Chuckman
Senior Member
Background: in the mid-90s through a friend I met a SEAL who was a plank owner of ST6 and ended up CMC of NSW training at BUDS, retired in 1998. When we met I was a lowly HM3 (E4) and even though he was in a different community we keep up with each other and he has been a mentor of mine over the years.
He and I were chatting recently, and we got talking about priorities, what's important, and how you might find a certain job might not be for you. He told me this story about a student at BUDS who determined that being a SEAL just wasn't going to be his thing.
There was this student, a real stud, a first-time-every-time guy (passes every test and evolution on the first go), really a class leader. 90th percentile in everything. He made it through hell week. Master Chief said that in second phase (dive phase) there was a morning they had to muster particularly early, and when they did, he walked over and rang the bell. The students and instructors were just incredulous that this guy would ring out. So instead of the normal chat of 'if you are sure you want to do this, go over there to process out,' they told him he had to see the Master Chief. So Master Chief said, 'I looked at your record, you are a stud, you are an overachiever and high performer, everyone likes you. Why do you want out?'
The guy responded, 'I hate getting up early.' Master Chief said, 'um....say again?' 'Yeah, Master Chief, I hate getting up early. I have had my fill of it. I'm done.' Master Chief said he was so shocked you could have knocked him over with a feather. He said, 'well...OK. Go process out...good luck', and that was that.
He and I were chatting recently, and we got talking about priorities, what's important, and how you might find a certain job might not be for you. He told me this story about a student at BUDS who determined that being a SEAL just wasn't going to be his thing.
There was this student, a real stud, a first-time-every-time guy (passes every test and evolution on the first go), really a class leader. 90th percentile in everything. He made it through hell week. Master Chief said that in second phase (dive phase) there was a morning they had to muster particularly early, and when they did, he walked over and rang the bell. The students and instructors were just incredulous that this guy would ring out. So instead of the normal chat of 'if you are sure you want to do this, go over there to process out,' they told him he had to see the Master Chief. So Master Chief said, 'I looked at your record, you are a stud, you are an overachiever and high performer, everyone likes you. Why do you want out?'
The guy responded, 'I hate getting up early.' Master Chief said, 'um....say again?' 'Yeah, Master Chief, I hate getting up early. I have had my fill of it. I'm done.' Master Chief said he was so shocked you could have knocked him over with a feather. He said, 'well...OK. Go process out...good luck', and that was that.