We must remember that one man is much the same as another, and that he is best who is trained in the severest school.
- Thucydides
In the beginning, you want it until you’re in it.
Everybody wants to do sniper stuff, until it’s time to do sniper stuff.
You’re 15 hours into another day, in another week, and you don't really know when it’s going to end. You’ve been running for most of the day with a 50 pound ruck. It’s nighttime. You check your watch. You quickly figure some mental math on the distance you’ve gotta go, and the time you have. Your gut tightens up when the answer is clear.
You’re 15 hours into another day, in another week, and you don't really know when it’s going to end. You’ve been running for most of the day with a 50 pound ruck. It’s nighttime. You check your watch. You quickly figure some mental math on the distance you’ve gotta go, and the time you have. Your gut tightens up when the answer is clear.
Drop-Dead time is exactly that - Drop Dead.
It’ll be close, but we’re going to make it. Don’t. Quit.
You get back to the classroom at 2358. 2 minutes to spare. Literally 120 seconds between you staying a student, or “going home.”
2 minutes later you’re on your back doing flutter kicks, listening to the water coming from the spigots filling up the pig pond, knowing where you’re headed.
Next, you’re in your ghillie suit, crawling through the pond, face down. Skull dragging.
Enduring whatever it takes.
Those who want it bad enough don’t care that they’re in it. They’re there to learn to be comfortable in it.
You get back to the classroom at 2358. 2 minutes to spare. Literally 120 seconds between you staying a student, or “going home.”
2 minutes later you’re on your back doing flutter kicks, listening to the water coming from the spigots filling up the pig pond, knowing where you’re headed.
Next, you’re in your ghillie suit, crawling through the pond, face down. Skull dragging.
Enduring whatever it takes.
Those who want it bad enough don’t care that they’re in it. They’re there to learn to be comfortable in it.
Suffer Patiently and Patiently Suffer
The standard that was set under those conditions is one that remains unbreakable. Anyone who achieved that standard holds it close.
This Knife collaboration comes from that mindset.
This Knife collaboration comes from that mindset.
1999 · 1 st Marine Regiment Scout/Sniper School
In 1999, at 1st Marine Regiment Scout/Sniper School, I met one of the men responsible for setting that standard.
Jerod Johnson.
What combat would later teach us
At the time, I couldn’t stand him. None of us could.
That meant he was doing his job. We all knew it, but we weren’t in a place to embrace it then.
Now, I respect exactly what he was doing. He shaped me into the instructor that upheld that same standard.
That meant he was doing his job. We all knew it, but we weren’t in a place to embrace it then.
Now, I respect exactly what he was doing. He shaped me into the instructor that upheld that same standard.
