Navy SEAL training is an intense 18-month program that focuses on building discipline, trust, accountability, and mental strength. Known for its high dropout rate, only about 10% of candidates complete the program. The first six months involve Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUDS) training, which includes a demanding three-week period leading up to “Hell Week.” This phase pushes candidates to their limits, with around 80% dropping out by the end.
Hell Week starts on a Sunday and ends on Friday afternoon. Candidates arrive with minimal belongings, unaware of when the intense activities will begin. The uncertainty and stress cause many to quit early on. During this time, the class leader often inspires the group with motivational speeches, like the St. Crispin’s Day speech from Shakespeare’s Henry V, highlighting the camaraderie and brotherhood among those enduring the trials together.
Eric Greitens emphasizes that resilience is often linked to a person’s sense of responsibility. In tough situations, those who manage their thoughts and actions tend to become stronger. This mindset helps individuals expand their control, allowing them to lead meaningful lives despite challenges.
David Goggins shares his journey of developing mental toughness, describing it as a lifestyle rather than a set of techniques. He explains how small changes, like making his bed and cleaning his room, helped him overcome laziness and build discipline. Goggins stresses that growth comes from facing discomfort and challenges directly, rather than avoiding them.
Greitens quotes Hemingway, noting that while “the world breaks everyone,” some become stronger at their broken places. However, not everyone becomes resilient; some may feel helpless when facing suffering. The key is to confront hardship and strive for personal growth, even when it feels overwhelming.
Goggins highlights the importance of winning the “war in the morning.” By starting the day with challenging tasks, like cleaning and exercising, individuals can set a positive tone for the day. This practice builds self-belief and prepares one to face external challenges with confidence.
Goggins introduces the “40 percent rule,” suggesting that when people feel they’ve reached their limit, they’re often only at 40% of their true potential. He encourages pushing beyond perceived limits to discover true capabilities. This principle applies not only to physical challenges, like running marathons, but also to everyday life.
Brent Gleeson discusses how SEAL training has evolved from an individual focus to a team-oriented approach. Emphasizing teamwork fosters a culture of collaboration, trust, and shared purpose. This mindset is crucial not only in military settings but also in personal relationships and business environments. Successful organizations thrive on teamwork and communication, enabling them to adapt and grow.
The Navy SEALs use advanced technology to enhance training and performance. This includes monitoring neuroelectric activity, heart rate variability, and galvanic skin response during stress. The Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team Six) employs advanced biometrics and sensory deprivation techniques to optimize training and recovery, significantly reducing the time needed to learn new skills, such as foreign languages.
Ultimately, the greatest battle individuals face is often within their own minds. Goggins asserts that true warriors are those who confront their internal struggles and build mental resilience. By toughening the mind and embracing discomfort, individuals can overcome personal battles, leading to growth and fulfillment in all aspects of life.
Reflect on your own experiences with resilience. Write a journal entry about a time when you faced a significant challenge and how you overcame it. Consider what strategies you used and how you can apply the lessons from Navy SEAL training, such as the 40 percent rule or building mental toughness, to future challenges.
Participate in a team-building activity that emphasizes collaboration and trust. This could be a problem-solving challenge or a physical activity that requires teamwork. Reflect on how the principles of teamwork in SEAL training can be applied to your professional and personal life.
Design and commit to a morning routine inspired by Goggins’ “war in the morning” concept. Include activities that challenge you physically and mentally, such as exercise, meditation, or learning a new skill. Track your progress over a week and note any changes in your productivity and mindset.
Engage in a role-playing scenario where you must lead a team through a simulated crisis. Use motivational techniques, like those inspired by the St. Crispin’s Day speech, to inspire and maintain team morale. Reflect on the experience and discuss how leadership and responsibility contribute to resilience.
Attend a workshop or seminar on the use of technology to enhance performance, similar to the advanced techniques used in SEAL training. Explore how biometrics and other tools can be applied to improve learning and stress management in your field.
Resilience – The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. – In character education, resilience is emphasized as a crucial trait that enables students to bounce back from setbacks and continue striving towards their goals.
Responsibility – The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. – Taking responsibility for one’s actions is a fundamental aspect of character education, fostering a sense of accountability and integrity.
Discipline – The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. – Discipline in psychology is often linked to self-control and the ability to delay gratification in pursuit of long-term goals.
Teamwork – The combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient. – Effective teamwork in a professional setting requires clear communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to common objectives.
Mental Toughness – The ability to resist, manage, and overcome doubts, worries, concerns, and circumstances that prevent you from succeeding or excelling at a task. – Developing mental toughness is essential for students to handle stress and maintain focus under pressure.
Growth – The process of developing or maturing physically, mentally, or spiritually. – Embracing a growth mindset allows individuals to view challenges as opportunities for learning and personal development.
Challenges – A call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel. – Facing challenges is an integral part of character education, as it helps build resilience and problem-solving skills.
Accountability – The fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility. – In professional settings, accountability ensures that individuals take ownership of their work and contribute effectively to team goals.
Trust – Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. – Building trust within a team is crucial for fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
Hardship – Severe suffering or privation. – Overcoming hardship is often highlighted in character education as a way to develop resilience and empathy.
