Young YPJ and YPG recruits prepare a meal after participating in drills near Saemalka, Al Hasakah, Syria on Dec. 24, 2014. The schedule is demanding and requires a great deal of discipline. New soldiers in training typically wake up at 4:00am with about 6 hours of sleep each night. Their days consist of a full schedule of drills and classroom lessons to be completed before joining the YPJ or YPG.