DISCOVERY CHANNEL - SFAS

[ZonieDiver]

You should see people on their first night dive in open water - far from land! The "Jaws" theme music is playing in their head, and I have had them drip nervous sweat on me as I waited in the dark water for their giant stride off the swim platform.

Me... I've always kind of liked the dark. We ugly guys look better!

[Grey1]

Originally Posted by Costa

Hey hey.... easy now.
I happen to be from a "city" and I love the water. I just don't like wet boots.

As for the dark... well, there are more critters here than in the Ft. Bragg immediate area. Florida panthers (rare but still there), hogs, lots of snakes, and lots of fire-ants fill the "woods" around here.

If I've done my research correctly, the most dangerous things around Ft. Bragg (besides the obvious) are bears, and about 5 different kinds of snakes. Assorted rattlers, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes. Anything else I'm missing?

You're missing the draw monster... so I hear.

Originally Posted by Costa

Anything else I'm missing?

The young adult raising Pot on federal property and eager to take your issued weapon knowing you have no ammo.

Pay attention during all safety briefings, good luck.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

QP's don't kid!

You'd be surprised how many people are afraid of the dark - which is, I think, a very inate response of we humans. There are SO many people afraid of water, as I find often in my scuba diving instructions.

Why does this fact surprise you????

I understood failure for sleeping, physical inability......

But the Night Navigation my reaction/dismay was it is one thing to be out in the woods with nothing and have no idea who, what or where....they have a map, a compass and a head lamp to read the map which is like GOLD!!! They have an abundance of sticks to test for water depth and maybe logs to use for floats if need be. If you make enough noise in the brush most critters will steer clear of you.

So my surprise....I took for granted that those that made it to SFAS were beyond that fear and/or would have been aware of what they had available to them. But I forget that every City Kid doesn't have the opportunity to play in the woods, or parents that promote such activity.

But I am still a bit perplexed that one would apply for a job/function that they know requires such activities, when they have a extreme fear of such activities.

[head]

Originally Posted by Paslode

So my surprise....I took for granted that those that made it to SFAS were beyond that fear and/or would have been aware of what they had available to them. But I forget that every City Kid doesn't have the opportunity to play in the woods, or parents that promote such activity.

But I am still a bit perplexed that one would apply for a job/function that they know requires such activities, when they have a extreme fear of such activities.

Made it to SFAS? Doesn't take much to make it "to" SFAS.

It's the same with the guys on the show who thought they could overcome their fear of heights on Nasty Nick. SFAS is designed to identify these type of weaknesses.

Also, the ability of honest self-critique in order to identify your possible weaknesses beforehand goes a long way, but most men will never even come close to replicating what SFAS will present. Yeah, they might think their fear is not that big an issue... but combine that with all the other factors, and the fear that would ordinarily just raise your BP a couple points, now makes you unable to function.

But, take it from me, city boys can do just fine out there, but they still hate ticks attaching themselves on body parts they have no business being near. Not cool.

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

Me... I've always kind of liked the dark...

It must be in our blood or something in the water.

Before I has fallen asleep, one night my youngst (at the time, aged 6.5 yrs.) came into my room and slowly moved onto the bed covering my mouth with a gloved hand. He asked in a whisper, "Am I getting better at sneaking up on you?"

"Your doing fine son, now go back to bed".

[1stindoor]

All the snakes and other assorted animals didn't bother me one bit...but I had the misfortune of running into a spider web in the middle of the night...with my face...I'm pretty certain that monster is still in my hair or on my back somewhere.

Somewhere out there is about 500 meters of a pace count that got lost when I hit the web.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by head

Made it to SFAS? Doesn't take much to make it "to" SFAS.

It's the same with the guys on the show who thought they could overcome their fear of heights on Nasty Nick. SFAS is designed to identify these type of weaknesses.

Also, the ability of honest self-critique in order to identify your possible weaknesses beforehand goes a long way, but most men will never even come close to replicating what SFAS will present. Yeah, they might think their fear is not that big an issue... but combine that with all the other factors, and the fear that would ordinarily just raise your BP a couple points, now makes you unable to function.

But, take it from me, city boys can do just fine out there, but they still hate ticks attaching themselves on body parts they have no business being near. Not cool.

Even on the boob tube Nasty Nick got me puckering a bit. I respect height and ladders...mild fear add some sleep deprivation and physical fatigue it could become a bigger obstacle than it would normally be.

Pass or fail, the amount of self knowledge one can gain is huge.

Originally Posted by Paslode

Even on the boob tube Nasty Nick got me puckering a bit. I respect height and ladders...mild fear add some sleep deprivation and physical fatigue it could become a bigger obstacle than it would normally be.

Pass or fail, the amount of self knowledge one can gain is huge.

O.K., let's dig deeper. What single obstacle "got your goat"?

Dirty Name, Tunnel, etc.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by wet dog

O.K., let's dig deeper. What single obstacle "got your goat"?

Dirty Name, Tunnel, etc.

Of everything I saw the climbing wall is the only thing that made me gulp, and it is also the one obstacle I'd kick myself in the ass if I didn't complete it.

[The Reaper]

Guessing or speculating without having been there is a waste of time.

Wait till you meet The Whopper.

TR

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Guessing or speculating without having been there is a waste of time.

Wait till you meet The Whopper.

TR

True. But in this instance my days of playing with fire is tempered, I am resigned to appreciating the challenge as a spectator and comparing similar challenges to things I have dealt with. And the only Whopper that is going to come my way is from Burger King, Malt Balls or a good sized bass.

That said, I'll do my damnedest to make sure my two City Kids learn to enjoy the dark woods and all it has to offer.

[Scimitar]

Doesn't Bragg have a pretty good Boar problem?

S

[Richard]

Doesn't Bragg have a pretty good Boar problem?

Yep - all those damn power-point command briefs being given by some staffer in a monotone tone of voice - put me to sleep every time.

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

[Costa]

Originally Posted by Scimitar

Doesn't Bragg have a pretty good Boar problem?

S

Problem or solution?

It's all in the seasoning....
Everglades works on everything.