It is said that our lives are shaped by significant emotional events that challenge the very spirit within each of us. How we deal with these events build character, confidence, and personal courage. The courage to push through things that you may not have thought possible, either physically or mentally. This story is of an event that tested my limits...

I was sitting in a room full of fellow Soldiers getting a briefing from our training NCO, when he stated to the group that we had a slot for the Combat Diver Course in Key West Florida, Hosted by Americas finest the United States Special Forces. I sat in the room silent, waiting for the pecking order to begin since I was the newest Soldier in the unit. The room fell silent, I thought to myself, I grew up on a beach and was comfortable in the water, what the heck I am in... So I put my hand in the air and stated I will go. The room began to stir, then fell silent again. No one else said they wanted to go so I was slated to attend, but first I would have to pass Pre-Scuba hosted by 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). I had 90 days to get into Scuba shape, so I sat down with one of the Soldiers in the unit that was a successful graduate of that class and asked for advice. He said run as fast as you can for as far as you can, do some sprints until you feel like you are going to pass out and repeat as needed... That sounded easy but I weighed 235 pounds and had spent the last 2 years power lifting, not exactly Scuba shape. I sat down and worked out a triple split (worked out three times per week) routine (running or biking, endurance lifting, and swimming) six days a week and a strict diet. About 6 weeks into the training I was told that the class was pushed out another 2 months so I had 8 more weeks to train. When pre scuba started I was 168 pounds and was running 5:15 - 5:45  miles and able to sustain for a long time, a far cry from the 7:50 miles before I started training. Pre Scuba was an intense 10 day crash course in physical and mental fitness. The days started at 0500 with a quick 50 side straddle hops, right face, and off to the races at a sprinters pace for what seemed and eternity, where we were stopped and smoked as we waited for stragglers, followed by a on hour non stop calisthenics. Phase 2 was pool work where you were introduced to your nightmare (oxygen deprivation) through stressed underwater work,. Lengths of the pool underwater, followed by treading water for 2 minutes with your wands out of the water, retrieving a brick from the bottom of the pool treading water and answering a few questions, then some pool width breath holding exercises affectionately known as cross overs with 10-15 seconds in between the sets of 10-20 per day, then off to survival bobbing, removing your fins in 12 foot water and surfacing for air for 2 minutes, then for fun with ropes (knot tying underwater) like wrestling a piece of spaghetti in soup... Wow not even to lunch yet! Lunch was 45 minutes with a shower and a change. Phase Three: We arrived at a class room and were learning dive physics for 2 hours. Phase Four: Then a short field trip to the lake for our daily surface swim, any where from 1500 meters to 5000 meters! Did I mention that this was February in North Carolina. Sorry forgot to mention that we had to break the surface ice in order to get in the chilly water! Multiply that routine times 10 days and your done... We started with 20 people and ended with 10, a 50 percent attrition rate, a common average success rate among extreme courses that challenge you.

Upon successful completion of Pre Scuba we were give a 10 day break before reporting to Key West for training!!

We started with 52 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines stepping up to the plate to earn the coveted Scuba Badge!

Week One: Deja Vu was the thought of the first day! You guessed it Pre-Scuba all over only more instructors and faster! The leader for the first run was an elite marathon runner... Yes, the smoking came early that day and seemed to linger... The pool was much of the same, with added resistance training (Push Ups with twin 80 tanks and gear, or flutter kicks with fins on mask full of water over the gunnel {side of the pool}) It was surface swim week so the afternoons were much the same as Pre-scuba except in the ocean, followed by equipment appreciation swims, and more physical and dive tables. By the 4th day we were down to 25 people.  Much like pre-scuba only faster...

Week Two: More PT Dive Master More PT. Open Circuit Tanks (Self Contained Under Water Breathing Apparatus = SCUBA) We performed underwater navigation with a tactical board, compass, watch, chem light, and the coordinate written in grease pencil on the board. Distances ranging from 1000 meters to 3000 meters both day and night. You also had your target point plus or minus 250 feet to the left or right to pass. More Physics and Dive Tables with a few hazardous wildlife classes and first aide thrown in for good measure and some specialty dives thrown in to break the routine (Searches)!. 

Week Three: More of the same with re-breathing systems instead of compressed air. Day and night navigation swims in total silence. No bubbles no troubles...With more classes and special dives thrown in before testing out in all classes! We graduated 25 Combat Divers from Class 3-89 (We Dive for $175.00) was out motto but it was a running joke that only the Army takes the fun out of civilian sports and the pays you to do it, it went way beyond the money, a deep seeded desire to belong to an Elite Group within an Elite Organization, test your metal against the elements and yourself!

I was pushed both mentally and physically during the Pre-Scuba phase and Scuba School. What carried me through them was the time, professionalism, instruction and basic skills taught by the Cadre in both phases (Pre-Scuba and Scuba School). We were well prepared, informed, guided, mentored and encouraged by the most professional Non Commissioned Officers in the Army. There was no questions left un-answered, no instruction not covered, no corners cut or standards compromised! I could not have made it through the course on my own. My classmates came with knowledge and expertise in different areas. As we participated in these events we were drawn closer, bonding us as one well trained machine with one common goal, successful completion of the most physically and mentally demanding courses in the Army. A significant emotional event which shaped my life, values, and ethos! What was the secret to successful completion? There were no secrets, if there were there would not be any graduates. There were keys to success, Trust (in your instructors and classmates), Confidence (in your equipment, training and preparation), Knowledge (shared not with held), Time (dedicated time for preparation and execution), Personal Courage (in the face of fear or danger unknown or known meeting it head on and not allowing it to bring you down or stop you from your goal), Teamwork (one man is not a mountain but an integral part of a team). You can be better than you were yesterday if you invest in yourself (time, effort, sweat) and live the Warrior Ethos (Always Place the Mission First, Never Quit, Never Accept Defeat, Never Leave a Fallen Comrade) and you will be successful, Live Army Strong! Blue Skies SGM Michael Eitniear