Typically, Army deployments and training events are “dry”, meaning no alcohol of any sort is allowed. Therefore, finding out that Camp Bondsteel –the base we’re going to be stationed at in Kosovo– has a “Beer Garden” is a bit of a welcome surprise.

Of course there are restrictions. Apparently you get a sort of “punch card” for the weekend, and you’re allowed a certain number of servings per punch card, and once you use it up, that’s it. Supposedly, the beer garden is also only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, leaving the rest of the week “dry”.

I am perfectly happy with this, because we didn’t get anything even close to this during my Iraq deployment. We had “Near Beer” which didn’t count. I knew this deployment wasn’t going to be a high-tension, body-armor-wearing type thing, but the fact that there’s something as chill as a weekend beer garden reassures me that the mood of this deployment will be more bearable and less stressful than Camp Liberty.

What if you want more than the allotted punch card’s worth of beer, though? Easy: go make friends with a Mormon soldier. The Mormons famously don’t drink alcohol as part of their beliefs, but they would potentially be able to get a punch card if they wanted.

And who wouldn’t want to help a friend. right?