stevena9
04-07-2008, 03:28 PM
First time posting here. As stated in the subject I have a question/request for any current or retired Navy SEALs. Let me first start off with a few statements. I have been a firefighter/paramedic for almost six years with a fire/rescue department in northeast Florida. I am and have been an avid athlete and crossfitter for many years and found this website through crossfit. I am 28 years old. When I was 19 I enlisted into the Navy and was under the SEAL Challenge Contract. Unfortunately I had to wait on a waiver for approx. eight weeks for an eye condition known as Duane's Retraction Syndrome (I'm sure none of you have ever heard of this). This "condition" is simply something I was born with and only affects the movement of my right eye to the lateral (outward) position. It does not affect my vision, my peripheral, etc. My vision is actually excellent. As far as my waiver, it cleared, but shortly after yet another medical evaluation while at Great Lakes, I was told that I could not be in the Navy and was separated and sent home.
A friend recently sent me a news story about how special ops forces are not "meeting their numbers" and are unable to recruit enough men for their teams simply due to generation of "softies" and people who are not physically or mentally capable. After reading the story and thinking that maybe the "eye thing" would be overlooked this time, I contacted a SEAL motivator locally, met with him, performed some exercises at a "SEAL tryout" in Daytona Beach and told him of my situation. He stated that it's not necessarily what you know, but who you know, and being in the fire/rescue service, I know that is true all too well. Long story short, he notified me via email a few days later and said that it was a no-go.
I really do not understand this and I've never had it fully explained to me. SEAL qualifications only state vision requirements and color deficiencies, neither of which I have. When I tried to be a SEAL the first time, I was 19. Now, I am 28, in even better shape and more mentally mature and I still have the dream and desire to become a Navy SEAL. I know I am at the age cutoff and I do not have much time. My question: is there anyone that could possibly "pull some strings" and/or "knows" the right person/people or that could at least give me a shot at BUD/S? I know the percentage of failure, I'm aware of the demands of training and I'm aware of the process of getting to BUD/S. If I fail, then I know it's on me. I recently read some post on here of someone asking "are the SEALs for me? Well, I'm not that guy and I don't need to ask myself or anyone else that question. I know that the SEALs are for me, I simply just need a shot to prove to whoever.
A friend recently sent me a news story about how special ops forces are not "meeting their numbers" and are unable to recruit enough men for their teams simply due to generation of "softies" and people who are not physically or mentally capable. After reading the story and thinking that maybe the "eye thing" would be overlooked this time, I contacted a SEAL motivator locally, met with him, performed some exercises at a "SEAL tryout" in Daytona Beach and told him of my situation. He stated that it's not necessarily what you know, but who you know, and being in the fire/rescue service, I know that is true all too well. Long story short, he notified me via email a few days later and said that it was a no-go.
I really do not understand this and I've never had it fully explained to me. SEAL qualifications only state vision requirements and color deficiencies, neither of which I have. When I tried to be a SEAL the first time, I was 19. Now, I am 28, in even better shape and more mentally mature and I still have the dream and desire to become a Navy SEAL. I know I am at the age cutoff and I do not have much time. My question: is there anyone that could possibly "pull some strings" and/or "knows" the right person/people or that could at least give me a shot at BUD/S? I know the percentage of failure, I'm aware of the demands of training and I'm aware of the process of getting to BUD/S. If I fail, then I know it's on me. I recently read some post on here of someone asking "are the SEALs for me? Well, I'm not that guy and I don't need to ask myself or anyone else that question. I know that the SEALs are for me, I simply just need a shot to prove to whoever.