I have wanted to be a SEAL since 7th grade. I am now 24, got my schooling out of the way and am really putting this in gear and getting ready to re-enlist in the Navy and go to BUD/S (I had enlisted before but the contract was scrapped after some stupid things I did in 2003).
My question is regarding the focus in BUD/S. To be honest, part of me is really scared of the training. The more research I do on it, the more respect/fear I have of it. Not to be confused with being mentally psyched out - because I'm willing to do this in spite of the fear I have of it.
I know these are just words - but I have had this aching desire to be a SEAL, I've literally had dreams about being in the Teams, even recently - as silly as that sounds. To say it's a passion is an understatement. Just thinking about living in the mountains of Afghanistan with the baddest dudes in the world and getting in epic firefights sends chills down my spine.
But I've read there are tons of guys that are "willing to die before they quit" and that they end up quitting even before Hell Week. Are these guys just blowing hot air when they talk like that? Or do they really mean it - and were still overcome by the intensity of BUD/S?
I know the answer is that only I will truly know if I can make it or not when I get there. It's up to me, and I agree 100% with that. It's easy for me to sit here and say that nothing will stop me through the training, because I want it that bad - but how do I know if I'm really ready for it? Not to be confused with insecurity, but more along the lines of you've never experienced any part of it (BUD/S) so how should I know if I'm mentally prepared?
The training is just the stepping stone to get there, and it will be finished, no matter how bad it gets. That's the way I feel, but again, it is just words. I've never been to BUD/S, I really don't how bad it really is. But I do know if other Humans can make it through such severe training, then there is no reason I can't.
I just don't want to be one of those guys that thought they could do it and then turned into soup in training because they underestimated it - I'm in fear of it, because there are so many unknowns and so much mystery to BUD/S training to an outsider looking in (who has never been there). I'm nervous, but ready to do it. Maybe I should just think less and worry about it after I complete the training, lol.
Any thoughts or input from the Team guys (current/former) would be appreciated.
Thank You,
Joe
So Joe....more than likely you are going to quit. That is what the majority of dudes do. Hell the majority of guys quit before you even class up. So my class started with 149 guys....but in reality we had over 250 in 4th phase. The bottomline is if you show up in crazy shape and are there to compete...not just make it through and graduate but compete to be the fastest four mile timed runner....fastest swim pair....best shooter...pull up machine....then you'll graduate.....everyday for me wasn't about making it through the evolutions...it was about being a leader....winning every race....volunteering to be the 1st person in the class to do the 50 meter underwater swim....because you have zero doubt you'll surface until you finish....wanting to give everyone else the confidence! Get your *** in amazing shape.....like off the charts....and go to BUD/S to compete for Honorman....I promise you this.....if you go with that attitude.....you'll have some proud family members in the audience watching you get the Trident pinned on you!
So Joe....more than likely you are going to quit. That is what the majority of dudes do. Hell the majority of guys quit before you even class up. So my class started with 149 guys....but in reality we had over 250 in 4th phase. The bottomline is if you show up in crazy shape and are there to compete...not just make it through and graduate but compete to be the fastest four mile timed runner....fastest swim pair....best shooter...pull up machine....then you'll graduate.....everyday for me wasn't about making it through the evolutions...it was about being a leader....winning every race....volunteering to be the 1st person in the class to do the 50 meter underwater swim....because you have zero doubt you'll surface until you finish....wanting to give everyone else the confidence! Get your *** in amazing shape.....like off the charts....and go to BUD/S to compete for Honorman....I promise you this.....if you go with that attitude.....you'll have some proud family members in the audience watching you get the Trident pinned on you!
I got chills man just reading that. Thanks for your input, Honorman. So in other words, I can't go in there just trying to survive, or I'll get streamrolled. Going in there with an aggressiveness to win everything, that way I will always stay on top. This way you can always push yourself to new levels instead of BUD/S dictating how far you will be pushed. Go their to conquer, not surivive.
Thanks for the advice Honorman, BigV, Rsctt & Brassmonkeyboy. I must've read all your responses 50x over, lol. Hearing from actual Team guys who've been there, done that is huge in my world.
Here are a couple of tips that I use and may be of help to you and others training for BUD/S
make yourself a notebook and when you get really good advice or figure something out write it down and frequently read through your notebook.
never, ever come to a decision at night, always wait until morning to make your decision {I am speaking of quitting}, chances are GREAT that you will feel much better when sun comes up and won't even remember how bad you felt previous night
try and figure out techniques that will assist recovery over night, go to yoga classes, try stretching and anything else that will help you to recover overnight ... even if it is just keeping your feet elevated against a wall. Whatever you can do to assist your body during the hour after hour, day after day pounding will REALLY help!
use baby steps concept all the time ... get to next meal, next evolution, next day .... These are SO important because if you start thinking long term it will be game over .... it is impossible to get your mind to wrap around "OK six more months of this" that's too big a chunk. Break problem up into small pieces and work the pieces one by one, eventually you will run out of pieces and you will have completed task.
NEVER, EVER verbalize your feeling out loud. By this I mean you may feel like you are about to drop dead and that's OK but keep your feelings internal and do not tell your buddy or crew that you feel bad. Rather, if anyone asks say you feel great. This may sound stupid but trust me it works. If you express yourself out loud that you are hammered it sends a powerful message to the brain and it is hard to fight through this. Try and stay focus, keep eyes sharp and smile ... these are positive signals and will keep you in game.
keep a notebook or put things up on bulletin board, stuff like what Honorman just posted ....
__________________
"Some of the most amazing accomplishments were done by people too dumb to know they were impossible"
So Joe....more than likely you are going to quit. That is what the majority of dudes do. Hell the majority of guys quit before you even class up. So my class started with 149 guys....but in reality we had over 250 in 4th phase. The bottomline is if you show up in crazy shape and are there to compete...not just make it through and graduate but compete to be the fastest four mile timed runner....fastest swim pair....best shooter...pull up machine....then you'll graduate.....everyday for me wasn't about making it through the evolutions...it was about being a leader....winning every race....volunteering to be the 1st person in the class to do the 50 meter underwater swim....because you have zero doubt you'll surface until you finish....wanting to give everyone else the confidence! Get your *** in amazing shape.....like off the charts....and go to BUD/S to compete for Honorman....I promise you this.....if you go with that attitude.....you'll have some proud family members in the audience watching you get the Trident pinned on you!
Listen man if you want to be with the "baddest dudes" and "get into epic firefights" be a grunt and join the marines. I'm not a SEAL so I can't speak from experience just yet. But its guys like you who make me feel like I have to constantly explain my passion for this without coming off like some kid who played too much Rainbow Six. My advice is to just shut up, put your head down, and hard charge this things as best you can. We're all taking the same risk here, but so did all the men in the teams right now at this very instant. Nobody is special here. Make the choice that this is what you're going to do and do it. Stop *****ing.
Re: The willpower to not quit.
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