We serve army just for the sick of heading govt legitimacy...not
everyone serve army for shiok or enjoyment. haha...unless you are
real patroit nationalist then nothing to say lah....haha...
however, isolation retreat is different. For those pure
practitioners of vajrayana, they feel honoured and cherished the
moments in their self retreat. In order to attain higher
spirituality and reach deep samadhi absorption to tame our
dualistic monkey's mind, going such retreat is neccessary where
inside a cave or meditation hut, there is no radio, no PC, no TV
internet etc....this is the very moment where we really have time
to meditate on the nature of our mind n cut off temperorily from
sensual distraction. 
In retreat, they aren't sitting all the way inside cave. They have
a sets of precepts and regular schedule to observe. They involves
in different type of practises like water bowl offerings in
morning, full prostration, offering tormas, mantras accumulations,
physical Yoga practises etc. They will assigned an attendent to
help them in daily needs like food n water supply. Food and water
only inserted into the cave small opening and retreatants are not
allowed to speak or chat more than a sentence to their attendent.
Their guru will visit them occasionally to check on their
accomplishment or any experiences. In fact retreatants have to do
guru yoga daily so as to recieve their Guru's blessings...
practitioners also have to follow a set of rigid diets like no
chilli food, no sharp utensils, luxury foods etc.
if retreatants are seriously ill or injury, they cannot continue
the retreat anymore, they required to break the retreat door and
seek for assistance. Unless retreatants vows till death, they have
to continue the retreat until the last day. Some retreatants did
that, but this is forbidden as human body is considered as precious
rebirth.
After they completed 3 yrs 3 mths 3 days retreat, their attendent
and teachers will visit them and doing some grand prayers to break
open the retreat door. They will concluded the retreat with a fire
puja to thanks giving the protectors and deities.
hence i briefly write out the retreat procedures for better
understanding to all. Retreat isn't like NS torture..in fact it is
an enjoyment of blissful experience. keke... 
