When I was 16 in High School, I became a certified
Scuba Diver. Inspired by Lloyd Bridges of the
television show “Sea Hunt”, and the adventures
of Jacques Cousteau, decided that I would pursue a
career that involved the adventures of Diving. I
wanted to go to College, but I felt I was not
ready. So I looked to the military for the
education benefit and the experience. I wanted to
do something with Scuba and almost joined Army to
be SF until my Uncle told me about Navy FROGMEN! I
joined the Navy when I was 17, in 1973. I went
from Boot Camp to BUD/S. I was in the ONLY class
that NEVER graduated (class 78). I had to go to
hospital for knee surgery. Returned several months
later to be in a class that had a "NO-BELL HELL
WEEK" (19 guys started Hell Week out 59 that
started the class- we graduated all 19 guys +
rollins- Class 80). I was assigned to UDT-21,
attended EMA (electrician) school and then
assigned to SEAL TM 2. After my initial 4 year
enlistment, I exited the Navy as a Third Class
Petty Officer for College at VCU in Richmond
Virginia. While enlisted, I attended about 15
specialized programs to enhance my UDT/SEAL
skills, and deployed on an ARG (amphibious ready
group) to the Mediterranean. While in the MED, I
traveled to Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, Iran,
Lebanon, and other countries. I competed the 4
year BS Degree in Business Admin & Management in 2
1/2years. I was asked by Dick Marcinko to come
back to TEAMs. Attended OCS in Newport RI.
Assigned to UDT-11. Plank Owner of SEAL TM 5.
Served on the staffs of NSWG-1 and CINCPACFLT. I
completed Naval service duty with the SEAL
Reserves. (20 years) and retired in Dec 96 as a
Lieutenant Commander. Tours with the TEAMs took me
all corners of the world with assignments as a
Middle East Adviser to AOIC of a missile recovery
mission, diving locker tech in the mixed gas-lab
and parachute rigger/packer. Duties as Assistant
Platoon Commander and Platoon Commander. Duties as
Department Head in the Diving Locker, staff in
Operations and Logistics Departments. I even
served in duties that I can not divulge. I have
served with foreign SEALs/SO from Korea, Brittan
and Australia, and staffed missions in the Alaska
Northwest Territory. I am qualified as a
Pilot/Navigator in SDV's, Jumpmaster, Dive master,
Range Safety Officer. I have repelled off of
towers, buildings, bridges, dams, out of
helicopters. I have parachuted static-line and
freefall out of helicopters, airplanes and jets,
on to land targets and the water drop zones, day
and night! I have detonated small explosives to
large beach clearances. I have fired small arms to
shoulder-fired rocket launchers. I have taught
instruction in claymore mines, small arms,
hand-grenades, 50-cal sniper riffle, and the M-60
machine gun. Just to name a few! I have dove with
open and closed-circuit scuba, LAR V Dragger, and
mixed gas, many places throughout the world, both
day and night- mostly at NIGHT. I have surveyed
many potential amphibious beach landing sites in
the world and created hydrographic charts. I have
driven jeeps, hummers, and our desert patrol-type
dune buggy. I have been cold, wet, tired and
miserable. Thought I was going to freeze to death,
sweat till there was no water left in my body,
carried heavy equipment packs, and turtle-backed
long distances to penetrate a target. I have
exited the escape hatch from a nuclear submarine
and returned through the same hatch at night from
a mission. It seams that there isn’t anything
that I haven’t done or experienced. And JUST
THINK, I ONLY JOINED THE MILITARY to DIVE! WoW!
I’m sure that I left out places and types of
equipment that I have used, trained, or tested.
I would do it all over again if given the
opportunity.
Presently, I own a Diving Service company in San
Diego: PRODIVESANDIEGO.COM For 12 years, I
assisted local law enforcement officers teach the
DARE program to area school children; sharing my
SEAL experience and emphasizing the “ZERO
TOLLERENCE POLICY” to drugs in the military.
Now, I am a dad to two young boys.
I have discovered the only thing that stops your
ambition is yourself. To be a SEAL is not the only
thing to do in the military. Being a SEAL is being
part of a TEAM. This team includes the whole Navy
and other branches of the armed forces. Without
this TEAMWORK, my job as a SEAL is impossible.
REALLY!
Being a member of the SEAL Teams, and even the
Underwater Demolition Team, has been an experience
of a lifetime. I have learned the meaning of
determination, experienced the rewards of
persistence, gained respect through
responsibility, and entrusted my life by faith in
my teammates. But one thing is for sure, you
can’t be a SEAL if you don’t take the
Challenge! Do you have it in you? Can you commit
to being a professional that requires you to give
of yourself 100 percent PLUS, everyday? The Navy
is looking for volunteers. Is your hand raised?
MINE WAS!
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