Unit 106 near the Syrian Border

I had the privilege of visiting an army base on the border of Syria. I traveled up with a friend, a photographer, and we spent some time with the soldiers stationed there. It was an experience of stark contrasts.

When we first arrived, the soldiers were playing soccer—just a group of kids enjoying a moment of carefree fun. They were so excited to hang out with my friend and have their photos taken, laughing and joking like any group of teenagers or young adults would. But beneath that lightness, there was an undeniable heaviness in the air.

It was impossible to forget that these young people are soldiers, and this is a war. Most of the time, it was quiet, but the tension of waiting was ever-present. At any moment, they could be called into action.

As someone raised in Australia, far from soldiers and army bases, this duality struck me deeply—the balance between youthful energy and the gravity of their reality. It was a reminder of the weight these young men and women carry, even in their moments of reprieve.