behind enemy lines

i've personally never had any interest in being in the army or any of the other armed forces, in fact, i've never even seen a real gun in person, let alone held one.  however, i've always had the utmost respect for the individuals that choose to do so.  i've always wondered what life would be like if you were a trained to be combat soldier.  while us civilians are waking up and brushing our teeth and getting ready for a day of school or work sitting at a desk, these soldiers are brushing their teeth and getting ready for a day of learning how to fight and kill the enemy out on the battlefield.  of course because i have no experience with anything even remotely related to the armed forces, the only thing to guide my thinking and imagination of what a day in the life of a soldier would be like are the countless war and fighting movies i've seen.  i'm sure like most other movies, the roles are somewhat exaggerated or altered in some way to add entertainment value, but i've always wondered just how much is changed or if it is at all.
sometimes i try to imagine the mindset of a soldier.  they basically wake up knowing that they might have to kill someone that very day.  i'm almost positive that with whatever career path i choose i will never wake up with that thought rattling through my brain, which can probably be said for the majority of other civilians.  but here they are, training, day after day, after day in case they have to do just that.  sometimes sleeping in a foreign country, virtually in the middle of nowhere, not always knowing where the enemy is.  talk about a job for the mentally tough.  i know i couldn't do it.  kudos to them.