Private A and Private B just finished polishing their boots to a perfect shine. The boots were so shiny they almost blinded you when you looked directly at them. The two privates walked downstairs and reported to the drill sergeant for fireguard duty. While walking downstairs their boots kicked up dust from the dirty floor. Their newly shined boots still looked great, but were spotted lightly with dust. Upon reporting to the drill sergeant to begin their fireguard shift, the drill sergeant noticed their boots.

The two privates, not realizing the stairs kicked up so much dust on their boots, smiled and were ready to receive a compliment from the drill sergeant. Instead of the compliment the drill sergeant yelled, "Group, attention." The two privates snapped to attention. The drill sergeant yelled "Mark time, march," and the two confused privates immediately began marching in place. The drill sergeant walked away. The two privates, still confused, continued to march in place because their drill sergeant did not give them the command to stop.

One hour went by and the drill sergeant reappeared. "Group, halt!" he yelled. The two exhausted privates stopped marching in place after one hour. The drill sergeant lectured them about dusty boots and told them to go upstairs and get the recruits who were supposed to relieve them for fireguard duty. The privates complied and ran upstairs to get their relief, Private C and Private D. After hearing what happened to the previous fireguard shift, the two recruits reported for duty walking down the stairs gently, as to not kick up any dust on their shiny boots. "Fireguard, reporting for duty drill, Sergeant," Private D yelled. The drill sergeant walked out: "Group, attention." The two recruits snapped to attention. The drill sergeant shouted, "Mark time, march," and the two confused recruits immediately began marching in place. The drill sergeant left, and returned one hour later. "Group, halt," he yelled. "How dare you have your fellow recruits come to fireguard duty with dusty boots?"

This true story is included in manuals intended to prepare recruits mentally for basic training. The take away is that even if the soldier is Mr. or Ms. Perfect, when he goes through basic training, there is nothing he can do to avoid learning the lesson and motto: An Army of One. When subjected to a task similar to this, they are taught not to get mad at their fellow soldiers, but to suck it up, learn from it, and move forward, just like a good soldier should do…

Not in that sense. There is a lot of mutual support, there is a lot of camaraderie, but ultimately, each individual is accountable for his own actions, or lack thereof.

In Caldorne those same two privates would most likely have been told why they were at fault, sent back upstairs to first scrub the stairs, and then repolish their boots, and required to try it again. In Caldorne a soldier is expected to be proactive, not paranoid.

Caldornean recruits are rewarded for achievements above the mean standard. While each recruit must meet minimum physical and mental requirements, a rewards system exists for those who far exceed their peers in any way. Once they have met basic expectations for all recruits, each recruit is encouraged to perform his best and push his personal boundaries. Rewards vary from simple verbal praise for minor accomplishments just exceeding acceptable effort to extra rations or leave time for exceptional achievement, such as managing to finish an obstacle course in first place.

Throughout their careers significant accomplishments or behaviour above and beyond the call of duty will earn more indelible additions to the soldier's permanent record, notations that play a significant roll when reviewed for promotion or if a soldier's fitness is ever called into question.