Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck got a taste of life in the Forces as the England under-21 squad visited a Colchester base over the weekend.
Ahead of Tuesday's game against Lithuania, the young Lions headed to Melville Barracks, home of 16 Air Assault Brigade, on Sunday to meet troops who are soon to be deployed to Afghanistan.
The players got the chance to tour the barracks, chat to serving personnel and put their skills to the test in the rifle simulator.
Stuart Pearce's squad also got the opportunity to try out some of the Brigade's equipment, including heavy-duty bomb disposal suits as well as a range of weaponry used by the troops in Afghanistan around the world.
The players met up with 2 Para's Army Football Cup-winning team and got the chance to see medics demonstrate various live-saving procedures used when soldiers receive gunshot or blast wounds.
Members of the armed forces will receive free tickets to England's crucial European Championship qualifying clash at Colchester United's Weston Homes Community Stadium tomorrow (KO 4pm).
The 3,000-strong Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan shortly as part of Operation Herrick 13.
The squad were accompanied by Sunderland physio Dave Galley, who is a member of the under-21s' medical staff.
Garrison Commander, Col Tom Fleetwood, was delighted to welcome the soldiers to the base, telling thefa.com:
"Colchester Garrison thoroughly appreciates the support of The FA and the England Under-21s. This visit will mean a lot to the soldiers of 16 Air Assault Brigade, as they draw close to their forthcoming deployment to Afghanistan on Op HERRICK 13."
And the England U21 coach, Stuart Pearce, added: "I am a great personal supporter of our Armed Forces and the brave work they do for their country, as is The FA as a whole.
"It's really important that our young players get to see life from different viewpoints and get a wider social education from us.
"Some of the soldiers we saw at the Garrison were as young as these players and the chance to show them our appreciation was a fantastic opportunity for us. We wish them well on their tour."
