If you are a special ops candidate who wants to know how to gain a competitive edge through training or knowledge, then here is a list of what I learned going through the journey.
Everyone needs to understand that you need all the tools you can fit into your back pack when going through a military special ops selection program that has a 70-80% attrition rate on average. Some of these things I learned will give you a better understanding of the challenges and requirements that are in front of you on this journey. The biggest thing you have to realize is that BUD/S IS the test, and these are the things you will learn by taking that test.
What I Learned: # 1 - Your Body Is Ten Times Stronger Than Your Mind Will Let It Be
- Being mentally tough requires you to keep competing when your mind wants you to quit. We all have a “safety switch” in our brain that tells us to stop in order to prevent us from hurting ourselves. We are natural born survivors built to conserve our energy, store food, and just simply live to survive another day. There are times you can actually shut that part of your brain off. When you do this, you realize your body is ten times stronger than your brain will let it be. Training programs in the Special Operations world helps you tap into this mindset, but often your life experiences and habits can build a mental toughness and resilience that no one can beat. See One Stop Shop for Mental Toughness Training Skills
What I Learned: # 2 - I Found The Fuel - When The Tank Was Empty
- What is your why? If you do not know your why, you will not find the fuel when the tank is empty. In the end it comes down to HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT? Also, do you have a good answer to tell yourself when you are cold, wet from sitting in dark ocean water, sandy, tired, and there is no end in sight? What do you say when your WILL is challenged? Do you keep going? Or head toward the warm blankets and coffee / doughnuts in the back of the ambulance? There is always warm blankets and coffee / doughnuts in the ambulance…
What I Learned: # 3 - Have Faith In Yourself
- If it is meant to be it is meant to be. Eventually your desire will outweigh any obstacle in your way if you build a strong foundation, determine your WHY, and have faith in yourself. You have to learn that you cannot listen to the quit demon inside your own head, you have to turn it off by changing the communication flow. Like a radio, you need to be transmitting positive thoughts, not receiving negative ones. Be in transmit mode! So, yes - actually "Talk to Yourself - Don't Listen to Yourself." This is all done with your internal dialogue as long as YOU are the one talking POSITIVELY! Sometimes it is not meant to be. Have faith that there is another opportunity in the next chapter.
What I Learned: # 4 - Train To Compete - Not Just Survive
- In special ops training programs, athletic events, or even business — this is the biggest difference in those who graduate training or succeed and those who do not. You should try to be in the type of shape and mindset that will allow you to win or be in the top 10% of the class in many events — at least some of the time. I developed this saying, shortly before I ran a marathon for the first and last time. My goal was to finish a 26 mile run. I saw a skinny kid from Africa warming up and I realized he was about to run the same race as I was but his goal was to drop a minute off his best time. My goal was to survive the event. Who has a better chance and finishing the race? The kid who was in competition mode – not me. I succeeded with my goal and was able to use the Compete – Not Just Survive quote many times that day and ever since in my life. Too many of us, in general, just get by each day “putting in their time” and barely living. Knowing that you are stuck in survival mode is a realization that can be the first step to learning how to change your life and compete for the first time in your life.
What I Learned: # 5 - Make It To The Next Meal - Best Advice For Graduating Hellweek.
- Break down your day into more consumable blocks of time. During hellweek, you eat every 6 hours. I cannot tell you how many times, I have started big projects and set sub goals on daily progress. It works for everything you do in life and was effective in enduring the toughest week in training.
What I Learned: # 6 - You Have To Do It Yourself, But You Can’t Do It Alone
- This is old saying was personally experienced by every student in training. Team work is a requirement - your ability to work well with others is a skill you must have or acquire quickly. You and your fellow students endure training together. While it is true no one but YOU can carry you through training, there will be moments when you need the team. Even if for only a moment of humor, an assist on a piece of gear, or to advise on a new skill that is currently challenging you, the team you have before, during, and after training is everything. Don't think you are alone, but also realize you have to do it yourself.
What I Learned: # 7 - You Never Think About Quitting When You Think About Winning
- It is true. In a program that boasts an 80% attrition rate from those who make it TO the training, you have to strive to be in the top 20% of the class in as many events as possible. You may have some natural strengths that allow for you to win or be in the top 10% of the class. And there may be an event that requires a personal gut check to stay in the top 20%. Any small victory is a HUGE win. If you stay in this competitive mindset, you will NEVER think about quitting. It is fun to reminisce with my old frogman friends and ask them, "was there a moment you thought about quitting?" Everyone gives me either a funny look at such a foreign question or a joke about quitting at boot camp or maybe that one time we were doing pushups... No one thought about quitting. You can't. You cannot have a plan B.
The next step here is to realize that SEAL Training is the gate into the community that you want to serve. BUDS is the test. When people say that "BUDS is not for them" I always say "yeah - it is not for anybody – it sucks." It is the test for how bad you want to be in a special ops community.
Oh, one more thing, The Assessment Tool for Selection and the What Program is Right for Me – Special Ops answers your questions on where you should start with your training preparation. If you want to gain a competitive edge through training or knowledge. Grab the program that specifically addresses your physical requirements of your training to get TO and THROUGH BUD/S.
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There is More to StewSmithFitness.com Than You May Know
Dive deeper into the world of Tactical Athlete training and mental toughness by exploring Stew Smith Fitness Programming for the Tactical Athlete online store. Uncover the strategies and techniques used by elite forces to push past physical and mental barriers. Visit https://www.stewsmithfitness.com now and equip yourself with the tools for success for many special ops level selection programs in the military and police world.
New Tactical Fitness Training Course!
Getting TO the training does not guarantee you get THROUGH the training. Learn about the two phases of tactical fitness you need to develop thoroughly before getting to BUDS. Check out the Online Course - Getting TO and THROUGH Special Ops Selection.
Who is Stew Smith? Coach, Trainer, Author, Podcaster
I'm the former Navy SEAL that special ops candidates go to for books, ebooks and online coaching to prepare themselves to get to and through intense tactical assessment and selection programs and qualify for service in their chosen tactical profession. See More at StewSmithFitness.com
Where to Find More Information About Optimal Performance Training Programs
When you start training again, consider the seasonal tactical fitness model. I call it A WAY to train and obviously not the only way to train. But it offers the opportunity to never neglect your weaknesses, helps with flexibility and mobility, but will also put you at a level of physical abilities where you are happy with your overall ability to just about anything. We have a systems where the seasons dictate our training. When it is nicer outside, we tend to run and do more calisthenics. When it is colder and not so nice, we lift more, run, less, and still maintain our outdoor activities with shorter runs and rucks. Check it out: Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization System.
My most recent programs that walk you through these four cycles with 12 weeks of each season in two programs.
These Seasonal Tactical Fitness BLOCK Periodization programs will walk you through 4 x 4 weeks cycles with 16 weeks of each season in two programs. (32 total weeks)
The Specific Military / Special Ops Physical Fitness Workouts Where Optimal Performance Will Be Tested Each Day
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 1
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 2 - 3
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 4 Grinder PT
Navy SWCC Workout
Army PFT Workout (Prep For Rucking, OPAT, ACFT)
Army Special Forces / Ranger Workout
Army Air Assault School Workout
Army Airborne Workout
Advanced Running Program - Special Ops Supplement Plan
USMC RECON / MarSOC Workout
USMC OCS / TBS Workout
USMC IST and PFT
The Combat Conditioning Workout
Air Force PJ / CCT Workout Battlefield Airman Prep Course
The UBRR Upper Body Round Robin Workout / Spec Ops version
The Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer / Navy SAR Workout
The Service Academy Workout (West Point, Navy, Air Force Academy)
The Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp Boot Camp Workout
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The Law Enforcement Physical Fitness Workouts
The FBI Academy Workout | FBI Workout Vol 2
The DEA Workout
The FLETC Workout - Ace the PEB
The PFT Bible: Pushups, Sit-ups, 1.5 Mile Run
The Fire Fighter Workout - Ace the CPAT
Online Coaching Options
Online PT CLUB - Weekly Workouts created personally for you.
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