Pathway to BUD/S – “I want to be a Navy SEAL” Part 2
NavySEALs.com’s 2nd installment from a SEALFIT intern working this summer at the headquarters of the worlds most intense fitness program and home of Kokoro, a 50+ hour crucible event that simulates Hell Week.
Finding the Time to Look Inward
As time continues to pass and new challenges begin to arise, one cannot help but to recognize and embrace the immense power the mind has over the body’s functional capacity. As my training partner and I descend onto a nearby beach to perform our one-mile partner swim in the sixty-degree ocean water, the sea is teeming with wildlife. Seals and small species of fish can be seen swimming all throughout the surf, causing ones analytical mind to wonder about the presence of larger predators. Having never been exposed to such elements before, feelings of anxiousness begin to arise as human survival mechanisms begin to take over. From these challenges, one begins to learn more about the deeper inner self and the individual ability to function within uncomfortable situations. Learning to exert control over these negative emotions before the fear response begins to spin wildly out of control can be crucial in many walks of life, not to mention the SEAL community. Having the ability to recognize the fear and control the underlying physiological responses while still acting as required is an invaluable skill that most everyone should begin to learn. Interestingly, the acquisition of these tools seems most rapid when repeatedly practiced through a conscious effort to exposes oneself to new challenges. As we set out on our swim, these negative emotions began to dissipate with extreme relaxation and comfort beginning to set-in. A feeling of peace started to arise, eliciting a meditative and therapeutic state-of-mind. Furthermore, learning to read the ocean and stay synchronized with ones swim buddy when conducting these required timed evolutions are crucial skills needed to be developed for success and overall completion of BUD/S training. Exposure to unpredictable ocean elements really helps to strengthen the mind, especially when previously used to the calm nature of a standard swimming pool. Cultivating a sense of oneself and finding out how to be honest with personal weaknesses is essential for true improvement and growth. These practices not only strengthened my body, but most importantly my mind.
Along similar lines, practicing pool skills like drown-proofing with others has also been extremely rewarding. Having the capability to swim with a senior veteran of the SEAL teams and accept his constructive criticism on how to excel is meaningful beyond words. Embracing points of performance, like becoming fully relaxed amid strenuous practices affords one with the cue of becoming supple yet effective. By struggling and generating tension, you begin to sink to the bottom, while the more you relax and embrace the water the more you begin to float. These lessons from the pool show a strong similarity to what is taught by the ocean as well. Not only do all these tasks help to bring about exceptional physical comfort during untraditional circumstances, but they also start bring the mind down a track of mental toughness and resiliency. Working hard each day, one begins to ask deeper and more profound questions that reach inward, which is an essential component to being fully confident and unwavering in oneself. Anyone heading down a path such as the U.S Navy SEALs should not only focus on the training standards of movement, but really tap into the state of ones mental game or “mind-gym.” Going out and doing things that make you uncomfortable on a daily or weekly basis will allow you to uncover your true mental fitness and provide a platform for further self-growth.
How do you become a SEALFIT Intern?
SEALFIT interns go through a pretty rigorous selection process. Their applications are first screened by SEALFIT Certified coaches, then passed onto Director of Training, a retired SEAL with 30 years in the teams and a Master Training Specialist classification among other accomplishments to numerous to list. Finally, the application is passed onto Ret. CDR Mark Divine, the founder of SEALFIT and owner of NS.com.
For more information out the SEALFIT Program email them at: [email protected]
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