Andy Stumpf

Is this something that you have felt before?

Do you still hate the enemy?

No, is the answer to that question.

And I would say, you know, my experiences in life, my N is one.

I can talk about my own experiences.

I can't speak for anybody else.

I certainly don't speak for the military or the SEAL community.

I don't.

ever remember an attempt by anyone to demoralize the people that we were targeting.

And you could interchangeably use people that we're targeting or enemy, whatever vernacular floats your boat, whatever tightens your screws.

We were professional soldiers.

And oftentimes that's lost because you're going to see people walking around off duty in board shorts and flip flops with sunglasses and their hair is probably out of regs and probably haven't shaved when they should.

And people will think, what a ragtag bunch of misfits.

They must be incredibly undisciplined.

How could they ever have that job?

And I get that optic and I have empathy for the officers that were constantly trying to rein that in because I was one of those guys that would flirt with that at times as well.

But then also I had a period of almost four years where I could look like whatever I wanted to so people could piss off during that four-year time period.

However, don't confuse an outward perception with discipline and professionalism.

You put your game day suit on and I worked with the most professional individuals, the highest caliber of professionals that I've ever been around in my entire life.

And there's no reason to demonize anybody or anything because it's a job.