SOF Academy: Ghost and the Power of Team...

The Power Of Team: Three Ordinary People and Their Run to Greatness by Peter Wortham I had the opportunity and privilege to meet Joel Burrows AKA “Ghost” when we both participated in the Special Operations Force Academy in the last week in April. With an extensive background in endurance events including Ironman-distance triathlons and marathons, Joel was the one participant at the Academy with whom I could...

SOF Academy: The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday...

“The only easy day was yesterday.” - Navy SEALs motto Photo: David ready to skydive (Photograph by: Gunnar Örn Arnarsson) Each day was different. Each day brought new challenges to push each of us outside of our comfort zones. We learned to skydive and ended the week with an assisted freefall jump. Two skydive instructors jumped with us out of the plane at 13,000 feet and stayed with us until we arched,...

SOF Academy: Regret or Glory – Which Do You ...

“There are 2 aspects in life that will haunt you for the rest of your life that will last forever: Regret and Glory…which one do you want burned into the memories of your soul – Regret or Glory?” - Special Operations Force Academy Instructor Jono Photo: Team “Slit Throat” dressed up for our late night Field Training Exercise (I’m in lower right hand corner) The following is a...

SOF Academy: I Earn My Nickname “Monkey Butt...

This was one of the lighter moments during my week long adventure at the Special Operations Force Academy in Virginia Beach, VA. After a morning of SCUBA training in the pool in Virginia Beach, we drove to Lake Rawlings on Tuesday afternoon to practice our open water SCUBA diving. On Wednesday around noon, while we were packing up our gear (personal gear, air tanks, BCD’s, wetsuits, etc) in order to head back...

Special Operations Force Academy: Was It Worth It?...

Photo: Special Operations Force Academy Participants + Instructors (me on far left) When I completed 7 days of the Special Operations Force Academy and SEAL Adventure Challenge yesterday, I cried. This week was arguably the longest week of my life and I walked away learning more about myself than I expected. This week also brought me full circle on on a number of significant life events that have been haunting me for...

A New Challenge: Special Operations Force Academy ...

“The only easy day was yesterday.” - Navy SEALs motto Image: SEAL Training Adventures logo Ok, I admit, I should be taking it easy for a few more weeks, but I can’t pass up this opportunity as a writer on assignment for Tri-DC Magazine to participate in the week long Special Operations Force Academy starting April 27 and run by SEAL Training Adventures. Navy SEALs are the “best of the best,” and I want...