Andy Stumpf

Back to the show.

My question today is focused on your mentality when it came to going through BUDS, Basic Underwater Demolition Seal, Green Team, which is what they called, I think it's Selection and Training now at Development Group, or any other selection process you attended.

The question, did you ever feel truly ready for any of these selection processes?

Would that be Selection Process I?

I feel that no matter how hard I train in the classroom, in the gym, or how hard I hit the books, I feel that I am still not close to ready for the challenges to come.

I feel it is important to go into these selection processes with a good level of confidence due to the fact that a lot of people tend to fall into the mistake of self-selecting themselves due to their own insecurities.

I also understand the importance of not making these selection processes out to be an impossible task, but I struggle with the idea of me being the one to make it out of all people.

I am curious if you felt these same feelings and pressures when going through selection processes and if there was a way that you helped build your confidence before, during, and after the selection process.

Thanks again for what you do and taking the time to read and or answer my question.

This is a great question.

Short answer to a longer question is no.

I never felt truly ready for any of the selection processes.

The two you mentioned, when I went through BUDS, there was very little information that was available about it.

Same thing when I went through Green Team.

So there was one, always an informational gap.

Do I know everything that I'm gonna be challenged with?

And if I don't, how could I possibly prepare for it, right?

I totally get that headspace that you're talking about.

I personally think it is a good thing

that you feel this way.