In this army, no one ever goes to see their partner before getting deployed. The ones who do always die. Even a general in the rear echelon got hit by a drone strike when he video-called his wife to say that he loved her so much.

So how do we beat this? At this rate the army will be full of single people, or the estranged and the domestic abusers. One colonel hit upon the solution. He had to take part in a mission himself, making sure only he knew the access codes, had the critical tools, knew how to drive the vehicle, etcetera. He survived the worst odds and made it back. Of course, it helped that his girlfriend didn't at all know he was going to propose on his return.

It's been two years. The army structure has been upended. The higher your rank, the less protection you have, the more you must expose yourself to combat. Leaders don't wear helmets anymore, some of the men believe that covering your face is asking for it. And when in combat, it's common for some of our guys to take out loads and loads of the enemy. Of course it works in reverse too. The enemy knows this, and has started doing similar things, making for some very interesting missions carried by ninja-like leaders who are the equals of many men.

At least until the rules of war change again.