23...too old?

[walter75]

I've thought about the SEALs for a couple for years now. I have a friend that I am pretty sure is going to give it a go soon. I've done Stew's 12 week program once already, about a year ago and am starting it again. I know that the max age you can be is 28, but it seems like most people that go in are younger. I am out of college now and have no idea what I am going to do with my life. I am a beach lifeguard in the summer, but I can't do that forever.

My problem is that I'm on the fence right now. There is no way I'm going to do it with any doubt. I feel like physically I can get myself in shape for it. However, I'm not sure about mentally. Not sure how you work on that. I am a little lost right now. I'm not a quitter, but the fear of failure definitely crosses my mind with the SEALs.

Any ideas?

My PFT scores for Week 1 of Stew's guide:

Pushups - 75
Situps - 83
Pullups - 11
Run - 12:25
Swim - 11:42

I know I need to get the run and swim down. I swim freestyle mostly when I swim so it will take me a little while to get adjusted to sidestroke. The other 3 things I was fairly pleased with since I haven't trained liked this in awhile.

[Courtenay]

Sounds to me like you are quitting mentally before you even get there.

[walter75]

Sounds to me like you are quitting mentally before you even get there.

I wouldn't say that. I'm trying to be realistic with myself. Everytime I talk myself out of considering doing this it creeps back into my mind. I think what I really need to do is dig deep and think about why I really want to do this.

[rsctt83]

Walter

This may sound abrupt and perhaps it is, with extreme endurance stuff you must have an intense burning desire going in otherwise {no offense} you will not have any chance whatsoever at getting through it when things start heading south. It all boils down to how much are you willing to take in order to complete your goal. Whether it's ultra marathon, Ironman triathalon, high altitude climb, adventure race or in the most extreme example of endurance event, BUD/S absent that intense burning desire to succeed there is really no point trying because you are sure to fold up your tent.

I am not prejudging your physical abilities, what I am saying is that based upon what you have posted right now there is no way you would be in mental frame of mind to go through something like BUD/S.

Spend sometime searching your mind, see if you really want this badly, if yes than by all means go for it, if you are not certain than that in and of itself is really a no and perhaps you should consider something other than SEAL's.

[walter75]

I am not prejudging your physical abilities, what I am saying is that based upon what you have posted right now there is no way you would be in mental frame of mind to go through something like BUD/S.

Spend sometime searching your mind, see if you really want this badly, if yes than by all means go for it, if you are not certain than that in and of itself is really a no and perhaps you should consider something other than SEAL's.

That's good advice and what I am going to do. I'm going to continue to train and train hard. I feel like the answer will come to me, either I really want it or I don't. There is no way I'm going to do it without being 100% committed to becoming a SEAL. Worst case scenario is that I realize I will never be there 100% and not go for it, but I'm still in great shape from training.

Thanks.

[rsctt83]

walter

either way you win ....... you are training with a purpose, just what that purpose is will come to you. You are young and have a boat load of time, take your time and be patient. Sometimes the answers come when you least expect them and in the strangest ways imaginable.

There is a really good reason why most elite extreme athletes are older than thirty, it takes time for your mental strength to develop. For sure some guys have it from birth, most of us have to develop those skills and it can take time, lots of time/experiences.

Keep training hard, there is something out there for you and once you figure out what it is everything will from that moment forward be crystal clear and off you go.

[sam7596]

rsctt83 hit the nail right on the head with his "intense burning desire" post

If you want to enter a community like this, you can't have a doubt in your mind, because doubts will fester into you eventually quitting

I'm not a SEAL, but i'm doing my damn well best to get there, I'm in a Navy SEAL mentoring SpecWar Boat Crew at the University of South Carolina's Naval ROTC unit

At the beginning of the fall semseter last year, we started with, 8 people in the boat crew (from my unit, not counting DEPers, or SEAL challenge contractees).

Our Boat Crew PT sessions involved 1 hour calesthenics, crossfit workouts, swims, and runs mixed up in the bunch, the people who DID NOT HAVE THE INTENSE BURNING DESIRE QUIT! QUIT!! They really DIDNT WANT to be SEALs. You have to WANT this and have a DRIVE to get there... Now we are only down to two MIDN!

Myself, and a fellow MIDN...

Anyways, without that burning desire, what's going to give you that mental edge to push through a 10 mile run? Or to squeeze out that last pullup after your arms feel like they're going to fall off?

With any doubt in your mind, you can go ahead and quit during those workouts and those mentally tought times, because you have nothing to drive you to finish it.

If you have that "intense burning desire" to go to BUD/s and GRADUATE then you will know that while you are sucking air on a run that you are doing it for your ultimate goal, not for a possibility that it will happen.

Doubts lead to quitting

Make sure you have that "intense burning desire" and go to BUD/s to graduate, not to try it out

Don't buddy**** you're shipmate by going to BUD/s not to graduate when someone else who has that "intense burning desire" could have gone and graduated

I know this was quite repetitive, but I just wanted to make sure I got my point across

[millerc]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=afoBIMQzENE

Watch this. Search yourself.

...What do you want?

I'm in a similiar boat, and I'd like to discuss it with you.

PM me.

[9007112]

I've thought about the SEALs for a couple for years now. I have a friend that I am pretty sure is going to give it a go soon. I've done Stew's 12 week program once already, about a year ago and am starting it again. I know that the max age you can be is 28, but it seems like most people that go in are younger. I am out of college now and have no idea what I am going to do with my life. I am a beach lifeguard in the summer, but I can't do that forever.

My problem is that I'm on the fence right now. There is no way I'm going to do it with any doubt. I feel like physically I can get myself in shape for it. However, I'm not sure about mentally. Not sure how you work on that. I am a little lost right now. I'm not a quitter, but the fear of failure definitely crosses my mind with the SEALs.

Any ideas?

My PFT scores for Week 1 of Stew's guide:

Pushups - 75
Situps - 83
Pullups - 11
Run - 12:25
Swim - 11:42

I know I need to get the run and swim down. I swim freestyle mostly when I swim so it will take me a little while to get adjusted to sidestroke. The other 3 things I was fairly pleased with since I haven't trained liked this in awhile.

You're too old to screw a 14 yr old! that's about it!

Seems to me like you're unsure of wether you wanna do it or not! There's nothing wrong if you don't want to do it, but if you sign up, make damn sure you never quit!

Whatever you choose to do, prepare for it and finish it!

[walter75]

Thanks for the responses guys. I think we can all agree that I'm not ready right now, mentally or physically. I think the best course of action is to continue to train like I lunatic and see where my desires lead me. Hopefully I develop this passion for becoming a SEAL like I have read from many on this forum. Thanks again.

[honorman]

I've thought about the SEALs for a couple for years now. I have a friend that I am pretty sure is going to give it a go soon. I've done Stew's 12 week program once already, about a year ago and am starting it again. I know that the max age you can be is 28, but it seems like most people that go in are younger. I am out of college now and have no idea what I am going to do with my life. I am a beach lifeguard in the summer, but I can't do that forever.

My problem is that I'm on the fence right now. There is no way I'm going to do it with any doubt. I feel like physically I can get myself in shape for it. However, I'm not sure about mentally. Not sure how you work on that. I am a little lost right now. I'm not a quitter, but the fear of failure definitely crosses my mind with the SEALs.

Any ideas?

My PFT scores for Week 1 of Stew's guide:

Pushups - 75
Situps - 83
Pullups - 11
Run - 12:25
Swim - 11:42

I know I need to get the run and swim down. I swim freestyle mostly when I swim so it will take me a little while to get adjusted to sidestroke. The other 3 things I was fairly pleased with since I haven't trained liked this in awhile.

Well bro...I'm gunna give you another take than everyone else! You are going to doubt everything until the day you graduate! How can you not...it is the unknown...it is the most challenging training in the military! I was 23 when I enlisted...right out of college...I was concerned...and doubted if I had what it took...in fact your pst times are better than mine were....hell I just jumped in the deep end and had to swim!! All those dumbass's...that said they had zero doubt they where gunna graduate....all quit before hell week...**** most of them quit in Indoc....If you are feeling that burn....that thought everyday of what it would be like to be a TEAM GUY...then go to a recruiter....then to mep's....and get your *** to Coronado....and kick BUD/S ***.....I did....and graduated Honorman!! I just refused to quit....and tried to WIN every evolution....BUD/S is the best time you'll ever have....if you have the right frame of mind!! You will live in paradise for a year....you swim run do O-courses....PT....and get paid!! Go for it....everyone has those doubts....I assure you....and those that don't....are lying!! Good Luck...and Just Do It!!

[walter75]

Well bro...I'm gunna give you another take than everyone else! You are going to doubt everything until the day you graduate! How can you not...it is the unknown...it is the most challenging training in the military! I was 23 when I enlisted...right out of college...I was concerned...and doubted if I had what it took...in fact your pst times are better than mine were....hell I just jumped in the deep end and had to swim!! All those dumbass's...that said they had zero doubt they where gunna graduate....all quit before hell week...**** most of them quit in Indoc....If you are feeling that burn....that thought everyday of what it would be like to be a TEAM GUY...then go to a recruiter....then to mep's....and get your *** to Coronado....and kick BUD/S ***.....I did....and graduated Honorman!! I just refused to quit....and tried to WIN every evolution....BUD/S is the best time you'll ever have....if you have the right frame of mind!! You will live in paradise for a year....you swim run do O-courses....PT....and get paid!! Go for it....everyone has those doubts....I assure you....and those that don't....are lying!! Good Luck...and Just Do It!!

I just got back from a 3 mile timed run and really pushed myself. I dropped over a minute off of my PFT 1.5 run from yesterday, I tried sprinting the best I could for half of the 3 miles. Then I read your post here and it really gets me motivated. Great post and advice. I really appreciate it. I know a guy that just recently got through BUD/s and he said similar things to you. He loved it. He was getting paid to compete and train. He said it was the comradery that got him through. I've played sports my whole life and have always liked the team aspect. Working as a unit to get a job done or in that case win a game. Thanks again for that post. I'm going to refer back to it whenever I need some extra motivation.

[rsctt83]

I would print out what honorman posted and hang it up on your bulletin boards ..... every once in a while words of wisdom appear on these forums and they should be saved and read over and over again ......

Just as an aside, we {NSC} are conducting two more training camps this summer, at these camps you will get a taste of what awaits you. Check out the camp video from May I am certain you will find it very entertaining/informative

[oldswabbie]

My problem is that I'm on the fence right now. There is no way I'm going to do it with any doubt. I feel like physically I can get myself in shape for it. However, I'm not sure about mentally. Not sure how you work on that. I am a little lost right now. I'm not a quitter, but the fear of failure definitely crosses my mind with the SEALs.



Walter, I'm going to be honest with you, its going to hurt.
IN THAT FRAME OF MIND ... FORGET IT..YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT ~ PERIOD. Get your mind right, get your heart right. Do not take up a slot that some other guy who IS ready for bud/s can and should be taking. Scott just pointed out Honorman's post ~ I will do the same. Print the D*** thing out - Read it... Read it again. If you THINK you are going to fail - YOU WILL FAIL. If you KNOW YOU WILL GO TO BUD/S AND HAVE A GREAT TIME AND ITS GOING TO BE A BLAST (like honorman said) then guess what...

The battle is going to be in your heart and in your head Walter.

But ~ IF ~ you can get IT in your heart... then I believe you CAN make it.

OldSwabbie

[walter75]

I'm going to print out what honorman said. It really was very motivational for me. I know I'm battleing the "ifs" right now and that is the wrong attitude to have. That is why I am at home and not at BUD/s. I will continue to train, read and post on this forum and see where my heart leads me. Hopefully a year or two from now I am fully committed to doing this.

I like the idea of not looking at this as just brutality, but something to enjoy. Getting paid to compete with a team and turn yourself mentally and physically into a strong human being.

[oldswabbie]

I'm going to print out what honorman said. It really was very motivational for me. I know I'm battleing the "ifs" right now and that is the wrong attitude to have. That is why I am at home and not at BUD/s. I will continue to train, read and post on this forum and see where my heart leads me. Hopefully a year or two from now I am fully committed to doing this.

I like the idea of not looking at this as just brutality, but something to enjoy. Getting paid to compete with a team and turn yourself mentally and physically into a strong human being.

Good. Dont get TOO mental about it either. You will know when you have IT...there wont be any doubts.


OldSwabbie

[ddssdv]

Simple...do it or don't do it.

[sandwich]

Awesome post...I get so sick of the 16 year olds on this forum who say "I'm nevar gunna quit!!!!!1111111111oneone" before they even know what's in store. Honorman's post seems like it's right on. Take it as it comes and know this is what you want. It takes all kinds, from the PT studs to the people who barely pass; we know that for a fact, so it all comes down to what's inside and what's upstairs.

Figure out whether this is what you really want to do. Nobody else can answer that question but you. I'm in a similar boat, at 25 and I recently lost my job, among other things. I have a great girlfriend, a college education, and reasonably bright if not incredibly average life ahead of me. YOU need to make the decision for YOU, and you really can't ask for advice. If it's what you want, you'll know, and do it 100%.

[sarvet]

Yeah 23 is definitely not too old, if im not mistaken I believe I read somewhere that the average age of a bud/s graduate is 23.4 or something right around there. I think you have to go into the training willing to dedicate your life and your lifestyle to it. Those who go into training wishing they could just get away for a little while to party will end up DOR.

I'm 26 myself, already been in the navy for 4 years but I've been out for about 4 now. I thought I just wanted to get my degree and do the civilian 9-5 and all that, but now I realize that a normal life will not make me happy. I'm glad that I've decided to do this at this point in my life; I've already lived the party life and gotten it all out of my system completely. I feel that I'm at my physical and mental peak and I'm absolutely loving the focus I have to give for this type of training. I would just recommend waiting until you are absolutely sure you are ready to go for it.

[overcome.101]

and DO NOT go with baggage.