they swore would soon demand everything. THE Party After Party The party/ Dinner ceremony was meant to mark honour, brotherhood, and the transition into officership. For Bali, it also meant opportunity. Among his course mates, he was known half admired, half warned about as a smooth charmer. Not reckless, just effortlessly confident. He had a steady gaze, an easy smile, and a way of speaking that made people feel noticed and important. That evening, the hall was filled with newly commissioned officers, proud families, and elegantly dressed ladies drawn to the aura of the uniform. And Bali was in his element. While others stood stiffly beside their parents, he moved through the room with ease greeting, laughing, and listening. He remembered names, gave sincere compliments, and made each woman feel like she was the highlight of his night. His friends watched in amusement. “Na field commander for hearts,” Sir Kay joked. By midnight, after formalities dissolved into music and laughter, Bali had collected numbers, shared private jokes, and left impressions that would linger long after the night ended. And true to form he did not go home alone. More than one. Yet beneath the charm lay a guarded heart. His parents’ failed marriage had left him wary of commitment. Whenever friends spoke of weddings, he offered mock condolences instead of congratulations. Deployment & New Beginnings Celebrations faded. Reality arrived. Posting orders were announced. Different corp/cities 2nd Lieutenant Pirtim Bali was sent far from home to a place his family could barely locate on a map. Watch out for PART TWO: DEPLOYMENT TO THE NORTH EAST Kindly: Follow • Repost • Comment • Like • Share The next chapter is coming.....
