It's 125 degrees in the shade. You and your platoon are running low on water and your meals for the last week have been scorpions and roasted roaches. Thirty pounds of gear, including the guns and hand grenades, haven't gotten any lighter after a month of desert maneuvers. You haven't had a bath in weeks, and it's been months since you've even seen a real bed. You have sand in your underwear.

But you can't quit. Quitting is for wusses. The safety of America - no, of the entire world - depends on your squad completing this vital mission, and that's exactly what you're going to do.

Of course, then your mom knocks on the door and tells you it's time to quit playing in your fort and that your friends have to go home. So, saving the world will have to wait until tomorrow after school.

Create your own military retreat

Batman and Spider-Man may have the superhero comic world cornered. But when it comes to real-life superheroes, few things beat out the military. These men and women go overseas for months at a time, leaving behind family and friends, all to make sure that we can sleep safely at night.

Why not turn your bedroom into a military retreat? Instead of just imagining you're there with couch cushions and some blankets, you could have real military camo on your bed, real mosquito netting on your windows, and cool Army posters on your walls.

You'll have to get your parents' permission first, but here are just a few ideas of how to make your bedroom into the best military retreat ever.

Put the camo on your bed

Camo bedsheets can also double as tent materials in a pinch. Many stores will carry the kind of military camo bedding you want, both for sheets and a bedspread. You can also get military camo pillows, like a bazooka pillow that's more than 3 feet long. Imagine having that to sleep with! Your bed will be so decked out, it would put G.I. Joe to shame.

Get military camo on the windows

"Drapes" sounds like something a girl would worry about, doesn't it? However, with some ideas, you can have a cool window while making your mom happy at the same time. Remember, visibility is an important aspect of military maneuvers. If your windows aren't covered, you aren't covered.

When you're looking for military camo bedding, also look for military camo drapes. If you're having trouble finding some, see if you can use material like mosquito netting or tent canvas to dress up your windows the way you want.

Add some cool stuff to the walls

See if you can talk your parents into actually letting you paint your room. Instead of boring white walls, you could have ones that are military green! It'll be a lot of work to paint, though, so you'll probably have to spend a night on the couch while you're waiting for the paint to dry.

Another cool thing you could do is create a shadow box for your room. If you have any relatives in the military, see if they have old pictures or medals they would let you use. With an American flag, some little green Army men, and military memorabilia, you'll have an awesome decoration that you made yourself. Plus, it'll be a tribute to your family members in the military. Show them you're proud of your strong military legacy.

Get your rear in gear and get military camo today!

You're old enough to have a say in how you want your room decorated. Talk to your parents about making a military retreat today. That way, when you're making a fort with your friends, you can use your military camo bedding with the couch cushions, not your little sister's old baby blanket.