[ebullientocelot]

This rings true from my experience in Afghanistan too. We did route clearance in RC North, and were often out for days at a time. Very little bad sleep, end up scraping together whatever cigarettes were available so few people had their preferred brand, the same tired MREs, plastic tasting water which was used for brushing teeth as well as drinking, etc. We did, however, get cases of Rip It and huge boxes of Cliff Bars from the chow hall, sometimes two or more to a truck (3-6 guys). Eventually, all you want is a "flavor" of some kind, and it starts to matter less and less where it comes from. We were all aware that it was better for us to drink the shitty water, but the desire for some kind of gratification eventually overwhelms even the most conscientious efforts to be healthy or maintain balance.