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 most closely identify. Joel earned his nickname “Ghost” by maintaining a low profile during the week – by staying under the radar. Yet, on the final day...
Read MoreSOF Academy: The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
“The only easy day was yesterday.” - Navy SEALs motto 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, located and threw our pilot chute at which point we were on our own. We became certified in open water SCUBA driving beginning with the classroom then moving to the pool and finally to Lake Rawlings to practice in cold water. We learned about...
Read MoreSOF Academy: Regret or Glory: Which Do You Want Burned into the Memories of Your Soul?
“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 The following is a copy of an email that I sent to the Instructors of the Special Operations Force Academy (SOF/A) and SEAL Adventure Challenge (SAC) after the weeklong experience: Dear SOF/A and SAC Instructors: I want to say THANK YOU for the experience of SOF/A and SAC this past week. Making it through this week and NOT...
Read MoreSOF 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 to our base of operations at Fort Story, the instructors decided to drop us for a PT session. I was midway between changing from wet to dry shorts with only a towel wrapped...
Read MoreSpecial Operations Force Academy: Was It Worth It?
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 the last 13 years. My final injury tally: Ear infection in both ears – no swimming for a while Covered in poison oak Strained right hamstring Extensive chafing on rear end Strained left shoulder Severe sleep deprivation Total body soreness – my...
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