Lone Survivor_ The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 ( PDFDrive )

some type of breaking point, or maybe they anguished for days over their own
inability to cut the mustard. But gone is gone in this man’s navy. I did not
entirely comprehend it at the time, but me and my 110 cohorts were witnessing
the ruthless elimination process of a U.S. fighting force that cannot tolerate a
suspect component.
Instructor Reno now spoke formally. “You’re on your way to first phase
BUD/S. And I want each and every one of you to make me proud. Those of you
who survive Hell Week will still have to face the pool competency test — that’s
in second phase — and then the weapons practicals in third phase. But I want to
be at your graduation. And right there I want to shake your hand. I want to think
of you as one of Reno’s warriors.”
The Hooyah, Instructor Ree-no! with our clenched fists in the air could have
lifted the roof off the classroom. We loved him, all of us, because we all sensed
he truly wanted the best for us. There was not a shred of malice in the guy.
Neither was there a shred of weakness.
He repeated the orders he had been giving us for two weeks. “Stay alert. Be
on time. And be accountable for your actions at all times, in and out of uniform.
Remember, your reputation is everything. And you all have a chance to build on
that reputation, beginning right here on Monday morning, zero five hundred.
First phase.
“For those of you who make the teams, remember you’re joining a
brotherhood. You’ll be closer to those guys than you ever were to friends in
school or college. You’ll live with them...and, in combat, some of you may die
with them. Your family must always come first, but the brotherhood is a
privileged place. And I don’t want you ever to forget it.”
And with that, he left us, walked away and slipped out of a back entrance,
leaving behind a very long shadow: a bunch of guys who were revved up, gung
ho, and ready to give everything to pass the challenging tests ahead. Just the way
Reno wanted it.
Enter Instructor Sean Mruk (pronounced MUR-rock), ex-SEAL from Team 2,
veteran of three overseas deployments, native of Ohio, a cheerful-looking
character we had not encountered during Indoc. He was assistant to our new
proctor. We heard him before we saw him, his quiet command, “Drop and push
’em out,” before he had even made his way to the front of the classroom.
In the following few minutes he ran through the myriad of tasks we must
complete after hours in first phase. Stuff like preparing the boats and vehicles,
making sure we had the right supplies. He told us he expected 100 percent at all