NEW BLOODA look at what it takes tojoin the SWCC brotherhood

1: Building WarriorsQuiet professionalism begins at the Center.

2: MMaHow MMa can help operators

fight on the battlefield.

6: riggErsThey say “JUMP” — and can tell you how high!

12: HigH CaliBEr PEoPlENaval Special Warfare’s best and brightest

13: WaVE ridErsCandidate to SWCC:

What it takes to make the cut.

18: BiKEr BoYsWhy they love to drive fast

and how they do it safely.

23: ForEign aFFairsgroup 4 takes over naVsCiaTTs.

26: BrooMBallTeambuilding on ice is nice!

28: loYalTYFinding the right path

and sticking to it.

Ethos is an authorized official production of the Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs Office, 2000 Trident Way, San Diego, Calif. 92155-5599. Send electronic submissions and correspondence to editor@navsoc.socom.mil or call (619) 522-2825.

On the cover: SWCC students triangulate their position on an 11-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat in Coronado Bay, Calif., June 13.On the back: Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 2nd Class (EXW/AW/FPJ) Justin Birch monitors a Static-Line Jump Master course student

as he performs outside air safety checks from a C-130 Jan. 19 above El Centro, Calif. Photos by MC2 (PJ) Michelle Kapica

PRODUCTION MANAGER > MC1 (SW/AW) Andre Mitchell ART DIRECTOR > Ms. Mandy McCammonLAYOUT/DESIGN > MC2 (PJ) Michelle KapicaSTAFF > MC2 (SW/AW) Arcenio Gonzalez, MC2 (SW) Shauntae Hinkle, MC2 (SW/AW) Erika Manzano, MC2 (SW/AW) Dominique Lasco

COMMANDER > Rear Admiral Edward Winters, III FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER > Commander Gregory Geisen

DEP. PAO/EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS > Lieutenant Nathan PotterDEP. PAO/INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS > Ms. Patricia O’Connor

EDITOR > MCCS (SW/AW) Scott Williams

ST

AF

F

CATCHING AIR: Students parachute from 1,500 feet above El Centro, Calif. Jan. 19 during a Static-Line Jump Master course conducted by NSW ATC Air Operations.

1: Building WarriorsQuiet professionalism begins at the Center.

2: MMaHow MMa can help operators

fight on the battlefield.

6: riggErsThey say “JUMP” — and can tell you how high!

12: HigH CaliBEr PEoPlENaval Special Warfare’s best and brightest

13: WaVE ridErsCandidate to SWCC:

What it takes to make the cut.

18: BiKEr BoYsWhy they love to drive fast

and how they do it safely.

23: ForEign aFFairsgroup 4 takes over naVsCiaTTs.

26: BrooMBallTeambuilding on ice is nice!

28: loYalTYFinding the right path

and sticking to it.

hat is the essence of a warrior? Is it toughness, skill, attitude? Certainly our ethos contains many of these tenants, including honor, perseverance, and teamwork. The SEAL/SWCC ethos is the fundamental core principles of all that we do at the

Naval Special Warfare Center. The core of the training at the Center has remained intact since our

inception. From the beginning, we have always produced individuals with an extraordinary will to succeed and never-quit life philosophy. With increased demands to grow the force no standards have been compromised at the Naval Special Warfare Center. Candidates continue to meet the high standards that have not changed over the past 20 years. SEALS and SWCC are proven warriors on today’s battlefields and we will continue to assess and select the finest individuals for Naval Special Warfare; our force and our country deserve nothing less.

The key to producing a professional warrior is to ensure our curriculum reflects efficient processes of training that contains all of the mental, physical and moral attributes we want to instill in our operators. The instructor is the tool by which we pass on these attributes, to which end we invest substantially in training the trainers. Everyone in a teaching position attends the Naval Special Warfare Instructor Qualification Course, which covers not just training techniques but also safety, psychology and ethics. Our instructors are total professionals who perform flawlessly on a daily basis in their mission to make, train and educate our next generation of Naval Special Warfare warriors.

In the pages of this magazine, you will discover the various aspects of our lifestyle – on duty and off. One article features the hard-working support staff at Advanced Training Command as they teach Air Operations to candidates and conduct refresher courses for our operators returning from deployment. You’ll also see how the instructor staffs for the Basic Crewman Training and Crewman Qualification Training courses create a SWCC. Additional stories provide examples of how our people spend some of their off duty time.

Ultimately, it makes no difference whether the warrior is downrange, conducting local training or riding a motorcycle on the weekend. The operators of Naval Special Warfare live our ethos every day and are representatives of the special operations community both on and off duty. It is truly a privilege to be work with the young aspiring warriors and instructor staff assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Center.

- Capt. Stewart G. ElliottCommander, Naval Special Warfare Center

Get Centered

It should come as no surprisethat the people who work at NSW -

guyS Who lIke adreNalINe,

competItIoN, challeNgeS, aNd face lIfe or death

SItuatIoNS – chooSe off-duty actIvItIeS

that match theIr Natural INclINatIoNS.

2 ETHOS

hese are the guys who watch, study and learn the brutal fighting techniques of a sport that has evolved from blood-thirsty, cage-fighting wrestlers into one of the

most popular, technical and respected sports today:

- Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Thomas GuimmarraNSW TRADET, Training Dept LCPO

mixed martial arts.

Modern MMA competition made its debut in popular American culture in the early 90’s with the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It brought together practitioners of different martial arts styles in a realistic, street-style type of fighting with few rules.

Some SEALs believe development of MMA-style fighting skills provides a tactical advantage over the enemy in close-combat situations.

“There are a lot of things you’ve got to be good at (in the teams),” said Lt. Cmdr. John “Jocko” Willink, Commanding Officer of NSW Group 1 Training Detachment and co-owner of Throwdown Elite Training Center in San Diego. “Being able to fight is definitely one of them.”

Although MMA combines many different forms of martial arts, Brazilian Jujitsu is considered to be one of the core styles due to its heavy use of submission holds and grappling.

“Brazilian Jujitsu is definitely the base,” said Willink. “Then you tie that with Muay Thai, which uses elbows, knees, kicks, punches and more clench work… finally, wrestling because you have to be able to dictate where that fight is going to go.”

Putting serious time in at the gym is the only way for fighters to improve their technique. It’s the time on the mat, in the ring and in the cage that pays dividends when faced with an enemy insurgent downrange. It provides the confidence, that extra edge that operators need to be able to walk into any situation knowing they can handle anything or anyone – with or without weapons.

“It’s true hand-to-hand, as far as knowing how to manipulate someone to do stuff,” said Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Thomas Giummarra, Group 1 TRADET training department LCPO. Giummarra, who has trained in MMA for seven years, said fighting can be a very humbling experience – a distinct reality check for a fighter whose skills aren’t on the same level as their opponent.

“I think more guys should do it just for the experience and knowledge of how much of a bad-ass we aren’t some times,” said Giummarra.

Besides the obvious tactical benefit, MMA is a great total body workout that hits the core areas of strength, endurance and flexibility. It provides focus and is a great way to relieve stress, leading to a healthier and more productive lifestyle.

Despite its reputation, MMA is a relatively safe sport, said Giummarra. A good fighter can control a fight, leading his opponent in any direction. Injury rates in MMA are no greater than sports like football or basketball, he said.

Getting into MMA is easy. There are hundreds of specialized gyms all over the country with qualified instructors who teach at all levels.

“Have fun with it and realize you won’t be an expert overnight,” said Giummarra. “You must leave your ego at home – the sport equalizes everyone. It doesn’t matter how strong or big you are you can still get tapped out by the smallest guy in the gym.”

- MC3 Antontio Ramos and MC2 Hadi El-Abiad- Photos by MC3 Antonio Ramos

TAKING NAMES: UFC Fighter Dean Lister takes a break from training to pose for a photo at Throwdown Gym in San Diego. Lister, a native of Brazil is one of the best Jujitsu fighters in the world. He regulary works with local service members and shows them new techniques.

Climbing to altitude, youíre pretty much doing math ñ

ensuring that your calculations are correct and the winds havenít shifted. The ramp

opens. Youíre looking for the perfect spot. Itís surreal. Youíre sticking out of the

aircraft at 12,500 feet ñ not something you probably

thought youíd ever be doing ñ Itís pretty exhilarating!

6 ETHOS

eaning over the side of the ramp of a C-130 travelling at 130 knots, Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 2nd Class (EXW/AW/FPJ) Justin Birch scans the ground. The wind whips furiously, pulling the skin tight on his

face as he pushes himself out a little farther. He is a parachute rigger at NSW Advanced Training Command in Imperial Beach, Calif. He knows that the safety of the 25 NSW operators on the bird is in his hands — a responsibility that he doesn’t take lightly. To give the “go” in the wrong spot could result in injury or death.

“As jumpmasters, we’re responsible for making sure they’re safely exiting the aircraft at the prescribed altitude, as well as the proper spot, to give them every chance to fly as a team, to land as a team and to get the

mission done,” said Birch. “It’s a good jump when everybody is on the ground safely. That’s always a good day’s work.”

Birch is a qualified military freefall jumpmaster with around 190 jumps under his belt — so far. He is part of a specialized team responsible for far more than just sewing.

Fleet riggers primarily maintain aircrew survival equipment such as life preservers, radios, survival knives, aircrew vests and oxygen masks. Between ATC and the Logistical Support Units, NSW’s riggers take that job one step further. They have the opportunity to jump out of that maintenance role to actually perform — to instruct and re-qualify our SEALs, SWCC and EOD techs, giving them the skills they need meet demanding mission requirements.

“The meticulous work that they have to

do in the fleet transfers over here (to NSW),” said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class (AW/FPJ) Matthew Taylor, leading petty officer at LOGSU-1 parachute loft in Coronado, Calif. However there are additional responsibilities that NSW’s PRs are given and the opportunity to attend various schools.

Only the very best fleet riggers are selected to be part of the NSW community.

“You have to prove yourself to be worthy of being in this community,” said Birch. “We’re responsible for the lives of anyone who puts on any of our parachutes.”

Potential candidates go through a rigorous screening process to include higher physical fitness standards. They have to be able to make it through jump school — a three-week course at Fort Benning, Ga. Not everyone can.

ETHOS 7

“We’re in the water in class at HRST (Helicopter Roper Suspension Training) cast with operators,” said Taylor. “We need to be able to jump into that training and climb up a caving ladder to get into a helicopter. We have to be second class swimmers and later first class swimmers to do freefall parachuting into the water.”

With such high-risk activities, these guys have to be on top of their game. The training is extensive. By the time most riggers have worked at NSW for a couple of years they are typically qualified in multiple disciplines, to include static-line and freefall parachuting and jumpmaster, HRST/castmaster and Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction. Some of the qualifications also transfer to the civilian world since they are accredited by the Federal Aviation Administration. They are constantly teaching these skills to operators and have become the subject matter experts.

NSW parachute riggers are also the go-

to guys when it comes to Combat Delivery System drops, commonly known as duck drops. Combat Rubber-Raiding Craft are dropped from helicopters many miles off shore with supplies as an over-the-horizon insertion technique. Training usually occurs off the coast of San Clemente Island, Calif.

“We not only train the guys in the shop to run one of those evolutions and build it,” said Taylor. “We teach the operators how to do it all themselves. The teams pride themselves in being self sufficient.”

It takes a team of roughly 10 guys four hours to set up for a duck drop. Each duck has to be carefully constructed. Two CRRCs are stacked on specialized wooden pallets. These are secured, along with required gear, with honeycomb padding and straps that must be cranked down simultaneously. This provides a secure package that will survive a drop from

around 1,200 feet to the unforgiving ocean surface below.

“Once it’s all dropped, the clean up is the most intensive work,” said Taylor.

It takes upward of 75 man hours to recover, transport and store the equipment, he said. That includes getting the parachutes and other equipment out of the water and onto land, then to an aircraft that will fly it back to Coronado. Another truck ride and it’s back to the parachute loft to rinse the gear. The parachutes are untangled and hung in the tower to dry — a process that takes around three hours.

The way our operators train and fight is evolving as a result of current operations. Though the probability of jumping into a combat zone today is small, operators must still maintain their qualifications to stay mission ready.

“Any guy who goes on deployment and didn’t jump during that deployment — which they typically don’t — comes back and they’re what we would call “out of date,” said Taylor. “They’re not current.”

Each qualified parachutist must jump at least four times a year to stay current. On average, Taylor and his team coordinate around 400 re-qualification jumps per month for operators during their Unit Level Training cycle. Refresher training is always offered before each jump, which is mandatory for out-of-date jumpers.

But it’s not as simple as showing up on

the day.“We have to verify records and make

sure they’re current with paperwork,” said Taylor.

Flights must also be coordinated, whether it’s a rotary or fixed-wing aircraft. A

KEEPING WATCH:Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 2nd Class (EXW/AW/FPJ) Justin Birch watches closely as a student performs outside air safety checks from a C-130H during a Static-Line Jump Master class Jan. 19 at 1,500 feet above El Centro, Calif.

JUMPERS, ONE MINUTE: Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st

Class Matthew Taylor (AW/FPJ) gives the one-minute-to-jump signal to freefall parachute jumpers in a C-130 at 12,500

feet above San Diego July 22. Taylor monitored their position over the drop

zone to ensure jumpers exited the aircraft at exactly the right moment.

ETHOS 9

— Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class (AW/FPJ) Matthew Taylor

NSW LOGSU-1 Parachute Loft LPO

MARKING THE SPOT: Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class (AW/FPJ) Andrew Lightnerplants a wind indicator flag into the ground July 22 at Trident drop zone in San Diego.

10 ETHOS

ETHOS 11

Notices To Airmen, known as a NOTAM, must be filed at least 72 hours in advance to reserve the airspace needed for each evolution. The NOTAM creates a no-fly zone for the jumpers to safely enter.

Parachutes are usually packed at least one day prior to a jump. Each qualified freefall jumper packs their own main parachute. These are individually checked by riggers at specific points during the process for quality assurance. It takes around 30 minutes to pack a static-line rig and around 40 minutes to pack a freefall rig. That’s just the main chutes. All reserve chutes must be packed by parachute riggers. Taylor’s team spends at least 150 hours packing chutes every week.

Responsible for the drop zone, our riggers are also trained as drop zone safety officers. The DZSO sets up wind-speed indicators and the ‘T’ that marks the landing spot. They measure wind speed and relay the information to the aircrew and jumpmaster. When the jumpers land, the DZSO takes muster, directs medical emergencies and acts as the malfunction officer.

While parachute malfunctions are not common, they do happen and are more likely with new students, said Birch. Any number of things can cause a malfunction. The pack job is important, but proper body position upon chute deployment is critical to a clean opening.

“Typically it’s jumper error vice equipment error” said Taylor. He knocked on wood. “These systems have been jumped for decades so they’re proven. It all comes with experience. Some people jump thousands of times and never have the need to deploy their reserve or someone can jump ten times and have two reserve deployments.”

It’s those times when the significance of the PR is clearly underlined.

“My first save was here about a month ago at the Naval Parachute Course,” said Birch. “It feels good. You know you’re doing your job. That’s when it really is evident and brings things into perspective.”

It’s the saves, the teaching aspect and the thrill of flight that keeps NSW’s PRs doing what they do.

“Having the opportunity to jump out of planes on a regular basis is a pretty good way to get paid!” said Taylor. “Seeing your efforts come to fruition with things that you’ve built, things that you’ve rigged, the qualification of individuals and proficiency that they gain, is typically only accomplished by working with the troops. That’s what keeps me going.”

- MC2 Michelle Kapica

GEAR CHECKS: Mark Volpe, a civilian instructor from ATC Air Ops, (right) and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Shad Tucker (left), ATC Air Ops LPO, perform Jump Master Personnel Inspections on students Jan. 20 during the Static-Line Jump Master course at Brown Field in San Diego.

MARKING THE SPOT: Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class (AW/FPJ) Andrew Lightnerplants a wind indicator flag into the ground July 22 at Trident drop zone in San Diego.

- Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class (AW/FPJ) Matthew TaylorNSW LOGSU-1 Parachute Loft LPO

12 ETHOS

When people outside of our community hear your amazing stories of courage and bravery, they realize that it takes more than just a call to duty to do the job. Those people are honoring that leadership, perseverance and innovation by putting a few outstanding individuals into the spotlight.

For the first time a SEAL was honored with the Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale award for inspirational leadership, Nov 4, 2008. Unlike most Navy awards, awardees must be nominated by their peers – who are themselves eligible for the award. Cmdr. Robert E. Smith, commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Unit 2, received the award for demonstrating the leadership qualities that were embodied by Stockdale.

Perseverance is defined as a steady persistence in a course of action, or a purpose in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. You see it as a challenge that you can’t fail. SOCM Douglas M. Day lives up to that definition and clearly demonstrated his unbreakable determination during operations in April, 2007. Despite being hit 28 times by small arms and a fragmentation grenade, he pushed on to complete the mission.

The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs selected Day as one of six military members to receive the Grateful Nation award Dec 8, 2008 for his actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The award was introduced five years ago to recognize the courage and dedication of those most often in the line of fire. Since then five SEALs have been honored with the award.

It’s not just military who are doing amazing things. Our civilians have been at the front line fighting in many different ways too. As a leading force in new technology, NSW is always looking for more efficient ways to operate. While working with Blue Force Tracking software John Locke, a systems engineer for NSW Mission Support Center, recognized a shortfall and decided he could do better. He developed specialized software called Mr. Socket 2.0. Mr. Socket 2.0 is an information management program that is now being used by the U.S. military and various government agencies worldwide. The creation of this program earned him the U.S. Navy League’s Rear Admiral William S. Parsons award for scientific and technical progress.

These are just three examples of the remarkable things members of the NSW community have accomplished. There are many more that go unrewarded yet are just as important to the mission. Leadership, perseverance and innovation is the backbone to this community and without people like you doing great things NSW would fail and that is not an option.

- MC2 Erika Manzano

Leadership, perseverance and

innovation are qualities that you expect from your

teammates and support community. They are not things

you take for granted, yet most guys

don’t want any big ceremonious hoopla

after performing one of them.

FORWARD LEAN: Mineman 3rd Class Damien Drolet (left) and Seaman Colby Cook prepare for push-ups with their Basic Crewman Training (BCT) classmates at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado.

ETHOS 13

The training to be a future “Dirty Boat Guy” may seem similar to the BUD/s and SEAL Qualification Training, but is remarkably different. To become a SWCC, it takes 21 weeks of hardcore mental and physical training in two phases: Basic Crewman Training and Crewman Qualification Training.

BCT comes first and is a seven-week program testing the physical strength of a candidate and his ability to work as a member of a team. The class begins with approximately 40 students and includes men straight from recruit training and seasoned Sailors from the fleet. A team of highly-trained and experienced special boat operators serve as their instructors.

This phase is the most physical part of training. Some candidates arrive for training in good shape, but some don’t realize exactly what they are getting into until the training has begun.

“During the first two weeks we basically do the crawl, walk, run method,” said Chief Special Boat Operator (SWCC) Christopher Moore, leading chief petty officer of BCT. “We teach them exactly how to do what they need to do to make it through the next five weeks.”

The beginning of the third week of training is when everything gets kicked up a notch. Instructors teach candidates the basics, from proper swimming technique to equipment maintenance. Now it is up to the Sailors to decide if they really want to be in the program.

“One of the biggest things that causes students to drop is that they realize how much work it is, or how it isn’t as glamorous as the recruiting video portrayed it to be,” said instructor Special Boat Operator 1st Class (SWCC/FPJ) Anthony Blond. “They also find out how scary it is being on a boat at night going 40 knots and then decide that it isn’t for them.”

By the beginning of week five, almost half of the candidates remain and they struggle to get into a groove.

“They come here as individuals and they forget that they have to work well with others,” said instructor Special Boat Operator 1st Class (SWCC/FPJ) Lawrence Obst. “No matter how fast or how strong they think they are, they now have to motivate others to complete the tasks and get through the training as a group.”

But the instructors don’t let up on tough standards. They know the candidates must learn to cope with stressful environments.

“We can teach them how to use a radio and shoot a gun,” Blond said. “But when the stress level goes up that’s when they lose everything they’ve learned. We have to keep that stress level up so that we know they can perform in that environment.”

Blond and Obst know that they will likely be serving on teams with these students sometime in their career and they want a teammate they can trust. It is the instructors’ mission to ensure the strongest candidates, both mentally and physically, make it through. They would rather graduate a few strong candidates that can handle the stress than a whole class that may not perform.

BCT culminates in a final test of the candidate’s knowledge and physical stamina. It is called “The Tour.” This is a simulation of a basic mission. It consists of more than 36 hours of various physical activities like swimming and push ups, little to no rest, and

getting in and out of cold water. It begins with the SWCC physical fitness test then moves on to navigation at sea in small boats. In the end, typically 10 to 20 students make it through.

One candidate who was dropped but made it back into the program and persevered was Special Boat Operator 2nd Class Michael Gough.

“This training is physically hard,” he said. “The job and the camaraderie made me come back and do this all over again.”

There is much to celebrate after making it through “The Tour.” Both the instructors and the newly-graduated candidates gather in front of BCT headquarters to eat, casually talk, and relax for a few short hours. The candidates have finally earned the SB rating. For those new SBs, it’s time to move on to the next step of becoming a SWCC.

CQT is a less physical and more mentally demanding part of SWCC training. This 14-week school requires candidates to study for and pass written tests rather than just concentrate on strength and endurance tests.

“BCT tests the heart and physical capabilities of a student,” said Senior Chief Special Boat Operator (SWCC) James Budrakey, the leading chief petty officer of CQT. “At CQT we are more interested in pumping the students with technical knowledge on how to be boat guys and make an overall package that is ready to go to the teams in a more functional manner.”

The students are given a PQS as a reference for what they are expected to learn over the remainder of the training. This book includes everything from the rules of warfare and 3M to weapons training and communications.

Over the 14 weeks of instruction, the students spend about 600 hours in the classroom and countless more studying independently. About 150 classroom hours include labs where candidates learn hands-on with the equipment they were taught during class.

The process of going from class to lab to

14 ETHOS

Enis augiat, secte enibh eros doluptat aut at, vullaor alisit utpatisi tem vent dolor ipsuscipsum exero dolore te vullum delit, si.Eriusciliqui estrud do et praestrud min enim zzritLorperostrud mod te eummodiamcon ea faccum euguero dolor autatin enim quamet ea feugait volorem dolorperos aci tionum irillaoreet, si.Ugait lutatis modolorem vulla feugiamet veliquipis adit aliquam, sim del eugiam, vullut doluptat, sisit eum iure et lutpat wisis do el eum niam at. Ut et, vullupt atincillut velit venit er at ea con vel illa aut eugiat la aut aut dolor sed euguero consecte consed dunt velis non heniamc onsequis nit diamcore tetumsandio od tionse feum quissendre dignim et am vulluptat.Cum del ut dunt nullut utet, con ut lum zzrilit lut lamcommy nis dio con ulla aliquis ate tet luptat dipsuscidunt praestin vulla augiamc onsendit autpat. La facil doloreet ad dolenibh eugait ulla faciduip estrud dion ute con utpatie enim veriust inciliquamet la feugiat. Duisl utat. Duismod tat, quis amcor sent vullaor alit la conummo lessectem iriuscilit nim iusto duisit dolor sit nonse vulput lortio od min exercil dolore faciliquisi te feugait aliquis at. Lismodi gniatem aut prat.Re feuiscincin utatet iuscilla coreet lore velis enibh et lumsandre ent nonsed tis nulla core doluptatisim qui bla facil ese tat prat.Ibh ero ero commy nismodolore consed tio et, velenisi et adit autat la adigniam doloborting et velenissi.Ut pratum ipit wisl iril utpat vullaore consed digna conullu ptatie vel ut utem at. Met, quat. Duipis nullutpat. Dui tet digna facilissi blaoreet dionsed magnisi.Aliquam zzrit praessi. Rat, con velessit nullute feu faccummolute doleseq uipsum quam ing eugait lutatuerat augait praesto etueril essi.Enim zzriure raessequate commodo dolorem dolore vel ex ex et veliquis nulputpat. Ut am erciduipit ver sum nim diam quis nosto dunt nulla atuerit aute magnim iniam duis eum dolenis del exercidui blamcommy nos nim nullam in veliquam venisi.Duis do consequis num quamet lore consequam zzrit inim venit irit el et autem iliscipisim quisl ea feum ad dolorperil irit ate dolummod minismod mincipissi etue doleniatetum delisim digna feugait dolenit acidui bla

Enis augiat, secte enibh eros doluptat aut at, vullaor alisit utpatisi tem vent dolor ipsuscipsum exero dolore te vullum delit, si.Eriusciliqui estrud do et praestrud min enim zzritLorperostrud mod te eummodiamcon ea faccum euguero dolor autatin enim quamet ea feugait volorem dolorperos aci tionum irillaoreet, si.Ugait lutatis modolorem vulla feugiamet veliquipis adit aliquam, sim del eugiam, vullut doluptat, sisit eum iure et lutpat wisis do el eum niam at. Ut et, vullupt atincillut velit venit er at ea con vel illa aut eugiat la aut aut dolor sed euguero consecte consed dunt velis non heniamc onsequis nit diamcore tetumsandio od tionse feum quissendre dignim et am vulluptat.Cum del ut dunt nullut utet, con ut lum zzrilit lut lamcommy nis dio con ulla aliquis ate tet luptat dipsuscidunt praestin vulla augiamc onsendit autpat. La facil doloreet ad dolenibh eugait ulla faciduip estrud dion ute con utpatie enim veriust inciliquamet la feugiat. Duisl utat. Duismod tat, quis amcor sent vullaor alit la conummo lessectem iriuscilit nim iusto duisit dolor sit nonse vulput lortio od min exercil dolore faciliquisi te feugait aliquis at. Lismodi gniatem aut prat.Re feuiscincin utatet iuscilla coreet lore velis enibh et lumsandre ent nonsed tis nulla core doluptatisim qui bla facil ese tat prat.Ibh ero ero commy nismodolore consed tio et, velenisi et adit autat la adigniam doloborting et velenissi.Ut pratum ipit wisl iril utpat vullaore consed digna conullu ptatie vel ut utem at. Met, quat. Duipis nullutpat. Dui tet digna facilissi blaoreet dionsed magnisi.Aliquam zzrit praessi. Rat, con velessit nullute feu faccummolute doleseq uipsum quam ing eugait lutatuerat augait praesto etueril essi.Enim zzriure raessequate commodo dolorem dolore vel ex ex et veliquis nulputpat. Ut am erciduipit ver sum nim diam quis nosto dunt nulla atuerit aute magnim iniam duis eum dolenis del exercidui blamcommy nos nim nullam in veliquam venisi.Duis do consequis num quamet lore consequam zzrit inim venit irit el et autem iliscipisim quisl ea feum ad dolorperil irit ate dolummod minismod mincipissi etue doleniatetum delisim digna feugait dolenit acidui bla

the practical test is repetitive, but according to instructors, is essential in making sure candidates know and are comfortable with the basic elements of their rating. Repetition becomes especially important as they approach the weapons training portion of their training.

Weapons training starts at week eight of CQT. Over the one-month period of weapons training, the candidates train and qualify on nine weapons from 9mm pistols to .50-caliber, mounted machine guns. Repetition is key in order to safely train. According to some instructors, it is the most challenging part of the course. Ironically, it is also the training students look forward to the most.

“Weapons is known as a high-failure

point of training and it has the reputation of being a very tough part of the course,” said Budrakey. “A lot of students get excited about getting out on the range and shooting, but they are also nervous about it because they know it’s a pretty strong challenge.”

The weapons training involves classroom as well as shooting range time. The students only have three chances to pass their practical shooting test. This is when paying attention to detail becomes paramount.

“There are some candidates coming through that have never held a weapon before,” said SBC (SWCC) Thomas Sounier. “Getting them used to the sounds and feel can only be done by repeating the training from the classroom to the range.”

Figuring out how to be a Sailor can be difficult as well for some young candidates who may have no naval experience.

- Special Boat Operator 1st Class (SWCC/FPJ) Anthony BlondBCT instructor

TAKING A DUMP: Basic Crewman Training (BCT) students perform a “dump boat” exercise with the combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado.

ETHOS 15

“The biggest challenge that many of them face is sailorization and learning what it means to be a Sailor and a leader at such a young age,” said Budrakey.

The students also realize that they have to take more responsibility in order to receive their warfare device.

“CQT gave you more freedom ... but it put more on you as an individual to complete the course,” said SB2 (SWCC) Russell Manyo, a recent CQT graduate.

“When they leave here they get their basic 3M qualification, CMS user qualification, and their warfare designation pin which encompasses their weapons and other qualifications,” said SB1 (SWCC) Justin Beebe, a CQT instructor. “They are qualified to go to a team.”

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?: A SWCC candidate provides security while teammates give medical treatment to simulated casualties in an exercise at Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, Calif.

16 ETHOS

A PROUD MOMENT: SB3 (SWCC) Christopher Dumph smiles after receiving his SWCC pin from NSWC commander, Capt. Stewart Elliott, during graduation.

After nearly 100 days of grueling, brain and gut busting training and evaluations, the students prepare for graduation. Gear is turned in, orders to their boat teams are handed out and uniforms are prepped.

Graduation morning, the students and all of their instructors form up for the final time. The instructors, special warfare members and family gather to congratulation their loved ones and welcome their new brothers to the teams.

“It feels amazing,” said SB3 (SWCC) David Hostetter. “I have been waiting to get this rate and pin for about a year now and everything I went through was worth it.”

The instructors feel a real sense of accomplishment as well, knowing they have not just done their job, but created the best Sailor they possibly could.

“In the end this is not just a SWCC school or a Special Warfare school,” said Sounier. “We are creating a Sailor.”

- MC2 Dominique Lasco

BOYS DON’T CRY: (above) Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Russell Manyo wipes water from his eyes while treading water in the Combat Training Tank. A LITTLE RUN, JUST FOR FUN: (above right) CQT Class 60 runs to the beach.

ETHOS 17

18 ETHOS

HUG THE TURN: Builder 3rd Class Brantley Honeycutt leans into a turn on his 2007 Yamaha R1 on Telegraph Canyon Road in Chula Vista, Calif.

It’s a lifestyle that quenchs what cannot be satisfied by a job. It’s a thrilling hobby or a moonlighting opportunity that many in the Navy are discovering at an astonishing rate. From motocross to Harleys, the riding lifestyle has become an entrenched part of the Naval Special Warfare community.

There are operators and techs who are professional riders. People who at first glance don’t appear to have a need for speed – let alone a desire to drive anything other than a sensible car. Navy SEAL Capt. Rick May is one of these professionals.

“I ride because in life you are told what you need to do, but on a motorcycle you can be your own commander and make your own choices,”

said May. “It’s autonomy that I look for on a bike. That is what it’s all about — just making your own decisions, and that complete and total freedom. You’re not thinking about anything else. You’re thinking about that moment and living in that moment.”

May has been riding since he was five years old. His father first introduced him to motorcycles with a Honda 90 step-through frame. Then he started competing. First it was motocross at age 11, then every kind of bike imaginable — dirt bikes, Harleys and street bikes.

“I first got into street bikes when I went to UDT 21,” said May. “I got in with the Harley crowd. At that time Harleys weren’t as reliable (as now) and required you to perform maintenance all the time. Harleys also didn’t provide that thrill of going fast and being in control.”

May began getting into street bikes in the 1980s. He started road racing with Suzuki’s in 1991, but was drawn to Ducati.

“I am a part of the Ducati racer program, which involves the company getting me a deal on the bike and helping me get it on the track,” explained May. “This year I’m going to be racing in a second class with a Ducati 848. Additionally I will be racing with the American Motorcycle Association, the premier level of racing in the country for motorcyclists.”

His most recent triumph was at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., where he placed first in the Formula 50 class for 2008 and 10th overall in the championship series.

ETHOS 19

lines [of approach] on the track, finding which ones work the best in different situations. An off-road environment, though fun and challenging with friends and family, has uncertain terrain and surprises.”

On the Open rOadIf you want to have fun and relax while satisfying a need for freedom

or speed, recreational riding may be just for you. Riding bikes in groups seems to be the way a lot of people get satisfaction. It is a different scene that motorcyclists and motocross enthusiasts enjoy. Clubs and groups associated with motorcycles may bring images of Hell’s Angels or the Mongols to mind, but it may surprise some people to know that the groups riding through the canyons are simply friends that enjoy riding.

Many individual commands organize their own rides. An example of this is the Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman instructors at the Center for SEAL and SWCC who recently organized a ride with everyone at their command that own bikes.

“On the most recent ride we had just seven riders, including a master chief and our first classes,” said Special Boat Operator 1st Class Lawrence Obst, a Basic Crewman Training instructor and 10-year rider. “We organized it through emails between the BCT instructors and the CQT instructors and we rode through Anzo-Borrego Desert State Park near Julian.”

“Sixty percent of the staff here has motorcycles and we’re all pretty tight knit,” said fellow instructor SB1 (SWCC) Anthony Blond. “When we do ride it’s just little rides after work or go ride out and have lunch and come back.”

Learning from other riders in a group is a huge benefit but other benefits include a sense of fellowship, community service, and safety.

“In groups you are seen better because there are five or six bike riding in the slow lane together but that depends on the group you ride with,” said Builder 3rd Class Brantley Honeycutt. “For the most part they provide safety and a way to learn from each other.”

Just because a group may be safer, doesn’t mean everyone in a group is looking out for the new guy. Honeycutt recommends riders they are in a group with similar riding goals and don’t push past their riding limits.

“Get to know the guys in the club. That’s the only way you will know if you are going to fit in the club,” said Honeycutt. “The most important thing is to ride within your limits.”

“I still believe the best way to begin riding in groups is with trusted friends,” said Blond. “You will be more comfortable and still have fun in the safest way you can.”

the fast & feebleYou’re a new inexperienced rider with a penchant for the best money

can buy. You yearn for the freedom of choice and the adrenaline rush of riding, and lets face it, you want to look cool. You’ve got all the hottest gear: helmet, boots, gloves, long-sleeve shirt, jeans and, of course, the eyewear. The only thing separating you from total Evel Knieveldom is the ride. You’ve been reading the latest magazines and you want that turbo-charged death rocket on all the covers. Local bike dealers are eager to sell you what you crave, but is it really what you need?

“The number one issue I find with motorcyclists is people exceeding their ability,” said Officer Brad Baehr of California Highway Patrol. “They buy the F-18 Hornet of motorcycles when they’re attempting to get their pilot’s license. These bikes can do one to 200 mph. They’re made for tracks and for professional riders. They’re hard for them, let alone a novice.”

So what should you look for when getting your first bike? Chief Operations Specialist (SW) John Hainline, motorcycle safety

course instructor, said it’s not so much the type of bike that matters but the amount of engine power it commands.

“I would recommend a bike with a 500 cubic-centimeter (CC) engine or less,” said Hainline.

“Motocross is a passion. It’s something that

grabs your interest and you run with it.

The competition is a true measure of your competence

as a rider. You become a better

rider from it.”Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Stacey Virgin,

16-year sanctioned rider

DUST TRACKS: A dirtbike rider rides up Oldsmobile Hill in Glamis, Calif., part of the Imperial Sand Dune Recreational Area.

20 ETHOS

dirty businessBack when May was racing dirtbikes, he never dreamed motocross

would become the hugely popular sport that it is now.On any given Saturday there is a rapid-fire, dirt-track race happening

somewhere in Southern California.The riders zone in, focusing down the track to a fast-approaching checkered flag.

So what drives riders to push these high-flying, explosively powered machines to the extreme?

“Motocross is a passion,” said Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Stacey Virgin, a 16-year sanctioned rider. “It’s something that grabs your interest and you run with it. The competition is a true measure of your competence as a rider. You become a better rider from it.”

Like May, Virgin began riding motorcycles with his father at a very early age and rode professionally until 1996. Recently he has been riding in amateur and intermediate opens and welcomes the challenge and camaraderie of the sport. It requires the dedication of countless hours on the track to become good. Much of the time is spent in practicing techniques or working with the bike.

“Nothing replaces actual lap time,” said Virgin when asked about where people train. “I can practice on a track to improve and hone my skills, concentrating on repeating the same obstacles. Also, I can look at different

TAKE A KNEE: Navy SEAL Capt. Rick May leans into a turn on his Ducati during a recent race. May has been racing competitively since he was 11 years old.

Phot

o co

urte

sy C

ali P

hoto

grap

hy

“Everyone should at least take the basic riders course.

It’s imperative for new and old

riders and it’s a requirement

to get base stickers for your

motorcycles.”- Personnelman

2nd Class (SW/AW) Charles Rayborn

Laguna Beach

PacificOcean

8

10

Encintas

San Marcos

Chula Vista

125

Lakeside

94

El Centro

98

76Oceanside

Imperial

Costa Mesa

CoronaMoreno Valley

79

Lake Elsinore

San DIEgO5

74

LOng BEaCH

JuLIan gLaMIS

74

Tijuana

Mexicali

COaSTaL RIDE: San Diego to Long Beach on the Pacific Coastal Highway.

aPPLE PIE Run: Try this ride to Julian, in the fall to catch the famous apple Festival.

SanD anD Sun: Ride out to glamis, and hit the dunes!

MaP kEY

Illus

tratio

n by

MC

2 Ar

ceni

o G

onza

lez

safety first When you have your protective gear, bike and license, the next step is

to take one of the motorcycle safety courses. These courses are designed to stem the rising tide of fatalities due to motorcycle-related accidents, and are offered on most Navy bases.

According to the Naval Safety Center web site, 58 Sailors lost their lives during fiscal year 08 — a 53 percent increase from the year before. The majority of these fatalities involved sport bikes. Thus, training courses are offered not only for basic riding instruction, but for experienced riders and sport bike riders.

“Everyone should at least take the basic riders course,” said Personnelman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Charles Rayborn “It’s imperative for new and old riders and it’s a requirement to get base stickers for your motorcycles.”

The basic rider course offers 15 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction covering everything from types of motorcycles and how they operate to motorcycle safety and maintenance. The experienced rider course offers six more hours of instruction, while the sports bike training is specifically geared toward skill development.

“The most important thing I was reminded of was safety habits,” explained Honeycutt. “You don’t realize how one mistake can quickly spiral out of control.”

Hainline said motorcycles offer less protection than cars and can be unforgiving in an accident. Risks associated with motorcycles can stem from road debris, weather hazards, animals and even the amount of space between yourself and the vehicles around you. Riders should also learn basic motorcycle maintenance. One flat tire, or loose chain can lead to debilitating injuries and costly repairs.

Racing is a physical and emotional outlet for May. It allows him to satisfy his need for speed in a controlled, safe environment.

“Even though my passion is speed and going fast on the track, I don’t do that on the road,” said May. “I commute daily and I never go over the speed limit. On the track you don’t have to worry about other distractions like

cars and animals darting in front of you. ”May stressed the need for proper safety equipment both on and off the

track and attributed his racing success to taking classes such as basic and advanced racing techniques.

The feel of being on a motorcycle for the first time is unmistakable. The twist of the grip on your handlebars, and feel of the throttle as your engine roars, letting you know you are in the presence of power. Whether a Sailor is a newbie or a world-class racer, they share the same love of two wheels. They ride.

- MC2 Dominique Lasco

February marked a significant event in Naval Special Warfare.

Group 4 took control of the international small craft

training program in Stennis, Miss., known as NAVSCIATTS.

ontrol of the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS), switched from the Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC) to Naval Special Warfare Group 4 Feb. 1.

NAVSCIATTS mission is to provide partner nation security forces with the highest level of riverine and coastal craft operations and maintenance technical training.

The change in structure incorporates the operational expertise of SWCCs with the NAVSCIATTS schoolhouse.

The latest techniques and procedures in small boat operations are being taught, along with increased military-to-military professional engagement with

friendly countries. NAVSCIATTS has been conducting security force

assistance since 1963 to prepare partner nation forces to conduct small craft operations in riverine and littoral environments, as well as develop and sustain professional and personal relationships.

“The reason NAVSCIATTS exists is to provide technical training to our partner nation security force students, not only to improve their individual technical skills, but also to enhance the readiness of select maritime security forces within key partner nations,” said NAVSCIATTS Commanding Officer Cmdr. Bill Mahoney.

This mission is closely aligned with the Navy’s maritime strategy of increasing security and alliances in waterways across the globe. With this waterborne mission, it is a natural evolution for NAVSCIATTS to fall under Group 4, U.S. Special Operations Command’s maritime mobility component.

“This is phase zero of the Navy’s maritime strategy: pre-conflict capacity building,” said Capt. Chuck Wolf, Group 4 Commanding Officer. NAVSCIATTS provides us with the initial contact with a potential ally or partner nation force, and helps set the stage for training with nations around the world.

“Trust and cooperation cannot be surged, and our relationships with partner nations must include improving regional and cultural expertise through expanded training, education and exchange initiatives,” he added. “The defense of all countries against common threats to security — whether civil conflict; social instability; humanitarian crises; arms, drug or human trafficking; territorial disputes; piracy or terrorism; — is best achieved through improved cooperation, strong coalitions and regional partnerships that provide for our collective security. This training and relationship building begins with training programs exemplified by NAVSCIATTS.”

Additionally, NAVSCIATTS conducts security force assistance missions in support of combatant commanders in accordance with SOCOM priorities using in-resident courses and mobile training teams (MTT) to prepare partner nation security forces to conduct small craft operations in riverine or littoral environments within their own countries.

The goal of an MTT is to teach both how to operate and maintain the craft used by the partner nation in their own environment, and often includes establishing a logistics chain from the ground up. These are skills that the SWCC instructors are specifically trained for as SOCOM’s premier maritime experts.

Wolf would like to use NAVSCIATTS to shape Naval Special Warfare’s combatant-craft global impact through partner nation capability assessments. He envisions a cohesive strategy for developing

IllustratIon by MC2 arCenIo Gonzalez

ETHOS 23

24 ETHOS

partner nation maritime capabilities that will be formulated by engaging with the State Department, U.S. embassies and their military advisory and assistance groups abroad.

Wolf’s enlisting the Naval Post Graduate School to send teams of inter-disciplinary subject matter experts to designated countries to determine specific and reliable maritime security forces the government should work with, what their current capabilities are, and what their capabilities could become.

“There will be a closer lashing-up of NSW maritime components with partner nations we should be and are currently working with,” said Wolf.

NAVSCIATTS in-resident training is an effective first step of U.S. government development of partner nation forces, focusing on teaching independent maintenance, limited planning and the basics of combined operations. This initial training often leads to MTT deployments and more advanced training.

“NAVSCIATTS in-resident training pipeline is crucial to the overall security force assistance concept,” said Mahoney. “In fact, most countries use our NAVSCIATTS in-resident training as their respective nation’s qualification courses. After completing core in-resident and

several iterations of train-the-trainer instructor development courses, the follow-on MTTs help partner nations to develop and sustain programs to operate independently on their own to effectively provide both internal and external security of their territorial waters.”

After a period of sustained interoperability the unit will ideally become more involved with the United States, specifically with special operations forces, and develop their own training capabilities.

“It’s in our mutual interest to improve security through enhanced interoperability, improved alliances and increased cooperative security,” said Mahoney.

Mahoney predicts that the shift in control of his command to Group 4 will improve security force assistance efforts to build select maritime security force capacities within key partner nations.

“It’s in everyone’s interest to more effectively concentrate U.S. efforts on building select maritime security force capabilities,” said Mahoney.

In an ongoing effort to both continually improve the training provided to partner nation forces as well as sustain their reputation among its customers, NAVSCIATTS’ schoolhouse instructor cadre seeks out and learns from best practices among similar DoD training

PLOTTING TOGETHER: International students attending a course at the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School on Stennis Space Center, MIss plot points on a map. Group 4 took control of NAVSCIATTS Feb. 1.

“It’s in everyone’s interest to more effectively concentrate U.S. efforts on building select maritime security force capabilities.”

ETHOS 25

the command to the Stennis Space Center.

Under the International Military Education and Training program, NAVSCIATTS supports a robust Field Studies Program designed to ensure students return to their respective countries with a greater understanding of U.S. business, military and government cultures. As part of the FSP and in conjunction with the Navy International Programs Office, NAVSCIATTS coordinates educational trips to local businesses and civic activities in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.

Students have the opportunity to learn about their classmates’ cultures too; during each course students are asked to share a cultural presentation about their home country. This provides opportunities to cultivate relationships with foreign countries, as well as develop and sustain professional and personal relationships, in order to provide the U.S. with both access and influence in partner nations.

“The relationships forged at this small command in Southern Mississippi,” said Wolf, “will last a lifetime and put a human face on very important decisions made in the future that may impact maritime security on a global scale.”

- Naval Special Warfare Group 4 Public Affairs

programs including from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, and equivalent NECC and Coast Guard courses.

For example, this year NAVSCIATTS water-based students will participate in a joint training exercise with WHINSEC’s students undergoing land-based training. The maritime students will insert and extract the ground students during a final exercise to demonstrate that the scenario works, as well as the combined training.

Mahoney believes that synergies like these are critical as U.S. government and DoD efforts increasingly shift from direct toward indirect methods.

NAVSCIATTS is distinct from other commands with similar missions because the school exclusively trains international students; the cadre are full-time instructors and the command is adjacent to Special Boat Team 22, allowing the instructors to easily a wealth of knowledge from the SWCC who operate the riverine attack boats known as SOC-R.

NAVSCIATTS is conveniently located near the Pearl River, which provides some of the finest riverine and coastal training environments in the world.

NECC and the Coast Guard offer similar training, but their equivalent courses are not as long, as in-depth, or facilitated by a dedicated full-time instructor force, focused solely on training international students.

“Despite our relatively small size, our NAVSCIATTS master training specialist SWCC cadre provides unmatched professional knowledge and expansive institutional experience unmatched in the military,” said Mahoney. “Our sustained competitive advantage within the maritime security force assistance arena is the result not of one single aspect of our command, but rather a mix of internal excellence through a culture of teamwork; a sterling reputation among our customers; and external stewardship from both NSW and SOCOM leadership over our 48 year history.”

NAVSCIATTSs instructor force of less than 30 is comprised of full-time, bilingual, master training specialists, including SWCC, government employees, civilian contractors and Navy engineers. The instructor cadre teaches partner nation maritime forces how to protect their own waterways through courses offered at the school house in Mississippi.

Nine courses are offered in both Spanish and English, and cover such topics as patrol craft familiarization, outboard motor maintenance, mission planning, navigation, weapons training, rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict and how a military law justice system functions in accomplishing military objectives.

All instructors are United States citizens, but many are originally from countries such as Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador and Panama. This cadre has trained more than 6,000 international students from more than 55 countries in the past 48 years.

The dynamic command that exists today started with somewhat humble beginnings in 1961, as a Coast Guard military training team deployed to the Panama Canal Zone to train the local military on small craft operations. In the midst of the deployment the team recognized the need for sustained training and based a Coast Guard Small Craft Inspection and Training Team (SCIATT) at the U.S. Naval Station, Rodman, Panama in 1963.

Later, control of SCIATTS was transferred to the Navy and it subsequently came under the control of USSOCOM.

Mahoney said the decision in 1999 by Naval Special Warfare (NSW) and USSOCOM to take NAVSCIATTS as part of the NSW Coastal and Riverine Training Center concept led to the relocation of

A U.S. Navy instructor assigned to NAVSCIATTS train personnel from the Iraqi Riverine Police Force on special boat maneuvers and weapon handling.

What is broomball, anyway? Someone somewhere thought trying to run on ice wearing shoes and pelting a hard leather ball using an aluminum stick and wearing little protection would be fun.

“Broomball is a bit like a modified version of hockey, but with shoes and shorter sticks,” explained Pihl.

Pihl’s father was a college professor and his family moved to Montreal, Quebec, when his father accepted a job at McGill University. His upbringing in one of the centers of Hockey Night in Canada’s backyards may have predispositioned him to enjoy colder than normal sports.

“Broomball is actually a very popular intramural sport in colleges,” Pihl explained. When asked if he played in college, he was quick to add that his college athletic prowess was not shown in the broomball rink, but rather by playing football for the U.S. Naval Academy. (Note: raised in Canada, but not Canadian.)

There are two teams with anywhere from five to 10 players whose goal is to place a ball resembling the same one you would use for soccer, into a net roughly a third smaller than a hockey net. A game consists of two, 18-minute stop-time halves. (For actual broomball rules and history, see sidebar rules and history.)

The inaugural game in October was more or less a version of this except they played longer and didn’t care about any other “actual” rules.

San Diegoin

MBO AO LR L

B

When Lt. Cmdr. Eric Pihl got the notion to play broomball as one of the Mission Support Center’s monthly teambuilding events, he had no idea what to expect. He had organized some rather odd choices before, notably kickball and kayak hockey (a type of full-contact soccer game played in glorietta Bay on kayaks), but nothing on ice.

So why has broomball, an obscure Canadian ice sport, taken off? Pihl summed it up in five words: Ice is the great equalizer. “Of all

the sports we have played, broomball has really been the most fun and successful, I think because anyone can play.”

The MSC is filled with officers, enlisted, civilians, SEALs, techs, young people, old people, men and women with every variance of athletic ability.

“It doesn’t matter how athletic you are, the ice puts everyone on their backs,” Pihl remarked.

26 ETHOS

Illus

tratio

n by

MC

2 Ar

ceni

o G

onza

lez

.

“She’s called the Gorges Johnson trophy,” Pihl is happy to explain.MSC awards the trophy after each sporting event. The command had

a contest to decide the name and picked “Gorges Johnson” as the winning entry. Submitted by Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Dave Russell, he put the last names of his two coworkers, Justin Gorges and Scott Johnson, together to create the winning combination.

“The trophy is great, the MVP of the winning team gets to keep the trophy and the team’s name gets engraved on it,” Russell explained. “And the losing team gets to pick next month’s sport.”

Although each month brings something new, Russell admitted that broomball was among the most popular ever.

“Everyone absolutely loved it,” he added. “It was really fun.”

Broomball was so popular, Pihl decided to expand the next game and invite all of NSW to come out and play. The turnout was good. There were roughly fourteen players who showed up for the 10:15 p.m. (not a typo, that was p.m.) game.

“Getting ice time in San Diego is tough since there are only a few rinks,” Pihl said. “We have to take the late ice times.”

Lt. Mark Sand, the flag secretary for Rear Adm. Winters, was the team captain against Pihl’s team.

“Most of us were broomball rookies, but we all had a really great time and didn’t realize the intensity of the sport,” said Sand, who was given the nickname “White Gold” because of his uncanny likeness to a fictitious rocker in milk commercials with the name. “I think everyone walked away with battle scars, sore muscles, smiles and the resolve that Lt. Cmdr. Pihl’s team would be soundly defeated in the next matchup.”

Sand’s team, while novice, put up a good fight, even withstanding slanderous smack talk from the other team who were shouting things like “Milk can’t help you now!” and “I will break your calcium-enriched bones!” In the end, they succumbed to Pihl’s more experienced — and balance advantaged — team.

Pihl’s goal is simple – get people together and have a good time.“I just hope people will come out and have fun and bring great music.”

- Mandy McCammon

Interested in playing?There are monthly games that anyone in NSW is welcome to attend.

Just contact Lt. Cmdr. Eric Pihl at the Mission Support Center.

Broomball as we know it was first played in Canada in the early 1900’s by street car workers using a small soccer ball and corn brooms. The sport evolved and was brought down to the United States. The first games were reportedly played in Minnesota, the birthplace of USA Broomball, beginning in the 1930’s. Leagues, however did not blossom until the 1960’s, when teams like Duffy’s flourished.

Duffy’s, a team from Minneapolis, was the championship team of Minnesota’s first state tournament, held in 1966.

Broomball in the United States started out with 10 players on the ice per team (one goalie, three defensemen, three mid-linesmen and three forwards). By 1967, the number of players was reduced to eight players per team. Some leagues still play eight-man broomball. By 1980,

the rules changed to six players per team, as the game is played today. Also in 1980, the floating blue line rule came into effect (see The Basics, below).

From Minnesota, the sport was exposed to other states, such as New York, Iowa and Nebraska. Thanks to the determination of the Minnesota Sports Federation and due to cold winters and its interest in hockey, Minnesota, the “State of Hockey,” bears the largest known concentration of broomball teams in the nation. Some of the sport’s best teams hail from Minnesota, including Minnesota Red, the 2002 World Cup Champions, and former team USA Blue, a very competitive team that has won numerous tournaments throughout North America.

source: American Broomball Association

Game Basics: A game consists of two halves. Goals are six by eight feet instead of the standard hockey nets. A game consists of two, 18-minute stop-time halves.

Teams: Each team has a goalie, three forwards and two defensemen (same line up as hockey). A captain and two alternates are allowed per team and must be designated prior to game time. Only these players may speak to an official. The designation must be marked by a C or an A on the jersey.

On Sides: USA Broomball uses the “floating blue line” concept. That is, once an attacking player has crossed the blue line in the offensive zone, the red line now becomes the designated offsides line. Essentially, the blue line disappears as the offides marker. The ball must completely clear the blue line before the player’s shoes and no other attacking player can be in the zone before the ball in order for the attacking team to be considered “on-sides.”

Icing: Icing occurs when any player of a defending team shoots or intentionally deflects the ball from behind their defending zone blue line and across the goal line of the opposing team. Icing is ruled automatically.

High Broom: At all levels of USA Broomball play, a high broom is called when the ball makes contact with the player’s stick above shoulder level. A minor penalty is called, unless an injury occurs as a result of the high broom, which is a major penalty.

Loyalty is clearly an important military virtue. We demand loyalty from our subordinates and we expect it from our superiors. It is a bond of trust. But just what do we mean by ‘loyalty?’ Is loyalty always a virtue?

Whether loyalty is a virtue, depends on how we answer the question, “Loyalty to what?” Most of us think of loyalty as something we give to a person or an organization – loyalty to friends, teammates, one’s service or country. But loyalty which merely serves as the glue which holds a group together has no independent moral value. Loyalty to the group is a virtue within the Mafia, Enron, a gang culture, Al Qaeda, as well as within one’s platoon, boat crew, or team. But for loyalty as a concept to have any real moral content, it must directed at something beyond simply loyalty to an individual or a group.

The willingness to sacrifice and endure hardship for others or for something greater than one’s own immediate pleasure is how loyalty is associated with honor. But loyalty has an interesting relationship to honor. Most would agree that not all loyalty is honorable. Giving uncompromising loyalty to a friend who is stealing from one’s team mates or the government, or who is undermining the mission and values of the team, is not honorable. Loyalty to an organization whose main objective is to acquire wealth by illegal or immoral means is not honorable. Giving one’s highest loyalty to dishonorable people, organizations, or causes is not honorable. These are example of what most of us would refer to as misplaced loyalty.

For loyalty to be honorable and to have moral content there must clearly be a hierarchy of loyalties, with an honorable value at the top. In the Navy, there is the commonly taught hierarchy “ship, shipmate, self,” which serves us well in most circumstances. In officer training programs, that three-level hierarchy is extended to six levels, in what is referred to by Paul Roush as the ‘constitutional paradigm.’ His constitutional paradigm begins with loyalty to the U.S. constitution, then to the mission, then to one’s service, and then to ship, shipmate, self. This hierarchy is reflected in the SEAL Ethos, which states that “My loyalty to country and team is beyond reproach,” clearly placing the country and one’s unit above self and teammates.

Roush also provides guidance on how to honorably disobey or not comply with a legal order that may violate a personal (or religious) principle that one may hold dearer than the US constitution. Though we expect this rarely to occur, there have been occasions in the Global War on Terrorism when good people have faced this most difficult dilemma of conflicting loyalties. A duty or loyalty to a “higher law” was taught and demonstrated by Socrates, Plato, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, as well as our own revolutionary Founding Fathers. All of these provided fairly consistent guidance on how to honorably act when, in one’s own mind, loyalty to a higher law overrides loyalty to the culture and the laws of the land that have nurtured us.

Loyalty is a complicated topic, but given its importance in the military culture and our own SEAL Ethos, it is worth considering and discussing. Loyalty can easily be misplaced; for loyalty to be honorable, it must have an honorable object or principle. There is an old adage that has much truth in it: “When someone wants you to do the right thing, they appeal to your integrity. When they want you to do the wrong thing, they appeal to your loyalty” — that is, to your loyalty to a person or group — but not to an honorable principle. The loyalty referred to in the SEAL Ethos is to a principle greater than oneself, to “humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Americans, always ready to defend those who are unable to defend themselves … to serve with honor on and off the battlefield.”

Bob Schoultz retired from the Navy in 2005 after 30 years in Naval Special Warfare. He is currently the director of

the Master of Science in Global Leadership program at the University of San Diego.

You can contact him at schoultz@sandiego.edu.

In the military today, the virtue of loyalty isn’t black and whiteEssay by Bob Schoultz

When someone wants you to do the right thing, they appeal to your integrity. When they want you to do the wrong thing, they appeal to your loyalty.

28 ETHOS

ETHOS 31