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Croaker · 04-28-2005, 12:24

(edited for cultural sensitivity....honest )
Sorry about resurrecting an old thread here, but I thought that I may have something constructive to contribute to a topic that will never grow old because there will always be people looking for why go SF. I've been a longtime lurker over on SOCNET and just recently found this site after reading some of the back posts there.

I am personally not in SF yet. I will be sitting down with a NG SF recruiter from the 19th ideally around the NOV/DEC 05. I'm 32 years old. Prior enlisted Navy corpsman. I originally entered the Navy back in '95 under the divefarer program for BUD/s after 4 years of wasting time in college spinning my wheels. It wasn't the difficulty of the course work (Chem Eng/Space Science dual major) although that was tough, it was knowing that that wasn't what I wanted to for the rest of my life. This may sound cliche but ever since I was a kid I always wanted to be the soldier/warrior/protector character. I always wanted to be the good guy, kicking the butts of countless bad guys..you know......to be the kind of person that if something tough came up and everybody else was backing down...I would step up and fill the gap. I realize that probably sounds like a bunch of comic book crap......but hey......what 'man' (notice not 'male'....society's got plenty of males...very few 'men') as they were growing up wanted to be the 'desk jockey' the rest of his life?

I went in to be a SEAL. Challenge was that I entered the Navy in very good shape, got OUT of shape in Navy boot camp (we didn't start PTing until week 3), didn't take the screen test until week 7 and straight up just couldn't cut it. I wasn't ready, period. Reclassed as a corpsman, went to lab school and somehow wound up in Camp Lejeune, NC with 2nd FSSG. While there I seriously got disillusioned about my life in the military and disappointed that I hadn't accomplished what I had set out to do.....still always thinking about SOF and "wishing I would have" done it. Every time I would see one of the guys walk by with that trident I would want to puke. It made me so mad! Anyways...got out in 2000 and met my wife and tried to get into the civy routine.

It hasn't worked. I have thought about it everyday...EVERYDAY. I didn't really believe there was a way to accomplish my goal at that point what with being married and owning a business.....until I found out about the NG SF program. This year my wife finally got fed up with hearing about it and we came to the mutual decision that it was time to get done what needed to get done. I should be sitting down with a recruiter from the 19th around NOV/DEC 05 and beginning the process. I had already talked to one from the 20th up in Virginia but was more interested in the 19th's AOR, even though I know they have been sending the guys from the 20th all over the place. I'd just prefer to learn a language ( I already can speak/read some Russian) other than the native language of North Carolina.....spanish.

I do have enough common sense and have lurked long enough to realize that I had best be in top condition BEFORE I sit down to do the contract. I don't want to waste their time and I not getting any younger so I'd best not waste any more of mine. I've wasted enough trying to deny what I have always wanted to do for the sake of "not rockin' the boat" of life.

We only get one shot at this life (contrary to some people's opinion......) In my mind, I want to pass on with as few regrets in life as possible.....And for me, and I'm sure for many other guys lurking on this board, if I didn't finish what I started......what I have thought about everyday......at least made the attempt......I would have a tough time telling my kids to shoot for their dreams when I hade a chance to make mine happen but instead let it die. I'm tired of being a spectator of the life I have always wanted to live. I want to be a player.....and when I have gained enough wisdom......a coach. Ever looked at a sporting event and notice the number of players/coaches to the number of spectators? Only a few people will choose to be players in life. I choose to be one...

My advice to other guys lurking out there is....don't lurk forever!!! You can lurk and read so much that you get "information constipation" and become a book expert on SF....but you are still not making an impact on the game. At some point we all have to get off the couch and make it happen. I have always been a part of teams in athletics and love the feeling of being a part of not just a winning team......but the #1 team. I can't think of a better team in the military to be a part of and contribute to. And if you are looking for a test of your abilities....well.....this path should be a given. It's doesn't get much tougher. That's another reason for me.....I want to know what 'Todd' can do.

Anyways....sorry guys for such a long post.....just had to get that out there. Back to lurking and PTing and I'll post back when I've signed the deal...

God Bless
Todd

04-28-2005, 12:24	#70
Croaker Asset Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 11	Why go SF? (edited for cultural sensitivity....honest ) Sorry about resurrecting an old thread here, but I thought that I may have something constructive to contribute to a topic that will never grow old because there will always be people looking for why go SF. I've been a longtime lurker over on SOCNET and just recently found this site after reading some of the back posts there. I am personally not in SF yet. I will be sitting down with a NG SF recruiter from the 19th ideally around the NOV/DEC 05. I'm 32 years old. Prior enlisted Navy corpsman. I originally entered the Navy back in '95 under the divefarer program for BUD/s after 4 years of wasting time in college spinning my wheels. It wasn't the difficulty of the course work (Chem Eng/Space Science dual major) although that was tough, it was knowing that that wasn't what I wanted to for the rest of my life. This may sound cliche but ever since I was a kid I always wanted to be the soldier/warrior/protector character. I always wanted to be the good guy, kicking the butts of countless bad guys..you know......to be the kind of person that if something tough came up and everybody else was backing down...I would step up and fill the gap. I realize that probably sounds like a bunch of comic book crap......but hey......what 'man' (notice not 'male'....society's got plenty of males...very few 'men') as they were growing up wanted to be the 'desk jockey' the rest of his life? I went in to be a SEAL. Challenge was that I entered the Navy in very good shape, got OUT of shape in Navy boot camp (we didn't start PTing until week 3), didn't take the screen test until week 7 and straight up just couldn't cut it. I wasn't ready, period. Reclassed as a corpsman, went to lab school and somehow wound up in Camp Lejeune, NC with 2nd FSSG. While there I seriously got disillusioned about my life in the military and disappointed that I hadn't accomplished what I had set out to do.....still always thinking about SOF and "wishing I would have" done it. Every time I would see one of the guys walk by with that trident I would want to puke. It made me so mad! Anyways...got out in 2000 and met my wife and tried to get into the civy routine. It hasn't worked. I have thought about it everyday...EVERYDAY. I didn't really believe there was a way to accomplish my goal at that point what with being married and owning a business.....until I found out about the NG SF program. This year my wife finally got fed up with hearing about it and we came to the mutual decision that it was time to get done what needed to get done. I should be sitting down with a recruiter from the 19th around NOV/DEC 05 and beginning the process. I had already talked to one from the 20th up in Virginia but was more interested in the 19th's AOR, even though I know they have been sending the guys from the 20th all over the place. I'd just prefer to learn a language ( I already can speak/read some Russian) other than the native language of North Carolina.....spanish. I do have enough common sense and have lurked long enough to realize that I had best be in top condition BEFORE I sit down to do the contract. I don't want to waste their time and I not getting any younger so I'd best not waste any more of mine. I've wasted enough trying to deny what I have always wanted to do for the sake of "not rockin' the boat" of life. We only get one shot at this life (contrary to some people's opinion......) In my mind, I want to pass on with as few regrets in life as possible.....And for me, and I'm sure for many other guys lurking on this board, if I didn't finish what I started......what I have thought about everyday......at least made the attempt......I would have a tough time telling my kids to shoot for their dreams when I hade a chance to make mine happen but instead let it die. I'm tired of being a spectator of the life I have always wanted to live. I want to be a player.....and when I have gained enough wisdom......a coach. Ever looked at a sporting event and notice the number of players/coaches to the number of spectators? Only a few people will choose to be players in life. I choose to be one... My advice to other guys lurking out there is....don't lurk forever!!! You can lurk and read so much that you get "information constipation" and become a book expert on SF....but you are still not making an impact on the game. At some point we all have to get off the couch and make it happen. I have always been a part of teams in athletics and love the feeling of being a part of not just a winning team......but the #1 team. I can't think of a better team in the military to be a part of and contribute to. And if you are looking for a test of your abilities....well.....this path should be a given. It's doesn't get much tougher. That's another reason for me.....I want to know what 'Todd' can do. Anyways....sorry guys for such a long post.....just had to get that out there. Back to lurking and PTing and I'll post back when I've signed the deal... God Bless Todd Last edited by Croaker; 05-03-2005 at 12:12.
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