Jitters

[s_curry23]

When you get to the point where you are a full fledged Navy SEAL, do they get nervous before a mission? Preferably a SEAL to answer this one....

[mark]

Maybe. Depends on the person. I know guys with 3000 free fall jumps who still get nervous as they walk to the ramp - it is human nature. But once in the air the training takes over and you just perform. It is the moments prior to the op, when you have time to think about all that can go wrong that the nervousness may set in. But I think the more years you have behind you this goes away as well. One way to ensure that you stay alive, however, is to never lose measurable respect for Murphy and the frailty of human life - even a SEALs...so if a little nervousness helps keep the edge - then it is a good thing!

Mark (Bud/s 170, ST-3, SDVT-1, NRST-1)

[Wazz]

When peforming extreme, high risk training performances there is an anxiety to perform the mission well, without failure. However, in combat there is that extra element of someone, somwhere out there wanting to kill you. This causes imaginary ghosts to appear in your mind, on the horizon, in the bush, and the beach. Nervous, yes. If you are not nervous you have crossed that line of being less human and far too much a combatant, perhaps too far over to ever return to average human.

But as Mark states, the longer you do it the less apprehensive the SEAL becomes. That is because his number has not come up and by slow-soak the SEAL feels a little more comfortable that his number may not come up at all. But this thinking by osmosis comes after many, many combat missions. It is not something that the feeling can be easily be presented to a non-combatant.

Wazz

UDT-1, Class 0, Korea - 3 gigs.

[UndertacKer]

Hy wazz I've been trying to mail you but I can't. What is going on? Nothing pushy this time