Army Strong. The New ACRT

A few weekends back, a ragged few of us members of the A. Squad gathered together at a mostly empty park in the hinterlands of Fallbrook, California. As the park rangers scrambled to get the park ready for any weekend traffic, we were there dumping sleds and weights onto the damp grass that once served as a yard for the Reche family, the first settlers in the area sometime around 1869. Just past the large stones where holes had been bore into the rock from the native Indians practice of grinding maize, we started warmups to run the new Army Combat Readiness Test.

Whether the Reche Family knew it or not, just over a decade earlier in 1852, West Point had released its first Physical Fitness Test for Army cadets. At the time, the test included a mix of gymnastics, calisthenics, and fencing. By 1906, a test was implemented Army wide consisting of a road march up to 45 miles for infantry and a 3 day, 90 mile horse ride for officers. The test varied throughout the years from there but by 1980, the Army received the standard 2-minute pushup, 2-minute sit-up, and 2-mile run that we see to this day. Other methods have been studied but never adopted due to costs and other concerns. Rumor has it that the Army has finally decided to make a change and the A Squad, made up of mostly veteran Marines, wanted to see what it was about.

Though the program and scoring is yet to be finalized, we made contact with an Active Duty Sergeant Major who had the inside scoop. Through this, we were told that the test would consist of the following:

• 3 rep trap-bar deadlifts – options would include 120 lbs, 220 lbs, 320 lbs, and 420 lbs
• 10lb Medball Overhead Toss for Distance – 3 attempts
• Pushups – As many as possible in 1 minute. Performed by dropping your entire body onto the ground and spreading out your arms into a T between each. (note that afterwards, we found out that they were increasing the time to 2 minutes)
• Circuit: 50 meters of each exercise (25m there and back) – sprint, 90lb sled drag, sprint, 40lb farmers walk, sprint for time.
• Knees to Elbows – Hanging from a pull-up bar for as many reps as possible
• 2 mile run for time

Member Will Birchall, an Army veteran who served during OIF 1 with the 82^nd Airborne, formed a circle to explain what was to come and led us in warmups. About an hour and a half later, we all felt ready for an afternoon nap. The following is my assessment of the workout.

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Trap Bar Deadlifts: Being that this was the first event and unsure of how I would feel for the circuit and run, I personally elected to do only the 320lb pull. We had to use a straight bar as a Trap Bar was not available but as a whole, I believe that the Deadlift is one of, if not the best, method to test overall strength. The Trap-Bar is great for those that haven’t studied proper form and decreases risk of injury to a larger majority of people. At the time of this writing, it is unclear as to how they will assign a given weight to a soldier or how points will be awarded, but I can’t help but agree that this a great approach for any physical fitness test in evaluating the overall strength of a soldier.

10lb Medball Overhead Toss: We afforded ourselves two tosses as the ball was getting slippery from the damp grass. We were later told that soldiers would be given 3 chances to throw for the most distance. Again, at the time of this writing, the scoring is unclear. This exercise is meant to assess a soldier’s ability to toss ammo cans up to a guard tower or hoist a soldier over a wall. Given that, 10lbs seemed excessively light. Additionally, it seemed that this movement could be bettered through a practice of form and I’m not sure that this practice would apply directly to that which the test was meant. Instead, I would like to see a ball or sandbag tossed tossed over a bar for height.

Pushups: A test of upper body and core strength, this is a good overall exercise. By extending your arms into a T in between each pushup, you can ensure that the soldier is going all the way down. What you can’t guarantee though, is that a soldier will give full arm extension of the pushup itself. Additionally, I think it will be important to ensure that the soldiers hands go directly underneath his shoulders or he/she will have the ability to increase the number by performing wide-grip pushups (only bring your arms partially in after each T, saving time, inches, and distance up). Overall, the way this exercise is performed was much harder on my shoulders than expected. If anything was to give out, it was my shoulders and not my chest.

Circuit: Overall, this is a good test for modern combat scenario’s. Counter-insurgency operations have proven less about endurance and more about high intensity cardio. However, I feel that 25 meters there and back was short and could have been extended. Additionally, I feel that a 90lb sled was light. If the sled drag was to mimic dragging a soldier off the battlefield, I would argue that you could do as the Marines, and drag an actual Marine. 90lbs is pretty much the weight of the gear on a soldier alone and therefore, this is a poor assessment. I also think that 40lb kettlebells were sufficient for the Farmers Walk. We later heard that they may reduce the weight to 30lbs which is the approximate wait of an ammo can. Again, do as the Marines and use ammo cans, whatever they may weigh. Lastly, I felt that this could have been done with boots and gear. There’s no reason this needs to be done in PT shorts and “go-fasters” (sneakers).

Knees to Elbows: This was performed by hanging from a pull-up bar and done for as many reps as possible or until you dropped. This is a good addition to the test as this movement tests a large part of your core as well as grip strength. Grip strength is something that is under-rated in strength circles these days. Regarding the core work, this is a good balance to the deadlifts.

2 mile run: This remains unchanged from the previous test. While I typically don’t do endurance runs, our usual circuit style of training seemed to allow for a sufficient state of cardio for a good score across all members of the A Squad. Rumor has it that the Army will keep the current Army Combat Readiness Test and add this new test as an addition during one half of the year. If this is the case, I’d like to see this run shortened to something similar to the Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test which is an 880 yard run in combat boots.

All being said, a change to the current testing is long overdue and this test is significantly better. I will be however, interested to see how the scoring plays into this. The cost of equipment required for the test is significant and will of course be a burden to tax payers. However, the cost would be reduced significantly if they were to use actual ammo cans for the farmers walk, which I would hope were abundant in the US Army, and a similarly weighted soldier in lieu of a sled.

 

-Tony

Founder / Sheepdog Strong

If you’re interested in joining the A. Squad for reviews and events like this, sign up here.

 

It May Be a Dysfunctional Family but It’s Ours

Thanksgiving is a time for family. Growing up, it meant two or three dinners as we drove across the Midwest to meet with each side. Since joining the military, Thanksgiving has been a little different. If I was home at all, it was distant from my extended family and spent amongst a different sort of family; some might say still a bit dysfunctional. My wife, kids and I would join other military families who also were without extended family and gather for a feast, thanking God for the blessings of the past year.

For those that have deployed in combat, you were introduced to a new family; a family of brothers who were brought together in the fires of war. As I think about this thing we call brotherhood, I wonder what that Thanksgiving might look like.

At the kiddy table, you’ve got the National Guard and Reserve Forces. Those that were Active at one point are angry, stabbing their forks into the stuffing and eyeballing the adult table because just last year they got to sit there. The Marines though are eyeballing the kiddy table for the crayons positioned in the middle. They’re trying to play it cool but the alcohol in their hands won’t help them an hour from now.

The Air Force is there at the adult table but they haven’t eaten anything yet because they’re too busy running their sucks about their “amazing jobs” and the wonderful places they’ve visited in the last year. Everyone just calls them sir or ma’am because you rarely see them, every time you’ve called they’re busy, and you don’t remember their names or how you’re related anyway. You keep waiting for someone else to say their name but all you’ve gathered so far are their call signs and you’ll be damned if you call that one guy “Twinkles” or that other guy “Firefox.”

The Navy is ticked off because the Marines have already needed several rides to the liquor store and will no doubt need a ride home; all this while doing most of the cooking. They tried to enlist a few of the Marines to help but they just made a mess in the kitchen and kept drinking all the wine.

The Army showed up too late to help with any of the cooking or other preparations and are quietly mumbling to each other about the state of cooking. When it’s all said and done, they know they’ll have to clean up the mess.

The SOF guys have already broken 6 different plates or glasses and somehow the TV got busted. They repeatedly deny it but you guess it’s ok because one just handed you a bag of money. When there’s not the smashing of dishware, they speak quietly too each other in one of your other rooms that somehow you’re not allowed into anymore. You swear you’ve heard a muffled scream in there but if you ask what’s going on in there, they tell you not to worry about it. Maybe it’s because of the beards but you decide to let it go.

The Coast Guard showed up but everyone is asking who they are and if they’re related to anyone there.

Before everyone leaves, you all gather together around the few empty seats and raise a glass for those no longer with us. And as everyone finally trickles out, with a tear in your eye, you can’t help but smile and think that this may be the best damn family anyone could have ever asked for.

To all of my brothers and sisters out there, and especially to those currently deployed, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

-Tony / Founder

Sit, Kneel, Bend: Just leave me out of it

“Hey Troops, gather ’round. Sit, Kneel, Bend.” For those of us that serve or have served, we’ve heard this refrain hundreds of times whenever a commander or leader brought the unit together. It was to ensure that everyone could see and hear. But for the NFL players, don’t tell me that this time it has nothing to do with the troops.

I really wanted to stay out of this argument but I can’t escape it. On every radio station, plastered all over my social media feed and on every news page, all I see is commentary on the NFL and the players protests during the National Anthem. I’ve tried my best not to care but it’s hard to escape it. And as a veteran, some of my civilian friends are curious my perspective.

First allow me to say, I’ve heard all sides of the argument from veteran groups and there’s generally three factions. Many are outraged at the players and teams. Proof of this is in the significant drop in tv ratings, video’s of burning jersey’s and team apparel and article after article of veteran rants. On another side, active and veteran military members believe that they fought specifically for the rights that these players are exercising. If they choose to sit, kneel, or stand during the anthem or even spit on the flag as it moves past, it is certainly their prerogative. The third perspective comes mostly from those that are still serving, and especially from those deployed. They could care less as there’s significantly larger problems to worry about. They’re spread throughout all corners of the earth either fighting a war or fighting to prevent a war and this takes precedence. They glance at the players kneeling and shrug. What they shake their head at is the amount of attention and outrage coming from everyone with little to no attention being paid to more serious matters.

Generally speaking, I consider myself part of this last group. When I see the kneeling, it may garner an eye roll but recognize that this is the least of things that I should get worked up about. There are a lot more important things going on in my life then to care about whether or not some player that I hardly cared about in the first place took a knee during the National Anthem. And this is how I’ve handled it since Colin Kaepernick took that first knee. If you ask me, people idolize these players too much in the first place. But the kick to the groin comes when the player that took that knee states that his protest has nothing to do with the troops. I would have preferred that you left me out of it.

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I joined the US Marine Corps after the events of 9/11. At this time, the people of the United States felt that our livelihood was being threatened by an extremist, Islamic force. Therefore, the call was made to defend the ideals that made this country great. These ideals, to me, revolved mainly around this experiment in democracy and the idea of an individual’s freedom to be who he needed to be and do what he needed to do to create the life he wanted for himself and his family. The National Anthem and the flag itself, to me, represent these values. Therefore, this National Anthem and flag are a symbolic representation of the reason for my service. Simply put, you are protesting a country and flag that represents what I risked my life for…what you asked me to risk my life for…after 9/11. Ipso facto, I feel like you’re protesting my whole purpose in life. You’re protesting me/the troops.

This isn’t the first time that I felt that kick to the groin. The first time was in the midst of a deployment to Iraq during the presidential campaigns at the end of President George W. Bush’s second term. A significant portion of the debate was whether or not we should even be in Iraq. Most candidates stood on their podiums screaming that they knew better than to invade, crowds cheering in return. This was the carefully chosen popular position that would propel them to the presidency. What am I to think standing there filthy in my cammies, rifle slung across my chest with eyes red from exhaustion, when I hear that I should never have been there in the first place; that it was a great mistake? What is my supportive wife and children to think as they stare every night at an empty, dinner table chair, hoping that maybe this year we can have Christmas together as a family? And how did this debate even matter now that we were in the middle of it? And yet the candidates would adamantly state that in spite of this, they stood “behind our troops!” I recall thinking, how can they “stand behind us” when they’re suggesting that this was all a great mistake and we never should have been here? How can they ask us to endure some of the most terrible things known to mankind and just a few years later say that it was a terrible mistake, but then pat us on the back and tell us to keep up the great work?

For the civilians out there that never served, imagine your boss telling you that your vacation is canceled and that the company will require you to stay over the next several weekends to finish a large project. Then halfway through that project, tells you that everything you’ve been asked to do is a huge mistake, that it will amount to nothing and possibly make things worse, and then expect you to continue working through the problem while at the same time saying, “But I support you working these incredibly long hours and missing your kids birthday. Keep it up.” Now imagine if that “project” entailed watching your friends body get shredded in an IED blast whilst getting shot at every day. What an incredible way to “support your troops.”

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As I eluded to, the flag represents different things to different people. To some, it is less about “liberty” and more about the “justice” component. In that, with the media constantly portraying signs of injustice, I understand the call to bring attention to what one believes may be a diminishing, critical component in our democracy. And if that’s the case for you, then say so, and then let’s have a healthy debate about the perceived and factual circumstances surrounding such. Once we identify the misperceptions and the realities, then we can all move forward, unified as a country, to tackle what problems we may have uncovered.

At the end of the day, I really don’t care if you protest the National Anthem or our flag. You’re most likely an entitled, ungrateful child that has no idea just how good things are for you compared to those in other countries or even compared to your own American ancestry but that is none of my concern and is simply a product of your own life experience. But do not protest the very thing that you asked me to defend, and then in the same breath tell me that it has nothing to do with me. Now I think you’re full of it.

-Tony

Founder / Sheepdog Strong

 

The Power of Why

Last week, a Google employee wrote a memo surmising why women are so scarce in the technology sector of Silicon Valley. As I understand it, the memo does not disparage women but instead shows how genetic traits may naturally lead more men to a certain profession than women and vice versa. He in fact gives suggestions about how the tech industry could use particularly feminine traits to better Google’s business practices. The problem is that he was suggesting that men were different than women… Most haven’t even read the memo. The media then twists it and spreads it. Outrage breaks out. The Google employee is fired the next morning.

You’ve got people who are upset over police violence or a shooting, the media showing the victims mother on a soapbox, declaring her child’s innocence; a member of the church choir even. Without even looking into the circumstances, everyone says, “well there ya have it. All cops are racist, murdering thugs.” Cities are torn apart. Cops are targeted and murdered in the streets.

I’m just tired of it. I’m tired of people who hear of an event or position that fits their established narrative and then simply echoing it, without looking into the circumstances or even questioning their own pre-conceived notions. I’m tired of this country being controlled by the whims of sheep.

I’m not entirely sure what it is, whether it’s my background in military Intelligence where I evaluate every side of every thing, the fact that I’m a civilian now amongst more civilians, or whether or not the world (or I) has really changed that much in the last decade. Perhaps I should just stop listening to the news on the drive into work every morning. I’m sick of the agenda’s, the manipulation, the screaming out of context, the close-mindedness, the outrage over these “micro-aggressions” or whatever they’re called. At the risk of sounding like an arrogant prick, I must ask if there has ever been a time when the Sheepdog, who has been tasked with protecting the sheep from the wolf, looks at the sheep, shakes his head and says “you know what? Forget it. I’m done here.” Thankfully, I have never heard of anyone that left the service because of such a thought. But perhaps that’s because if you step off post, then you’ve got to go hang out with those very sheep. And we wonder why there’s a civilian – military divide.

But I’m here to tell you, you’re guilty too.

When I was in college, I tended bar. My one and only rule (outside of those enforced by law) was that there would be no discussion about politics or religion at the bar. Just about every physical fight had centered around that. It wasn’t so much the topics. It was that when the topics were being discussed, everyone went from listening and responding to waiting for their turn to speak and responding. Perfectly practical arguments from one side went completely unheeded by the other and chaos eventually ensued.

The other day I asked a friend a legitimate question about their new diet adventure. I didn’t know for sure how it worked but like everything else, I had done at least a cursory search on the topic. I noticed that they weren’t necessarily following the guidelines in which I’d read so I asked where the discrepancy lay because I legitimately was curious. I will never make that mistake again. Add that to the “no bar talk” list.

Need another for the “no bar” list? Crossfit. Just for kicks, tell a Crossfit enthusiast that you don’t feel that it works for you. Or tell them that you don’t do Crossfit because of injury risk; that you don’t think doing a heavy, very technical Olympic lift repeatedly, as hard and fast as you can, is a great idea. Don’t bother coming prepared with any studies or anything, especially not from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (Crossfit has sued them).

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We are all sheep in some way. Marketing practices count on that. But as free individuals with the ability to think freely, we have inherent within us an ability to question everything. And we should. Perhaps our parents are guilty of stifling the natural tendency to ask “Why.” For those of you with kids, you know how it goes. The child asks “why” repeatedly and eventually you snap back “because it just is!” At a certain age then, the child realizes that every time they ask “why,” mommy or daddy get frustrated. So they stop asking and just go with it. Then we spend the rest of our lives just going with whatever we’re told by people who appear to be in authority.

I am requesting, perhaps for my own sanities sake, to just stop, take a breath, and start asking why again. When you ask why, it stems from the identification of something that doesn’t quite match an intuitive, natural order of things. Perhaps you’re just naïve but if you ask why enough, you’ll either become better educated and expand upon your own life experience, or you will identify a greater problem.

I would venture to say that the greatest minds, greatest leaders, and greatest entrepreneurs continue to ask why. Then oftentimes an idea is formed and the why becomes a why not? For years and years, if you traveled to a new city or went out on the town, you took a cab. Somebody asked why it had to be that way, a suitable answer wasn’t found or somebody just screamed “because it just is that way,” and thus Uber was formed. The energy industry is being transformed by people that began to ask why, and then ventured into why not? When you start to ask why, it’s establishing a quest to identify solutions. It’s an attempt to make sense of something that may end with a greater impact on your life and perhaps on society itself.

Stop being a sheep. Start making a difference. Start with why.

-Tony

Founder / Sheepdog Strong

Destiny Driven…and Crap Like That

I’ve got a confession to make. This post was meant to be a bit of a “grind until you get it / pursue your passions” sort of thing. The idea was slightly inspired by a recent article I read about the “slog of life.” The author argues that most of us get up for work in the morning because of a “sense of obligation, guilt, or responsibility.” The author identifies these things as “negative emotions” and encourages the reader to pursue their passions. He admits that the pain and suffering in this pursuit will be real but “positive forces” will keep us pushing through. I think in many ways he’s right. But…

I’m tired of the moto, rah rah speeches about just grabbing life by the balls and running down your dreams crap. The “no excuses,” “don’t let fear cripple you,” “just do it” bulls*&t that permeates everywhere. The video’s are watched by thousands or millions of people and you know what happens? Nothing. You get an injection of feel good but look up and realize, “oh ya…life.”

I’ve been working slowly on building Sheepdog Strong for a number of years off and on. I’ve recently put it in high gear and some great things are getting prepped for release in the next month. Heck, it’s 11pm on a Monday as I write this when most are binge watching Netflix or sleeping. But it’s been a slow grind, I’m still working a regular 9-5, and do you know why? Life. And those “negative emotions” of obligation and responsibility…well I’d argue that as a husband and father of 3 children, that makes me a pretty damn decent guy. If it were just me, I would seriously have no problem sleeping on the floor in the backroom of a gym, eating ramen noodles for three meals per day, as long as it was my gym. That is what I want (minus the floor and noodles) and what I’m working towards. The video’s and articles permeating social media encourage me to just get it done. No excuses. But it’s not happening tomorrow. Why? My 10-year-old daughter loves to dance and dance classes aren’t free. My boys are already thinking about college. Last I checked, they’ll need some help paying for that. My wife doesn’t like gym floors. She wants to sleep next to me…ya know…on a real bed, in a bedroom. So where does that leave us?

“You can’t give 100% of yourself to one thing. There, I said it. It’s not real.”

Whether you’re into it or not, the Bible presents a good example of this dynamic. In Corinthians, Paul suggest that if you want to serve God to the fullest, don’t get married. It’s why Catholic priests aren’t allowed to be married. But often what’s missed is that he later adds that if you do happen to pursue marriage, then be the best husband you can be. Therefore, you might have to give up a little service to God to be there for your wife when she needs you. In other words, you can’t give 100% of yourself to just one thing (at least not on a grander scale). There, I said it. It’s not real. You’re a son or daughter. A husband or mother. A friend to someone. And each of those things require some level of commitment. So do the most that you can in the situation that you’re in.

Some of you will look at this article as an excuse, to validate your inaction in pursuing your passion/happiness. No one should settle on a life that they’re not excited to live. But if you’ve got responsibilities, especially if it is related to being a husband or father, you do what you have to do for their sake. But only settle between the hours of 9-5, or whatever the hours may be. If you’re stuck somewhere you don’t want to be, spend the rest of those hours changing things.

I just googled how many hours per day an American watches tv. Apparently it’s five hours and 4 minutes on average per day. For social media, the average is 2 hours per day (but teens are up to 9 hours per day? No way. Hey, if it’s on the internet…). Let’s just all agree that you waste time on tv and social media. Sure it’s to recharge. But perhaps you wouldn’t have to recharge if you had a job or career that you couldn’t wait to get out of bed for. To get there, you’ve got to push through now. When I went through Officer Candidate School, I knew that it was only going to be 10 weeks of hell. But then it would be over. I kept telling myself, “you can’t stop time.” No matter how bad things were now, the clock would keep ticking and eventually, 10 weeks would be up, and it would be over. Then things would be better. So put in the time, for a short while, for years of better. Put in the extra few hours per day when you can, working towards what it is you really want. Eventually, though it might take awhile, you’ll find yourself there.

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Like all kids, my daughter went through the “why” stage. Especially when she asked about living things, my response would be that everything has a purpose in a greater system. “Why do bees exist?” To spread pollen among plants and create honey for other animals to eat. “Why do spiders exist?” To keep the ecosystem in balance by keeping other bugs, some that eat our own food, from overtaking things. I truly believe that everyone and everything has a reason and a purpose. I wish that everyone would find and achieve that purpose.

Google states that 49% of people are satisfied with their jobs meaning half of the population believe things could be better. If you’re in the latter half, what are you doing to get to the better side? Start with an hour per day pursuing your passion. Then make it two. See what happens from there. But no matter what you do, make a change. Do something.

-Tony

Founder / Sheepdog Strong

The Strength in Discomfort

Photos courtesy of Jakked Hardcore and Planet Fitness Hazell Dell

Everyone who works out has a reason for it. The most common is to lose weight or get healthier. For others, it is a job necessity. For those in the Sheepdog community specifically, the importance of physical training is paramount to perform their job exceptionally, survive and win. There is a saying in the Marine Corps, “train like you fight.” It’s difficult to draw a parallel between the gym and combat, but the facility you use and how you approach training says a lot about what you’re preparing for.

For most of my youth I worked out in your typical globo-gym. The equipment was always sparkling, floors clean, sauna’s and steam rooms in the locker room, personal trainers neatly groomed walking around in their polo’s. Everything was neat and in order, seemingly focused on making its members the most comfortable they could be. In this same gym, there was a basement where the free weights were. The benches had silver duct-tape covering tears in the fabric, the moisture & humidity in the room rusted the iron plates, and those who inhabited this basement didn’t appear nearly as approachable as those upstairs but instead, intimidating. Most were twice the size of me so generally speaking, I stayed away; that is, until I made the decision to join the Marine Corps. Suddenly, the purpose of working out had changed from picking up chicks to surviving and winning in battle, where men either lived or died. If I was going to prepare for battle, perhaps there was more to learn about preparation in that basement. I meekly stepped into the dark, creeky stairwell, sounds of plates clanging and the grunting growing louder as I descended. It was time to get real.

In Iron Ambition, My Life With Cus D’Amato, Mike Tyson discusses the entrance to Cus’ Gym. He writes, “The gym was up three flights of rickety stairs. If you stood at the bottom…you could see all the way up to the top. Once you got up to the top, there was a big hole in the door, patched up with mesh wiring, and there was a huge watchdog that would smash up against the mesh, barking like crazy. If a kid came up alone and wasn’t deterred by the dog and pushed the door open and said he wanted to be a fighter, Cus knew he had something to work with.” For Cus, the first and most important aspect of fighting was mental and stepping into the face of your fears. If you didn’t have a modicum of that, you had no foundation. Nothing to build upon.

I’m not disparaging clean and tidy gyms full of shiny new machines. But for our line of work, it is not nearly as suitable. I firmly believe that the “Spartan” environment tests a man (or woman) both mentally and physically as well as attracts a type of person that is more like one you should be associating with. No one is there to screw around. Testing these traits regularly do more in preparing one for combat than the Planet Fitness’s of the world ever can. Physically, when you’ve got 400 lbs of weight on your back and you’re seeing stars, you are doing much more for yourself in preparation for war than reading a magazine while on an elliptical will ever do for you.

I will always remember fondly the make-shift gyms in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some were outside, plates buried in the sand, hot to the touch from baking in the sun all day. If we were lucky enough to have a floor, it was wood that creaked and bowed under the weight. The equipment was often cobbled together, a mix of miss-matched plates, sandbags, rusty steel rods that served as bars, ammo cans filled with concrete, and pullup bars welded together with spent .50 caliber gun barrels. If we had a treadmill, the sand quickly destroyed it so we would resort to cutting laps around the FOB in a flak jacket in 120-degree heat, refreshing ourselves with water of the same temperature. It was often a mental struggle to get out there and put the work in. But it instilled a greater depth of discipline in me than going and getting your sweat on in an air-conditioned spin class. And it was often the only time you had to yourself…a time to exercise your demons. To this day, a gym is not only a place of preparation but a sanctuary for me.

If you’re visiting this site, you’re more than likely pretty serious about what it is you do. Make sure that you’re training is serious too.

Leave a comment and tell us the crappiest gym you’ve ever had to train in, and why you remember it so fondly.

-Tony

Founder / Sheepdog Strong

Battle Buddies in a Post-Military Life

When I first made the decision to join the Marine Corps, I had some weight to drop and some physical strength to gain. I began to hit the gym and ran almost daily, watched my diet but frankly I wasn’t making a lot of progress in my pull-ups, a big pre-requisite for joining the Marine Corps. I was doing a lot of lat-pulldowns and back exercises at the local globo-gym but wasn’t getting anywhere. After chatting about my problem with a random lifter, he said, “well maybe if you want to get better at pull-ups, you should just do some damn pull-ups.” I took his advice and put in a pull-up bar under my door frame leading to my restroom and my bedroom. I cranked out as many as possible every time I walked under it. In no time I was doing 20 reps and was ready to run my final Physical Fitness Test (PFT).

Upon acceptance into Officer Candidate School (OCS), I quit my job and got engaged to my now wife, committing myself to her and her young twin boys. Shortly thereafter I headed off to OCS knowing that I couldn’t fail if I was to go from supporting one (myself), to supporting 4 human beings. 10 weeks later I looked around at what seemed like an empty Squad Bay and was told that officially, nearly 70% of those who started washed out or quit. I myself was put on a watch/warning list but in the end, I was one of the few still standing. I had no choice.

After going through The Basic School, I entered the Marine Infantry Officer Course which was considered among the most physically demanding courses in the military. Around 25% were washed out during the Indoc portion on day one. Several more were cut as the course continued. I remained standing for the significant reason that I didn’t want to face my fellow Marine brothers if I failed.

Upon attendance at the Ground Intelligence Officer course, I was consistently told that I would not be particularly successful conducting intelligence in the fleet. My brothers and peers stayed late every night with me to help me go over reports and rehearse briefs, over…and over…and over again until I had it right. I came out “most improved” and several years later was requested, by name, to join the Marine Special Operations community.

Before leaving the military, I was selected to do one of two things, be an instructor at the same course in which I was told I wouldn’t be successful, or join the elite Joint Special Operations Command doing exactly what I was told I wouldn’t be successful at. I was referred to both by brothers who had helped me through two separate deployments.

I had a pretty good run in the military. But why am I telling you all of this? To point out that I would not be anywhere today if it weren’t for those to my left and my right. Yet now that I’m out, I see too many veterans today trying to go it alone. I mean you’ve been through a lot right? Well civilian life? Psh. Gonna be chill.

It seems like once we get out, we believe that we we’ve done puts us head and shoulders above others. Furthermore, we think that what we did during our service, we somehow did all on our own. It’s not entirely our fault as we’re fed this garbage by everyone around us. Our social media feeds are covered in valor stories and Reagan quotes about having fulfilled our purpose in life, apparently single-handedly. We are told by many veteran based nonprofits that we are incredible human beings that can have ANY JOB WE WANT and if we aren’t hired, they’re the idiots and need the education. And then one day you wake up and realize, everyone is full of crap…you’re just another civilian…and you’re alone.

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Having been out for a few years now, I see two extremes in the veteran community. The one extreme is that they left the service and never moved on. The military will be the best thing that ever happened to them in their lives and they surround themselves only with fellow veterans to remind them of that time. They wear the hats and t-shirts, and make it well known to all those around them who they were and what they’ve done. I’ve even seen Sgt Majors, who’d been out of the military for as long as they’d been in, introduce themselves as “SgtMaj so-and-so.” The other extreme is a complete shedding of the military life. Perhaps they left the service bitter, not wanting to associate with any other veterans and simply wish to move on with their lives. And yet upon leaving their buddies behind, they realize that the world has changed and left them behind; that they’re not understood, nor do they themselves fully understand the landscape around them. But they look at the other extreme and still see it as ridiculous; that those members should either re-up or move on. And so they remain isolated and alone.

But there is indeed an important balance.

This generation of servicemen and women have been at war for the longest period of time in American History. Those who served in it, particularly those that were in the combat arms, are stained in it. It is, like it or not, forever a part of you. But it doesn’t have to define you either.

So a simple message to those who are still living in the past. Your mission in life is not over. There’s more to be done and the impact you make is up to you. And like it or not, it’s in a world where the vast majority of the people will never understand what you’ve been through. Accept that, assimilate, and move towards your next mission.

For those looking towards the future but lost in a world that doesn’t understand you, continue to make connections to help you assimilate, but don’t forget the brothers that have done so much to get you through so many of the best, and worst times of your life. You need them now as much as you needed them then. They swore to have your back and most still do. They may not help you land the next big civilian job, but they’ll be there when you’re exhausted both mentally and physically. Use them to recharge. Use them to remember how capable you are, but stop believing in the hype that you’re a self-made man, and you’ll do it again in a new world. If you don’t want to hear it from me, hear it from Arnold Schwarzenneger here.

We’ve all heard the 22 veteran suicides per day statistic. Whether true or not, we can all agree that one is too many. I don’t know why they do it. But I’d bet a big reason for that is because they feel lost and alone in a world that they don’t understand, surrounded by people that don’t understand them. We are by nature tribal. We need a pack. Find your pack that serves you mentally and physically.

This is in large part why we are creating a community of men and women that meet on the weekends for a group workout, and maybe even a post-workout beer afterwards, serving primarily the veteran community. If you’re a veteran, keep serving your community, in your new world. But don’t forget to reconnect with brothers that understand and support you. Click here to learn more. We’d love to have you.

-Tony

Founder / Sheepdog Strong

The Shoebox Story

My ol’ man has recently crossed the LOD for “Operation De-clutter,” and has been sharing with us paraphernalia he has uncovered regarding our extended family line. As he uncovers them, collectively we are trying to piece together their lives and experiences, mostly through the bits of evidence left behind. Growing up I remember hearing bits and pieces of certain events which inevitably became larger than life stories in my child’s eye. Recognizing this bias, in our attempt to understand our roots we are left with only black & white images, administrative documents and a few letters written by friends we had never known.

The other day, my father came across a “Report of Separation; Honorable Discharge” for my Great Uncle Art whom I’d never met. What we knew already is that he served as a combat photographer in the US Army during WWII and was one of the first to stumble across the atrocities of the Nazi Concentration Camps. Though he passed prior to my birth, I remember as a young child, putting together a school project on the great war. My grandparents, upon hearing as much, handed me an envelope of the photo’s Art took upon entering that wretched camp. I recall the gaunt bodies, seemingly walking skeleton’s, staring blankly back into the camera and the stacks of dead women and children, mouths agape towards the fruitless sky. These images alone opened my eyes to the cruel realities of this world and yet left me wondering even more. Those walking skeleton’s black eyes only hinted at something strikingly horrendous. The only known thoughts of my Great Uncle’s was that this was something that needed to be captured for the annals of history. Perhaps in this case, none more needed to be said. Yet perhaps if we had talked, we may have learned something more.

There’s a lot of my family history that I don’t know and like most, I’ve only personally met a few generations deep and that was as a young kid too dumb to ask questions. What I do know is surface level; that those generations had a tough life. The Great Depression and World Wars on the larger spectrum, hard work and hunger or even a young sibling’s death on a more personal level. Maybe it’s because of the exhaustion from it all, both physical and emotional, that no one wanted to talk. Or maybe it’s because they simply assumed we wouldn’t understand nor care, having never experienced anything remotely close to it. Let’s face it, we’ve got it pretty great as Americans today and yet many feel overwhelmingly “oppressed” because someone just made an assumption about their gender identity (gasp). But I wouldn’t understand any of that because I’m a “white guy” and as MTV pointed out, I’ve got some things to “do a little better” here in 2017. Quite frankly, because of this and a thousand other reasons, I don’t want to talk to people either. Nonetheless, story telling remains a part of our DNA, shaping our future and who we are. Whether you realize it or not, much of our day is spent telling stories, if not about ourselves than about someone else either professionally or even in the form of gossip.

Studies suggest that stories truly serve a purpose in our evolutionary design. I think of how many times I’ve told my boys to be careful when they’re using a knife as a substitute tool. When I approach them and say, “If that knife slips right now, due to the position of your left arm, you will stab it,” I am quickly told “Ya dad I got it. I’ll be careful.” But if I instead walked up to them and said, “You know, during a training exercise I was at in Bridgeport, I was up late prepping my gear for an early morning patrol. I was adding a magazine pouch to my flak jacket and was using a knife to feed the pouch straps through the gear. I had my left arm exactly where yours is now. It slipped and I stuck that 4-inch blade straight into my forearm. Here’s the scar.” Their eyes widen…and they move their arm.

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It is well known that stories were integral throughout history to pass on history and lessons, well before any form of documentation came into existence. Many argue that we’ve lost the art of it. But the idea of storytelling hasn’t necessarily gone away. As I mentioned, it’s part of our DNA. But in most cases, in our modern society, with modern technology, it’s still missing that certain something. Recently I updated my Facebook app and a new feature appeared. Right at the top, it says “Your Story,” screaming to be clicked on. Click and you will see that you can send pictures or videos to certain friends or “add to your story.” Admittedly, I haven’t tried it. I haven’t done so because just like the pictures from my Great Uncle Art and those discharge papers, it still leaves the recipient guessing as to who you really are. How many of you veterans or even non-veterans have lost a close friend to suicide, and you are simply stunned? Their Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter told a different story. You see nothing but smiling faces, pranks, and possibly a clear disdain for one particular political party. But again, it’s nothing but pictures in a shoebox and a few papers. And suddenly you realize that we all completely missed the real story; perhaps were even manipulated by the story presented to us. You begin to wonder, what was he thinking when he took that picture in the sands of Iraq holding that rifle? Was he scared? Or is the reason he just posted that photo just a week earlier simply because it was the only time in his life that he felt something worthwhile?

A 2014 article from The Atlantic states that “stories can be a way for humans to feel that we have control over the world. They allow people to see patterns where there is chaos, meaning where there is randomness. Humans are inclined to see narratives where there are none because it can afford meaning to our lives – a form of existential problem solving.” I would argue that this is true in both hearing stories and sharing your own. Unfortunately, I’m not sure that can be found on an Instagram or Facebook feature alone.

As The Atlantic points out, “perhaps the real reason that we tell stories…is because humans WANT to be a part of a shared history.” At Sheepdog Strong, we want to harness the power of storytelling and publish yours. If you are serving or have served in the military, law-enforcement, or first responder communities, we would like to share your story. In addition, once per month we will select one author and donate $100 to a nonprofit charity of his or her choice. If you’re a terrible writer, no worries. We’ll clean it up for you. Go to www.sheepdogstrong.com or email me at alpha@sheepdogstrong.com for more information. And perhaps in doing so, we will forever be more than a shoebox full of papers and pictures.

-Tony

Founder / Sheepdog Strong

Void in the Middle: American Political Discourse

Re-printed with permission by Justin Louis Pitcock

It is inevitable that a republic like ours will be altered by passing years and attitudes. It is supposed to be that way. The constitution left a hefty burden on the states and the Congress to answer the questions of the day. The law-making bodies that be, at both the federal and state level, have risen to the occasion many times. The bill of rights comes to mind. The Civil Rights Act and the Freedom of Information Act have their place in history as fruits of the legislature. But what happens when the Congress or the states get it wrong and why do we have so much trouble doing the right thing today?

We should know what happens when Congress gets it wrong. It happens often. “Getting it wrong” is what comes to most folk’s minds when they think of Congress today. It is a valid assumption. We do know. We can see the results of poorly written or enacted, even ill-intentioned regulation all around us. The Affordable Care Act is a hot topic in this vein. Signs indicate that it was written with political risk in mind rather than patient risk. The real tragedy is that it can be salvaged and the problem of an uninsured population more suitably addressed, but flame throwing political rhetoric is a growing obstacle to doing so.

Social security and other safety net programs were well intentioned and, on the whole, were well conceived. After many years passed without adjustments to funding or benefits, the topic now rages and divides one day and is tabled the next, when what seem to be more pressing topics arise. Meanwhile, the programs are on a known path to failure and ensuing crisis. It’s an opportune political football when nothing else is going on and a predicament we can simply put in our children’s lap when something else diverts the public gaze.

My point here is not as narrow as reforming specific legislation, though that is important. I want to talk about the structural pillars of this republic and the foundation on which they lie. Some of those pillars stand strong against the test of time and are as useful today as they were on the day President Washington was sworn in. The distribution of power between the three branches and the checks and balances in place because of that dynamic are central to honest government. Assignment of responsibility as the Commander in Chief, Head of State, and Head of Government entrusts a lot to one American, but has yielded efficient and effective results in times of crisis.

Other attributes of our constitutional foundations come under fire from time to time. The Electoral College received condemnation recently in 2000 and again in 2016. President Franklin Roosevelt gave reason for constitutionalizing the number of Supreme Court justices. Every 10 years, a new case is made for specificity in the arena of drawing congressional districts. These are but a few of the areas in which some repair has been done, but increasingly some of these pillars are eroding and losing their purpose of supporting the ideals on which this republic was founded.

“That unresolved issue almost cost us the union and did cost us almost a million American lives”

At this juncture, a long “ode to the constitution” is due but, to keep it short, it is sufficient to say that the United States Constitution is the single most important document written since the bible. Its formation is a beautiful amalgamation of careful study of the past, admiration and longing for human freedom, and painful compromise. What we were left with was far from perfect but, considering the environmental conditions leading up to its signing, the original constitution was the capstone to a truly remarkable achievement. Since then it’s been amended 27 times, contributing to the document’s strength.

It should be stated plainly, every time the subject of constitutional formation arises, that the issue of slavery casts a large dark shadow over the whole enterprise. Those who would discount the entire original document have a leg to stand on because of it. The obvious horror of slavery is not only a stain on that original beautiful amalgamation, but it was also an issue left unresolved in 1789. That unresolved issue almost cost us the union and did cost us almost a million American lives 70 years later on domestic battlefields from Gettysburg to Vicksburg. There are reasons and excuses for why it happened that way, but what matters is that the failure to do the right thing from the start put everything at risk. The lesson here to carry forward is that doing what is just, as soon as we know it to be so, is imperative – morally and practically.

That is the case now. There are several things we know about today that are prohibitive to a properly functioning American government. I’m not talking about hot-button partisan issues. The pro-life versus pro-choice debate is a strong partisan issue that is probably not going to be put to rest in my lifetime. The key to having these debates and making substantive progress in resolving any issue though, is the way in which they are conducted. To find out what is just, and to be able to act on it, passion must be balanced with reason. Self-interest must be balanced with empathy. Tradition should be honored, but not at the cost of preserving an oppressive culture. Our discourse today is at odds with these worthy goals and the most equipped entity able to change the tide is the individual American citizen.

“For good reason, our citizens have lost much of the faith in their leaders and institutions that they had in the early 20th century.”

A major problem with our discourse lies in our expectations. “Telling it like it is” is a stated desire by many voters when it comes to qualities they would like to see in their representation. People generally want to know how a leader “really feels.” The interpretation of this desire however, is almost the opposite of its literal meaning. “Telling it like it is” is accepted by many to mean “saying an opinion without regard to that opinion’s practicality of implementation or second order effects.”

In the past, a politician would state their position and then dance around tough questions about its implementation that would be politically damaging. This dance is what the term “politically correct” has come to mean and recently people’s irritation with such behavior has climaxed. This dance is understandably irritating to anyone trying to understand the stated position’s ramifications based on a single interview vice viewing the dance with well-read knowledge of the subject.

To illustrate, let’s take the issue of illegal immigration. Before the war on “political correctness” started, a politician might say their position is that the immigration laws of this nation must be enforced, but that there must be some provisions for children or families who’ve been here for a decade or a number of other possible circumstances. When asked about enforcing our immigration laws, the politician would attempt to evade the notion ICE agents would be “rounding up” immigrants for deportation. When asked about whether the provision for families who’ve been here for a decade, the politician would evade the notion that the provision is “amnesty” for immigrants who’ve broken the law by entering our country illegally. Someone watching an interview with any knowledge of the practically of the matter would generally be able to understand where the politician stands…”Amnesty for some?” Yes. “Round up of others?” Yes.

The contempt for the dance that is “political correctness” invites a different scenario. Today when a politician’s stated position is that the laws of this nation need to be enforced, instead of dancing around a follow up they are asked about a “round up,” must now brand the immigrants whom this affects as the enemy. The must say “illegal immigrants broke the law, so they are criminals.” When a politician’s position is that there must be some exceptions, they must brand immigrants as hard working contributors to American society. The middle ground gets no attention. The practicality and morality of either position in this scenario is based on two different narratives. So, when a proponent of one position talks to the other, they can barely identify with each other’s view.

An individual holding either stated extreme view probably doesn’t see themselves as a hard-liner. They most likely understand the difficulties, impracticality, and moral problems that arise from implementing an absolute stance on an issue. But if political leaders aren’t expected to address the concerns of their own stance, the debate dies. Partisans are left with only one option and that is to win at all costs, because the groundwork for compromise is left without any attention.

Much of the reason for this condition comes from a constant siege on trust. Watergate, the Vietnam and Iraq wars, politicians convicted of bribery, and the many other scandals and missteps over the years have torn away the idea that our leaders are careful actors of integrity. For good reason, our citizens have lost much of the faith in their leaders and institutions that they had in the early 20th century. Today, this mistrust has permeated down to the cultural and individual levels. Some citizens do not trust our police. Some do not trust certain ethnical groups. Perhaps most problematic, people holding different views on an issue presume the other side to be acting in bad faith.

If someone arrives at an argument assuming the opposing view is founded on bad faith there is no room for middle ground and no room for compromise. Thus the “win at all costs” mindset is strengthened and robust debate dies. This condition is cancerous to our republic and without a remedy we are doomed to fall into the tyranny that Plato forecasted will come of such democracies.

To shift this discourse and serve the public by informing them of the implications of proposed legislation, citizens must reject the paradigm that says the opposition is fundamentally flawed and thus no idea they present can be valid. We must challenge the ideas of our own parties and representatives that we generally agree with. We must understand the negative implications of our own championed policies and leave room for those who dissent. It’s intellectually honest to do so.

It’s been a long road to mistrust and it will be a long road to rebuild it. We must turn around now or accept our fate. We must read. We must hold our politicians to the same standards we expect of our children. Most importantly, we must seek to understand our neighbor and care how they arrive at their views, without making assumptions to suit our own cause. Our founding documents allowed for this. It’s our duty to leave room in each of our American hearts for the people who hold the diverse views that made us the vibrant leader of the free world in the first place.

-Justin Louis Pitcock

Justin is a US Marine Aviator, family man and proud American

Two Paths and 2017

A few days before Christmas, I sat down with my 9 year old daughter for a bite of lunch. While she gnawed away on some mac & cheese, she asked, “Why do we give gifts to each other on Christmas?” Frankly, I don’t really know how the tradition started but I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable answer. I’d actually pondered the same, just haven’t wondered enough to Google it. But in this wondering, at one point or another I’d come up with a possible explanation. I relayed that explanation to my daughter.

“Well as you know, on Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was a gift to humankind by God himself. And on His birth, wise men showed up with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Throughout Jesus’ life, He both sacrificed and provided what He could to all who chose to follow Him. And even in His death, He provided us the gift of eternal life if we should choose to accept it. I guess one way to honor His birth is to sacrifice our own desires and give something to others. I think that’s how He would want us to celebrate His birthday.”

Now I’m kind of a literalist. I primarily worked in Intelligence while in the military so I have never liked to propose a theory without having some data to back it up. So I guess I’ve given it some additional thought while out on the Harley or driving the 45 minutes to and from my regular paycheck (still haven’t googled it). In these thoughts, my vision has morphed to the New Year.

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A few months back I lost a Marine brother, one that I’m proud to have served alongside in Afghanistan. Most of us who have served post 9/11 have lost one, or several brothers. For many, their deaths way heavy. Perhaps there’s some survivor’s guilt or maybe feel that a lot of the civilian population will never grasp the sacrifices made by these men and women, and therefore grow disillusioned. In the end, we remain behind, in part due to their incredible sacrifice. What we do with that is up to us.

For the most part, there’s two paths we who remain can take. One is remembering their deaths. The other is remembering their sacrifice. The first is often mired in alcohol or drugs. This life choice quickly spins out of control almost always with negative outcomes. The second option is by truly living. Seeing their passing as a sacrifice, a sacrifice so that others may live, suggests that it is our duty to make the most of this life here on earth, and  really live.

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I’m probably not going to Google why we give gifts on Christmas. Frankly, I think I gave a fair explanation, that Christ would like us to celebrate His birth by giving to others. I would also argue that our brothers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, deserve our honor and respect. The way to do that is by living this life to the fullest. It’s a new year. In 2017, honor those who passed before us through the life you live.

Live Strong. Be Strong. Sheepdog Strong

-Tony