I met a Navy SEAL yesterday

[sergeantrex]

I had a cool experience yesterday. About a year ago I was talking to a co-worker he mentioned that he was in the Navy. I asked him what his job was, he said "I was a Navy SEAL." After reading the thread about people lying about serving in special forces units, I didn't believe him. I was never in the military so I couldn't call him on it. I always thought the guy was a little strange but a decent enough guy.

One day he asks me "I hear you like guns?" He was looking for an AR type rifle, he didn't seem to know a lot firearms, so my suspicion grew. He wanted an AR type rifle so I sent him to PRK Arms in Fresno.

Yesterday he brought in some pictures. I was blown away, he had pictures of himself jumping out of airplanes, diving, building explosive devices, pictures mostly from Central and South American jungles. He had pictures of the Panamanian airport that they invaded, during operation just cause.

I thanked him for serving and confessed I really didn't believe him when he told me he was a Navy SEAL. He told me his passion wasn't firearms but medicine (he's an RN now). It just goes to show ya you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Oh yeah everyone who served thanks! I don't care if you were a cook, electrician or special forces your all bad asses in my book.

Gush over.

[tacticalcity]

This is why I warn people not to jump to conclusions. I'd be willing to bet more often than not people are making real jerks out of themselves by assuming the worst of people. I cannot think of anything more hurtful or disgraceful than to call one of these guys a liar after all they've done for this country.

The actual guys defy any and all stereotypes or preconceived notions people have in their heads about just how "special" special operations types are supposed to be. So if you think you can spot a Navy Seal, Forced Recon, Delta Force, Combat Controller, Pararescueman, or any other elite warrior just by looking at him or talking to him think again. They defy any preconeptions you have about how they will look or what they will say. In my rather tame duties with the USAF I deployed with most of the elite units you've heard about and a few you might not have. This included Special Forces, Recon Marines, Navy Seals, Rangers, SOAR, AC130/EC130 Squadrons, and on and on. I would list their unit designations but honestly I didn't pay all that much attention at the time. I had a job to do, and acting like a drooling idiot was not part of the job description.

My point is, I was really shocked to discover just how ordinary some of these extraordinary warriors can seem to be. Skinny guys, fat guys, tall guys, short guys, goofy guys, nerdy guys with only a few guys that looked like you would expect. A lot of them seemed to be the guy who got bullied in school and had something to prove. But I'm just guessing.

My favorite "Navy Seal" story was on a deployment to the middle east in the early 1990s. We were assigned to assist various units from several branches of the service deploy in theater where no host units existed to support them (which was my units primary mission). I of course have no idea what their mission was, except that we were very close to the Iraq border in a country that was "sort of" friendly.

In any case, while the rest of us were working our rears off to get their gear off the aircraft and get them on mission, there was this one jerk sitting in the corner reading a romance paperback with Fabio on the cover. Turns out he was a Navy seal who felt he was above doing the grunt work. From that moment on everyone called him Fabio, to his face. Bad Arse Shooter or not, nobody cuts you any slack when you're lazy in that world.

While I was annoyed with the guy at the time, it cracks me up now. A hardened warrior who spends his down time reading books with Fabio on the cover. He was clearly so addicted to them that he submitted himself ridicule from his team mates and others in order to do so. No matter how much we teased the guy, he kept reading that book for the entire time he was with us.

[Sutcliffe]

I've spent time with an Urban Sniper Team

Twice. Every year this team participate in training in Northeastern Washington state at a cattle ranch. Nice guys. Really friendly and bring toys other than their bread and butter. The year they brought an M-2 they didn't set up for shooting as it was a drought and they were too lazy to removing the tracer rounds from the belts. Sigh!
I suppose they could train for cheaper everywhere and NE washington is nowhere near urban, but it happens to coincide with the opening of deer season.....
Cannot say enough nice about those guys.

[themailman]

The OP is second guessing vets and yet his name is Sergeant Rex.

[Jason.lee740]

So am I safe to assume you are a Mailman, sir?

[PyroFox79]

No body ever beleives me that I am a Former Marine. Its sucks but they are idiots and I try not to argue with idiots

[cc56]

I have met a chunk of "special" guys, esp guard SF guys. They pride themselves on not looking like "special" guys. I remember one guy who was awesome down to earth and skinny as hell! He was an SF medic in the guard and did full time paramedic work civilian side. I think you would be surprised, movies and TV shows give a false appearance of what someone has to look like. Lastly I think you would be surprised how many cops and fireman are "special" people in the military.

[CSDGuy]

I lived on Coronado Island for 3 1/2 years. It was relatively easy to pick out the new SEALs. The experienced ones? Never could...

Kind of the same thing with cops, firefighters, medics... The new ones? Yep. Spot them a mile away. The seasoned ones? Could be your neighbor and you'd never know.

[robairto]

I agreeeeee

I had a cool experience yesterday. About a year ago I was talking to a co-worker he mentioned that he was in the Navy. I asked him what his job was, he said "I was a Navy SEAL." Oh yeah everyone who served thanks! I don't care if you were a cook, electrician or special forces your all bad asses in my book.

Gush over.

YEP, I agree. I know a person who was SF 68-70 A team/ B team in Viet Nam. 3 bronze stars / 4 languages/ college grad/ and a frickin stud to this day and I didn't find out any of it until after 14 yrs of friendship. For those who have served, I'd think that quiet reserve has it's place.

[grim1U]

I lived on Coronado Island for 3 1/2 years. It was relatively easy to pick out the new SEALs. The experienced ones? Never could...

Kind of the same thing with cops, firefighters, medics... The new ones? Yep. Spot them a mile away. The seasoned ones? Could be your neighbor and you'd never know.

Exactly, course there is the exception that's wants everyone to know who and what they are all the time, but for the most part this post is spot on.

It's funny, I'm a former Marine, and have worked with many former Military guys and gals over the years. The two I remember the most was a former Navy SEAL and Force Recon guy, both 20+ year vets. They absolutely hated shooting and did not own any guns. I asked them why and they both said that they shot so much in the military with training and such that they had no desire to shoot anymore. That blows my mind. Both were in good shape in their late 40's, but they did not look like your hollywood "Special Forces" types.

I worked with both for years before I found out their MOS, The Navy SEAL is in a published book about you guessed, Navy SEALs, written by a former Navy SEAL.

[johnthomas]

I was raised in the Army until I was 16, at 19 I joined the Army, 6 Years, 8 more in the National Guard. The only ones I talk to about the military in person, are other vets.

[Olav]

My neighbor is a Green Beret and you would never know it. Very low key.

[themailman]

So am I safe to assume you are a Mailman, sir?

I guess you could say that, sure. Delivered quite a few packages with IEDs and RPGs hammering the **** out of our convoys in delaram and leatherneck. But back here in the states, ya, pretty much a mailman.

[sergeantrex]

The OP is second guessing vets and yet his name is Sergeant Rex.

Prison guard don't assume anything. If you carefully read my post you will see that "I had doubts" I was not arrogant and didn't call him on it BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW. Oh and I am a Sergeant.