James Pomerantz

And I actually knew I wanted to go in the military right about that time, 14, 15. Military family? No, not really. Really? I have an uncle that was a lieutenant in the Navy, sub guy. I got an uncle that was a Vietnam Navy vet. But we didn't really spend a lot of time with them. Their story is somewhat significant.

There was there's one story where my uncle was at the Naval Academy and my mom takes us out to the Naval Academy to see him. And while we're there, it was like. I'm just this Midwest boy and we go to this academy and there's guys marching around. I mean, it was the coolest experience that you would have, could possibly have as an, I might've been 10 years old.

There was there's one story where my uncle was at the Naval Academy and my mom takes us out to the Naval Academy to see him. And while we're there, it was like. I'm just this Midwest boy and we go to this academy and there's guys marching around. I mean, it was the coolest experience that you would have, could possibly have as an, I might've been 10 years old.

There was there's one story where my uncle was at the Naval Academy and my mom takes us out to the Naval Academy to see him. And while we're there, it was like. I'm just this Midwest boy and we go to this academy and there's guys marching around. I mean, it was the coolest experience that you would have, could possibly have as an, I might've been 10 years old.

Um, and I remember that, you know, the whole, this whole, what do they call them? What do they, what a company or something that's marching, marching by. And, and he sits me up and we were standing there and he sits me up and he says, check this out. And they all come by as just the most you know, wild, crazy thing that you would see as a kid. That's a deep core memory though.

Um, and I remember that, you know, the whole, this whole, what do they call them? What do they, what a company or something that's marching, marching by. And, and he sits me up and we were standing there and he sits me up and he says, check this out. And they all come by as just the most you know, wild, crazy thing that you would see as a kid. That's a deep core memory though.

Um, and I remember that, you know, the whole, this whole, what do they call them? What do they, what a company or something that's marching, marching by. And, and he sits me up and we were standing there and he sits me up and he says, check this out. And they all come by as just the most you know, wild, crazy thing that you would see as a kid. That's a deep core memory though.

It's a deep core memory. That's right. That's right. I think it had a huge impact on that decision. Now, fast forward, I was going to go into the army, um, and be a Green Beret. That was my original goal. And I'm walking into the recruiting station. And the recruiting offices, they're all next to each other, interestingly. And so I look over and I see this poster board of these guys in wetsuits.

It's a deep core memory. That's right. That's right. I think it had a huge impact on that decision. Now, fast forward, I was going to go into the army, um, and be a Green Beret. That was my original goal. And I'm walking into the recruiting station. And the recruiting offices, they're all next to each other, interestingly. And so I look over and I see this poster board of these guys in wetsuits.

It's a deep core memory. That's right. That's right. I think it had a huge impact on that decision. Now, fast forward, I was going to go into the army, um, and be a Green Beret. That was my original goal. And I'm walking into the recruiting station. And the recruiting offices, they're all next to each other, interestingly. And so I look over and I see this poster board of these guys in wetsuits.

little MP5s or something like that.

little MP5s or something like that.

little MP5s or something like that.

It looked, yes, it was almost like it was the cover of the Charlie Sheen movie, Navy Seals. And so I looked at that and I go, who are these guys? And the guy goes, those are Navy Seals. I go, what's up with these guys? What are they, what's their deal? And he gives me out, you know, the sheet of things that they'll do and what you'll learn. And I go, yeah, that's it. that's what I want to do.

It looked, yes, it was almost like it was the cover of the Charlie Sheen movie, Navy Seals. And so I looked at that and I go, who are these guys? And the guy goes, those are Navy Seals. I go, what's up with these guys? What are they, what's their deal? And he gives me out, you know, the sheet of things that they'll do and what you'll learn. And I go, yeah, that's it. that's what I want to do.

It looked, yes, it was almost like it was the cover of the Charlie Sheen movie, Navy Seals. And so I looked at that and I go, who are these guys? And the guy goes, those are Navy Seals. I go, what's up with these guys? What are they, what's their deal? And he gives me out, you know, the sheet of things that they'll do and what you'll learn. And I go, yeah, that's it. that's what I want to do.

And he goes, no, nobody makes it. And I go, wait, what? That's potentially the most honest recruiter ever. Yeah. I was like, oh, really? Nobody makes it, huh? Why? Why does nobody make it? He goes, oh, at least 85% washout. And now I'm like really intrigued. I'm like, you're kidding, right? He's like, no, no, no, no. This is really tough.

And he goes, no, nobody makes it. And I go, wait, what? That's potentially the most honest recruiter ever. Yeah. I was like, oh, really? Nobody makes it, huh? Why? Why does nobody make it? He goes, oh, at least 85% washout. And now I'm like really intrigued. I'm like, you're kidding, right? He's like, no, no, no, no. This is really tough.

And he goes, no, nobody makes it. And I go, wait, what? That's potentially the most honest recruiter ever. Yeah. I was like, oh, really? Nobody makes it, huh? Why? Why does nobody make it? He goes, oh, at least 85% washout. And now I'm like really intrigued. I'm like, you're kidding, right? He's like, no, no, no, no. This is really tough.

So I go home and I bring this little piece of paper home and I'm in high school and I show my family and they're like, what the hell are you doing, man? This is a terrible decision. And so they talked me out of it. And my best buddy, he, he, he joined the army. He left at 17. Well, he graduated, he, he joined at 17. And as soon as he graduated high school, he left, went to bootcamp.