WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 08TH, 2012
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| GOT WHAT IT TAKES?
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| APRIL 2009 ADVANCED DEBRIEF |
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Over so many years of running Training Courses for the Navy and here at Extreme SEAL for aspiring SEALs, and the hundreds of guys who have gone through those courses, I have NEVER… EVER… had a more diverse and weirder bunch of guys than the April Hell Night guys I just graduated on Easter Sunday. Three guys in their 50’s, a tough Canadian, a black dude who smiled no matter what we did to him, a Korean who was born again hard, three dumbasses who can’t stay away from repeated beatings here, and a dozen others who lacked any sort of common sense by attending a Training Course here in April… All would regret the decision to attend the course within minutes of its start... All would stand tall at its conclusion with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment… All of them will punch out anyone who ever whines about being COLD… Every BUD/S Class has a “Personality.” Some good, some bad, some slow, some always screwing up… Each Class has personalities they are known for by the Instructors and it usually stems from a few key players in the Class and affects the rest of the Class who “Go With the Flow.” The April guys would start Hell Night with a Class personality of “Arrogant,” and “You Can’t Hurt Us.” The April guys would end Hell Night with a Class personality of “Humbled” and “Help me Mommy…” The Class Leader Scott, was a tall powerhouse 52-year old that Instructor Ben dubbed “King Zerkzies” from the movie “300.” With the exception of gray hair and a few wrinkles, he could have passed for a 1st Phase BUD/S student with his build, and the kind of guy everyone wants to look like at that age but WON’T… The two other 50-year olds became excellent role models for the younger guys with a toughness that only maturity brings. Keep a smile on your face; never let them see you sweat; ignore PAIN… I’d watch the young guys during a tough evolution and all their young eyes would look to see how the older guys were handling it. Seeing nothing but grit and determination, the young guys would suck it up in a “If he can do it, so can I” attitude… Well done to the Geriatrics… We wish them well as they return home to lead Log PT at their respective Nursing Homes. The youngest guy in the Class was forced to carry Stanley through Hell Night in a Ziplock Bag to keep him dry and to protect him at “All Costs.” My nephew’s elementary school project was to cut out and color the paper Stanley, and send him to friends who would send him back to the school with a list of all the places Stanley visited. While I’m sure the other class Stanley’s visited the Zoo, maybe a Pro Football Game, and possibly a trip to New Jersey. Our Stanley stopped in Spain and got Drunk, Deployed to Iraq, Assaulted Two Targets, Whacked a few Bad Guys, and then froze his ass off during Hell Night… And that’s the truth… I’ll let my nephew’s teacher figure out which parts of Stanley’s trip she wants to share with the class… Hell Night brought a wide mix of weather. Sunny and warm for a few hours, the winds picked up later and the temperatures dropped while the rain fell. During the hours of darkness it was BITTER COLD… Working a new Training Area for Hell Night, we started with the PFT swim and enjoyed a wide variety of high and low pitched howls of anguish as the guys entered the “borrow pit” for the swim and I’m not sure why… I had done numerous tests and scientific calculations of the water conditions before the swim began, but all were inconclusive. As a final test I resorted to dipping my finger in the water and determined the water bordered on being “uncomfortably hot” and I worried about the guys overheating during the swim. Perhaps I was wrong, and it may have been a bit cooler than I first thought… All did an impressive job on the swim by completing it and warmed up with the push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups before beginning the run. With the trail flooded for the 1.5 miler, the guys ran the last several hundred meters in shin deep water and it should make for some excellent viewing on Youtube… Team-building exercises until lunch; the guys lost the red contorted faces and enjoyed an hour of music and a nap in the warm sun with a full belly before Hand-to-Hand in the afternoon. One of the highlights of the H2H was called “The Frying Pan” and “Box Drills.” Two of the guys were from the “Big Apple,” and had plenty of “street-smarts.” Either one could be pictured by my readers standing on a New York street accosting passerby’s with, “Psst… Yo Buddy… You Wanna Buy a Nice Watch???” The “Street Smarts” came out of Silvio during the Box Drills when he was jumped at an ATM Machine… After teaching some fighting skills the guys rotated to the Box Drill and had a pillowcase put over their head. They were told that when the pillowcase was removed they were to react to whatever they encountered. With the pillowcase on, three other guys wearing protective pads moved in behind the victim at the simulated ATM Machine where he was withdrawing money. As soon as the pillowcase was removed Silvio aggressively lashed out throwing punches and kicks. Woooo Dude!!! WTF are you doing, and Instructor Ryan stopped him and said, “They didn’t even do anything to you, What if that was an Old Lady???” Silvio shrugged it off and apologized mumbling something about ATM’s and New York City. It seems you don’t get behind anybody at an ATM in New York… Instructor Ryan went into better detail and hooded Silvio again. When the pillowcase was removed, one of the role players said the word “Money” in a very short sentence (How Much Money...) to Silvio and he was quickly punched in the eye by the street tough who then proceeded to kick the hell outta the others. Silvio somehow managed to strike each role player in areas not covered by the protective pads finally throwing one to the ground in the brawl. As we just kinda stood there wondering what just happened, Silvio in a deep NY City accent simply stated “Nobody’s gonna take my money…” Camouflage, concealment, stealth, stalking, and “Over the Beach Operations;” the Class had endured much during the day and plenty of cold water had taken it’s toll. All that was left was Log PT and Instructor Luke wasn’t happy with the team-building progress during the day and that a bit of individuality was still hanging a dark cloud over the Class. Luke dropped the HAMMER at Log PT and all the Instructors circled the wounded Class like Lions on the Serengeti. It got UGLY and the ugliness lasted longer than any other Class before them doing Log PT. It needed done before the Mission that night. Without Teamwork and plenty of it, I would never send them out alone on the River that night. The Mission for the Class that night was tough and dangerous. No hand holding here, the goal of the day is to build a Team who can safely execute the demanding Night Operation themselves. No Instructors on the Op, the Class would be on their own and needed to rely on leadership, teamwork, and most importantly common sense. If something bad were to happen, it would happen tonight… As cold as it was outside, as cold as the water was, as tired and sore as they were… if one guy doped off he could easily endanger the others, and I worried that I had over done Training that day and their exhaustion could become dangerous. I worried, but we had strong, mature leaders and a tight Class after Log PT and I had the Class launch three Zodiac Boats at 2100 on the dark River alone. 30 minutes later… things started going wrong… The plan was to paddle the Zodiacs a mile up the dark twisting River; Launch three Swimmer Scouts to Recon the Target and signal the rest of the Assault Force in. Once all were safely across the River they’d attack the Cadre killing all and capturing Instructor Ben alive… All the Operations that I run, for all the courses we have, I have only one rule I consistently stick to… I never tell the opposing force what the Class is planning, and I never tell the Class what the opposing force is planning. I let them “Meet in the Middle,” and we’ll see what happens. Let the better men win… I booted the Instructors out of the Cabin while the Class and myself planned the Operation. After the “Map Study” with the Boat Crew Leaders completed and each knew what needed done, we began to “What If” the Mission. Part of the Mission Planning process in SEAL Team includes “What If’s.” What if this happens, what if that happens??? What are we going to do if a “What If” happens? One “What If’s” we covered tonight was, “What If” we lose communications between the Class and myself during the Operation? Good thing we did as we lost communications immediately and the Class was truly on their own to accomplish the task and they had until midnight to accomplish the Op. One “What If” we didn’t cover was, “What if Police shoot and kill a knife wielding NUT JOB in front of the Target”? With the Class underway and I realized we could not communicate and call off the Operation if we needed to, I received a call from my Daughter who said the Target and all roads around it were blocked by Police. This ain’t good… Loading the Cadre in the bus, we sped to the Target and discovered EVERYONE who had a Police Badge in any form was in my “Area of Operations,” and I started making phone calls to Cop friends. Anyone who doesn’t have a Cop friend needs to get one!!! We received clearance and during a very confusing and chaotic time for the Police, word was passed between Officers that 20 something camouflaged faced guys with guns were on the River and would soon Assault the Target. Just a fluke thing in a sleepy country town; WELL DONE to the Police for keeping the citizens safe and allowing the Operation to continue during such a hectic time for them. Surprised as always by the speed of the Assault, the Class quickly overwhelmed the Cadre and soon tired of chasing Instructor Ben and just shot him. I understand… I want to shoot him everyday as well… Around the fire and huddled tightly, you didn’t have to be a SEAL to realize how cold everyone was. A long cold day, and a very cold night, they had endured what no other Class had done before them and stayed strong without complaint. The hardest part of the Assault for them was being so cold in the boats waiting for the Swimmer Scouts to signal them in and then having to quietly slide over the boats into the bitter water and swim ashore. Doing that myself so many times… I know the pain and the mental fortitude it took to do that. After they ate a MRE around the fire and I spoke with all the Instructors, I secured Hell Night at 1 am instead of the regular 5 am. Cheers and high-fives from the Class, they enjoyed well deserved handshakes of congratulations from the SEALs in my Cadre. Class 04-09 EARNED an early release. They also hold the title of “COLDEST CLASS” at EXTREME SEAL, and I took enormous pride in shaking each trainees cold hand. Anyone who survives Hell Night here CAN survive Hell Week in BUD/S. As we say in SEAL Team, “You Ain’t Gotta Like It, You Just Gotta Do It.” It’s 0600 here on Monday and the guys are doing PT with Master Chief Matto for a first hand look at what a “Day One” of a BUD/S PT feels like and very important that they understand what their in store for in San Diego. As I met the Class early in the darkness this morning I reminded them that the current 1st Phase BUD/S Class 276 started Hell Week three hours ago with 71 guys. Two of our graduates are in that Class. I’m also very sure there aren’t 71 guys any longer. Kick Some Ass… Around 5 pm on Wednesday I pulled the guys in and told them “I have some good news, and some bad news.” The good news is the temperatures are going to be much colder than last night and more rain with very strong winds will be arriving soon. Tonight is going to SUCK. With as bad as is was the night before, I watched each mans ashen face lose even more blood at the “Moral Grenade” I just threw, and even the slightest grin, smirk, or smile disappeared in a nanosecond… “What’s the Bad News,” someone asked? The Bad News is we won’t be here to enjoy it… We ran a major risk of being stuck as the water levels dropped quickly in the high winds. Surviving the bitter night, we would have woken to frozen mud where a River should have been. Their shelters were well built and strong and each had a fire in them. We caught enough fish and found enough food to feed everyone. We purified water… In short, we had accomplished every goal we had set and the guys performed well under the strain. I could have had an Open Bar and a dozen Hookers with us, but nothing made them happier than hearing “Were Outta Here, Get Packed Up…” Being a veteran of doing so many things that SUCK over my SEAL Career, I didn’t mind leaving either, but I would have stayed for the Bar and Hookers… Hell… I might never have left… I took the Leper Colony with me to pull in the last fishing lines while the others cooked Supper before we left. My subscribers have asked me before about “How do you get in the Leper Colony,” as if it’s a punishment or something. It’s not… The Leper Colony started during our first course and is simply an area that one “Fire Team” sets up camp in for the Survival Training. For some reason… whoever sets up camp in that area is plagued with problems from start to finish. They cut themselves with knives, they burn their camp down, and they ruin food with unattended fires… Everything bad that happens during Survival Training happens to the Lepers… I kid you not… On night one during the bitter downpour I helped the Lepers set up their hammocks and began explaining how bad their luck was about to get. I also made a big production to the other Fire Teams that if the Lepers approached their camps; it was best just to throw rocks to keep them away. While the bad luck of each course Leper Colony is no myth at Extreme SEAL, this Class Lepers began having problems within minutes and began breaking records as a major argument between them rang loudly through the swamps over a F**kin Hammock. I stopped it before any teeth were lost… a minute later it began again… and again… and again… Hours later, as we huddled by the fire enjoying the rain and bitter cold, one of the Lepers broke the silence saying in a deep New York draw, “I fought for a F**kin hour over a F**kin hammock, and I didn’t even sleep in the F**kin thing…” We all had a big laugh… All day we’d been catching smaller fish, but on the final run to pull the lines, the Lepers caught really nice fish and good size ones providing plenty of chow for the hungry bunch. Needing a boost of moral, I disbanded the Leper Colony forever at Extreme SEAL to the cheers of the happy Lepers who had caught so many fish. I will never again mention Leper Colony at Extreme SEAL after what the April guys pulled off. I won’t mention it, but I’ll bet who ever camps in that area will still be plagued with bad luck… Carefully loading the boats, the happy Class hauled ass back for Diane’s hot chow and she didn’t disappoint. A shower and a few hours sleep, we’d stick to the plan with the exception of sleeping out. At 0500 the next morning the guys loaded the Helo (Green School Bus) and inserted moving quickly around the Target. The Primary Objective of the pre-dawn Raid… Steal four scrawny chickens without getting caught… I guess if you’ve never grabbed a noisy chicken in the dark it could unnerve you a bit, and our “Time on Target” was exceeding several minutes because of it. Even after whispering loudly that they were chickens and not pit bulls we were still pulling too much time. Something was needed to move the guys quicker. That came in the form of a shotgun barrel that poked through the farmer’s window they were holding security on and a BLAST from it had everyone JUMP a few feet in the air. As the shots rang out in the darkness one after another, the chicken guys decided to abandon the two remaining chickens and began quickly moving out. I blocked their path and as the shots continued I said, “Just Grab the F**kin Chickens.” With a renewed strength, the last bird was grabbed and we hauled ass. Instead of reloading the shotgun, the farmer drew a high-powered rifle and continued his night assault as we ran to the shooting area and breakfast. Point taken… pulling too much time on a Target ain’t a good thing. After the guys cleaned out their pants, I showed them how to clean a chicken and the others joined in. With a nice fire on a very cold morning we soon had chickens and some vegetables cooking while Ben and myself set up the Shooting Courses and prepared for a NOISY day of constant gunfire. A safety brief and a quick lesson on marksmanship that consisted of three words, “Front Sight Focus.” If the guys could keep the rear sight and target a blur while keeping the “Front Sight” in clear focus on the target, they’d hit it every time. Starting with a .22 pistol until they tightened the groups, we moved to a couple 9mm and .45 pistols. With the group “Switched On,” I corrected only minor safety problems and we moved into more aggressive drills. “The weapon points only at the target when we’re shooting… not at the ground, not up in the air, not left, and not right.” If guys can do that… they’ll never have an accident… Our New Yorker who owned a Bagel Shop came up with a new recipe for the chickens and the Class pounded it down their necks. With a full belly, I briefed the Pointman Course and AR-15 that was gooched out with all the state of the art “Cool Tools.” Eotech equipped; just put the red hologram on the target and pull the trigger. No complicated aiming needed. Ben ran the shotgun course that consisted of 100 meters of muddy trail and ten silhouettes along it, while I ran the Pointman Course with the AR. All safely conducted, we moved to the long guns and the guys fired an AK-47, Mini-14, and an M-14 before we cleaned up and humped back to the Helo Bus for extract. The young guys who have never fired a weapon before normally always “Out Shoot” those who have, including those guys who shoot a lot… Just a clear head that has no bad habits, we teach them how to shoot the right way. They become very good, very fast… As we returned to the Cabin, our youngest guy’s Grandparents were waiting to take him home after Platoon Training. A tough kid, he’d been our Pointman during the week and got us where we needed to go every time. He made the mistake of telling us he was joining the Army Rangers and we rode him hard about it in jest. He stuck to his guns though and I was very proud to write him a recommendation for Ranger School and BUD/S Training should he change his mind. Actually I wrote it for BUD/S Training first and Ranger School second. A loss for the Navy and a gain for the Army, he’d make a great SEAL. Perhaps he’ll come around to SEAL Team when he realizes that a Ranger haircut = no Hot Chicks… Cleaning up gear and turning in equipment, the guys had a good meal and some well deserved sleep. Up early, we left for the dropzone as the sun began rising and spent the day at 14,000 feet jumping out of airplanes. Back late in the afternoon, a pile of SEALs showed up for free chow and graduation, answering final questions the guys had about BUD/S and SEAL Team around the bonfire for the evening. Cleaned up on Saturday morning, the guys departed for home recharged and with a new mindset. It’s important beyond words to “Stay in the Game,” as enduring a stale “day in, day out” routine only leads to complacency, burn out, and unhappiness. Same job, same friends… same everything every day doesn’t do much for professional growth and guys just tread water trying to stay afloat each day. While smiles were wiped of faces here, and much “sucking it up” went on during long days and cold nights, everyone’s batteries were recharged through adversity and they left with a much clearer head and a new “Front Sight Focus” necessary to engage life’s targets accurately and without hesitation. I think even my trainees from New York might be nicer to strangers they meet in the Big Apple after coming here. Maybe not… *********************************************************************************************************************** I’m a great SEAL, but I suck as a secretary. The AOT Course is running this week, and in between Training the Class I’ve been trying to catch up on phone calls and emails. Saturday AOT ends… Sunday I’ll be drunk and sleeping all day after two-weeks of running Courses… Monday I’ll be back in the game and get everyone signed up who has been so patient… The AOT has been non-stop Target hits and the guys have done very well. A tough Target tonight, and a tougher one tomorrow, we’ll see if they can keep it together under enormous pressure and being out numbered 3:1. How we didn’t get arrested hitting a Target in a Strip Mall yesterday in broad daylight with weapons and balaclavas I don’t know. Perhaps it was the fact that they hit it and extracted with what they were looking for in a minute and thirty seconds. WELL DONE… They also did well last night finding an unlocked window to enter and ripped a Target out of her bed while still wearing her nightgown. Finding what they were looking for, they quickly and quietly left as fast as they arrived and disappeared into the night… Class 0409 Hell Night, Platoon, and Advanced Training pictures are up on http://www.photobucket.com “Search” Images for BUDS131. On the right side of the “image page” click “View BUDS131 Albums”. On the next page at the center left click 0409. We’re set for the May guys and you can expect phone calls from me on Sunday and Monday… A final note… Our Show “Extreme Adrenaline Rushes” on the Travel Channel airs tomorrow at 8 pm. A change by the producers, I’m sure we were bumped up from the FANTASTIC shooting of SEAL Snipers during the Pirate fiasco. We’ll watch the show as a Class, and then insert for “Taka Gah.” It’s going to be a nightmare… Kick Some Ass… 757-572-7203 Extreme SEAL Experience 324 Gallbush Rd Chesapeake, Va 23322 Extreme SEAL Experience Privacy Policy: We’re a “Mom and Pop” operation here and I have no time, nor desire, to keep track of or abuse anyone’s personal information who visits my website.
I believe in a SEAL Code of Loyalty only, and anything anyone asks, or responds to with personal information is considered private between them and myself.
Don Shipley BUD/S 131, SEAL Team ONE, SEAL Team TWO. |
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