Finding Your Why by Cadre Mike Rock

Doing a GORUCK event is, for the most part, a terrible idea. THAT is why we do them! It takes us out of our comfort zones, allows us to meet new people, allows us to learn from cadre in the Special Operations community, and it tests the participants on both a mental and physical level. What do we do when we “hit the wall”? What do we do when we don’t think that we can continue on any longer, and we want to quit? For some folks…that is the answer, and they do just that. Quit. They didn’t utilize one tool that I found to be stronger than others. Your “why”.

True story: It was 2009, and I was in Special Forces Assessment and Selection. I had to pass this in order to hopefully get selected and attempt to earn my Green Beret if I could then make it through the Qualification Course (SFQC). I had come from the regular Army, and I was 100% ready to be out of the regular Army. I just knew what I wanted, and where I didn’t want to be. For days and days we got beat down with very little sleep. Then came the final physical task. “The trek”.

After doing back to back brutal events as well as a very fast paced transitional ruck through sugar sand carrying around 80lbs we were told to ruck march at an undisclosed distance for an undisclosed time, and we couldn’t talk to anyone or we would be kicked out (some were kicked out because of this rule). I estimate that we walked around 30 miles or so. By then my body was completely destroyed. I wasn’t even halfway done with the ruck, and every step I took felt like the road was just making contacting with bone and nerves. So much pain. I saw a couple of guys walk off the road and crash into trees. People sleeping where they fell in the middle of the road. It was like a college frat party only with nastier smells, and lots of heavy packs. I won’t make it. I need to quit.

Just then I did something that I have never done before. I found my “why”. Why was I attempting this? Why was I destroying my body? I was there because I wanted to be better than average. I wanted my kids to be able to hold their heads up high and say “My dad is a Green Beret!” At this point is when I realized that failure wasn’t an option. As long as I could move then I could continue the mission. I continued the mission, and accomplished my tasks, and that’s how I’m here today writing this.

There are going to be times when you’re out there at a GORUCK event, and you’re going to feel the same as I did. You’re going to be 17 hours into a 24 hour Heavy. You’re going to be 1 hour into a “welcome party” at a tough after never having done an event before. You’ll think about your bed, a hot shower, pizza, and just not being there getting crushed. It’s at your darkest moment when you need to dig deep, and find your why. We all have different reasons. You need to embrace these reasons, and push forward. Pain only lasts for a little while, but quitting and being defeated will stick with you long after an event weekend. For many, quitting sticks with them for the rest of their life.

Back during World War 2 there was a horrific event called the Bataan Death March. In the Philippines Japanese soldiers captured American and Filipino soldiers. Soldiers were marched 60 to 69 miles under extremely harsh conditions. No food, no water, dysentery, and the Japanese killing people left and right for any minor infraction. One of these infractions was falling behind. If you were not able to keep up you were bayoneted, shot, clubbed, or disemboweled. Sadly 500-650 American and 5,000-18,000 Filipinos(and some civilians) died during this time. One man almost did, but found his “why”.

During the march an American soldier had it in his mind that he couldn’t go on any longer. Hungry, thirsty, broken body, and steadily losing the will to live. He felt himself falling behind. He knew what that meant, and he accepted his fate. Just then he saw someone that he knew. It’s at THAT moment he found his “why” to continue on. This man he saw was an old Army Colonel from his base. This Colonel would regularly cause issues for the soldier, and he despised him for it. He looked at the old Colonel and said to himself “If that old bastard can make it then I can make it”, and he mustered up his strength, continued that march, and survived the war. His “why” was his hatred for another human, and not wanting to be outdone by him. Think about it…if this man didn’t look to his side and see that old Colonel then there would have been one more dead American on that march. Crazy stuff.

There is no canned generic “why”. Everybody is different. Some will continue pushing through an event for their kids, others to show themselves that they can overcome disabilities, some look to the people on their left and right (teammates – never let them down), some to honor someone that is no longer with us, and heck…even hatred for the cadre. Whatever it may be I guarantee you that you have that inside of you. You need to figure out what it is, why it is, and embrace it when hope seems lost. If you can master that ability then you can be successful.

MIKE ROCK

Army Special Forces

Iraq, Oman, Afghanistan

Handsome Mike enjoys long walks with random strangers, picking up heavy things repeatedly, ice cream, and has a weird fetish with little men in the woods. He LOVES when you refer to anything other than actual US Army Special Forces as “Special Forces”.

by GORUCK

Founded by a Green Beret, GORUCK is an American brand with Special Forces roots. Excellence, toughness, and adaptability are the pillars of our way of life.

27 comments

  1. Craig Sneed says:

    Outstanding T, if you take up writing a book, you will reach more people. If it only effects 1in 1000 to the level of a go truck event, it still makes a difference!

  4. nordvpn coupons inspiresensation says:

    Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this website.
    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appearance.
    I must say you have done a great job with
    this. In addition, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Chrome.

    Excellent Blog!

    Stop by my web page – nordvpn coupons inspiresensation

  6. nord vpn promo says:

    nordvpn 350fairfax
    A person necessarily help to make seriously posts I’d state.
    That is the very first time I frequented your web page and up to now?
    I amazed with the research you made to create
    this actual post amazing. Wonderful process!

    Visit my blog – nord vpn promo

  11. vpn says:

    Very good post! We are linking to this particularly great article on our website.
    Keep up the good writing.

    Here is my web site … vpn

  14. vpn says:

    Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up and the
    rest of the website is extremely good.

  23. PedsElite says:

    Those genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness can see this growing prematurely because of elevated DHT.
    While not a well being issue, hair loss could be distressing for young steroid
    users. Not solely are there dozens of different anabolic steroids on the market,
    every with potentially completely different potencies and effects, but each
    particular person user will react in their method to the compounds.
    Throw in different variables like dosage, cycle size, stacking compounds
    together, current health points – and potential steroid side effects can become a lot more complicated.
    The addition of the thyroid hormone Cytomel in this superior
    cycle assists in regulating metabolism and power.
    But contemplate being versatile along with your dosing and administration –
    if using milder steroids, an every-other-day administration may be sufficient.

    Alternatively, if you’re not sure whether you will develop estrogenic effects,
    you could select only to start taking Aromasin at the above dosage vary if adverse unwanted facet effects begin to look.
    For extra information on utilizing Aromasin, please take a look at my in-depth
    Aromasin (Exemestane) PCT guide. Beginning Clomid in post-cycle remedy two weeks after your steroid cycle
    ends is most recommended. However, if you’re using a testosterone ester with
    a shorter half-life (Propionate, for example), then Clomid could be started as quickly as 5 days after the
    end of your cycle.
    Testosterone cream may be formulated to fulfill your necessities so your testosterone dose will be
    just right for you. If injecting is not for you and you’ve heard stories about gels not working
    then you could need to consider bespoke specialist manufactured cream.

    In the USA they name this testo-cream, or testosterone cream or compounded
    testosterone cream. Steadiness My Hormones now provide
    bespoke testosterone creams in case you are uncomfortable with
    injections, these lotions are applied using correct dosage pumps.

    As Soon As it begins growing, you’re in new territory of getting to reverse it (see
    below). You can think of Letrozole as being
    probably the most highly effective of these three
    aromatase inhibitors. It’s broadly available, with the most common model name being Femara;
    however, there are additionally many generics of this
    AI. Raloxifene is never used for PCT purposes as a end
    result of its capacity to restore and increase testosterone just isn’t as sturdy as different SERMs detailed
    right here. People will all the time find alternative ways of
    doing one thing; this is solely one person’s opinion. So please use this data as a guide and inspiration for creating
    your cycles and strategies, however don’t take it as the final word that
    you have to stick with one hundred pc.
    For the tested athlete, you could be somewhat limited in-regards to which steroids you need to use.

    For example, if you’re a truly examined athlete, Nandrolone based mostly steroids can never be used
    as their detection time stretches past a year. Many testosterone
    compounds should also be avoided; particularly massive esters or testosterone mixtures, however the smaller or ester
    free versions are often an possibility. Of course, many athletes who’re tested are solely done so for
    show, and if that’s the case, well, it really doesn’t matter what you
    employ. In any case, for present or a reliable take a look at, should you understand
    steroid detection instances there’s really no reason so that you simply can have
    a problem.
    Your selections will be made based on whether bulking or cutting is your major
    aim. It begins to become potential to use HCG throughout a
    cycle of this length, however most guys is not going to need or want to use it for thus long
    and instead use HCG towards the top of the cycle. And nothing about your age, present weight, and previous training experience.

    In addressing illicit use, all members want to concentrate to the indicators of steroid misuse and be prepared to counsel as necessary
    to try to resolve the problem. In respectable therapeutic use,
    the clinician will prescribe an agent based mostly on medical necessity for a selected symptom or indication, and the pharmacist can verify appropriate dosing and check
    for drug interactions. Nurses can provide counseling on administration together with the pharmacist and monitor
    for adverse effects on follow-up visits. Pharmacists and nurses
    need an open communication channel with the prescriber.

    These actions show the potential effectiveness of an interprofessional team
    strategy to anabolic steroid use or misuse. Dromostanolone is an artificial anabolic steroid with anti-estrogenic properties and
    is 5 times stronger than methyltestosterone, which is often used illegally
    by bodybuilders to arrange for competition. Dromostanolone increases the retention of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, resulting in increased
    protein anabolism and a decrease in the catabolism of amino acids,
    leading to a rise in the density and hardness of muscle.
    These are largely harmless within the short time period and are extra worrying in your self-esteem.
    However issues related to the prostate shouldn’t be taken lightly, and that’s probably the
    most serious area of risk in terms of androgenic sides.
    Gyno can develop when estrogen ranges are too high – and this happens when testosterone is being converted
    to estrogen throughout your cycle30. Some steroids are
    worse than others, with Testosterone and Dianabol being a few of
    the worst culprits with a comparatively excessive price of aromatization compared with different generally used steroids.

    Subcut injections aren’t as suited to oil-based options as most steroids however work
    properly with water-based compounds. The commonest muscle injection sites are those of the
    bigger, stronger muscle tissue like the thigh and buttock.
    Over time, you might develop a preference for which muscular tissues you inject in depending on which
    compounds you’re utilizing and the ache level. Excessive dangers and potential death are the potential consequences of injecting steroids with the IV
    technique.
    A PCT cycle can final anyplace from three to six weeks, depending on the steroid cycle you had been on and the PCT
    medicine you may be utilizing. My best post-cycle therapy protocol above lasts between 4 and 6 weeks for a standard consumer.
    The timing of your PCT is dependent upon which steroids you’ve
    used and the way long-lasting they’re.

    References:

    PedsElite

  24. Pingback: girl reborn dolls
  26. Pingback: fear of god essentials

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *