Got a question the other day that wanted to share, especially in a forum like this, since different BTDTs will have different answers or spins on this...
Why stop at one? If one is good, is ten better?
The most common answer I got when I was asking for advice prior to going to SFAS was "Don't quit. Don't get hurt."
Here's 10 off the top of my head:
1. Get a copy of
GET SELECTED. I'm biased, but then again, we took the time to write it just to help you prepare for SFAS...so take advantage of that. It's the conversation we'd have if you lived next door and we had the time to talk about it at length. It's available through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation at
www.specialops.org/news.asp#book
2. Commit to life long learning and self-improvement. Invest in yourself. Read books about SF. Get tapes sets or CDs to continue learning..great while road marching or running...it doubles the number of things you are getting done at once and takes the boredom out of long runs/rucks.
3. Find great mentors. Living or dead. Dead? Yes. Pick people you know and respect and learn all you can about them. Read their autobiography and biographies. Living...get to know them (if possible). Either case learn how and why they made decisions....try to figure out how they think and why they do the things they do. Have mentors for all the areas of your life (military, fitness, personal finance, etc).
4. Get into Sports. Football, Track, wrestling, karate, doesn't matter...something to push you physically.
5. Get outdoors. Hunting, camping, etc...get comfortable in the "woods." Fieldcraft skills pay off.
6. Learn to Land Navigate. (hand in hand with #5).
7. Have a vision for the future. Where do you want to be 10, 20, 40 years from now? What will you have done and accomplished. Will help you get through the hard times.
8. Know how to "eat the elephant." One bite at a time. Have the big goal, but know you'll get there one step at a time. You don't have to know the whole route from start to finish...you just have to keep reassessing where you are then correct.
9. Don't quit. Back to the basics.
10. Don't get hurt. There are things you can do to help minimize your chances of getting hurt. Example, go rock climbing (rock gym) to learn how to move and climb...this paid dividends on the obstacle course and forearm strength (for holding onto ropes and the team events for carrying things).
Best of luck,
JM
warrior-mentor.com