US army in 1980s

Hello everyone!! I’m planning to write a book and I’m currently at the research stage. One of my characters is envisioned as a man who served (briefly) in the army in his youth — specifically in those years.

A question for those who know: what was a typical day like for soldiers in the 1980s? What surrounded them? What was the atmosphere like (psychologically and otherwise)? What did they eat and drink? What did they talk about? What kind of people served? What did commanders say (how did they treat subordinates)? What did the camp look like (is that what it’s called?), what details stood out and stayed in memory?

Maybe you served in those years yourself, maybe you’re a historian and know the topic well, or maybe you’ve heard stories from your parents. Any material will help!! I want to deeply immerse myself in the subject and connect with real, lived experience. I’ll be very grateful to anyone who responds!!

P.S. How realistic was desertion in those years? And what did they do to someone who distributed dr**s? P.S. English is not my first language, so sorry if there are mistakes <3