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Combat Veterans, all of you, and Fireman, Law Enforcement, Nurses, and all of you who have to make split second decisions ...under pressure, this is why you need to tell the rest of us some of your stories. Most of us will never know what you went through, and I thank God and the Universe for that. I have always hoped for a Generation that did not have to deal with the effects of War. But that dream is not here...yet. You have things to teach us...and today I learned from one of you. If you agree, or disagree, or have a story to tell that illustrates what I am going to discuss, I ask you humbly, if it doesn't bring up things you wanted to forget...let us know your thoughts and Feelings. For if you have a CIB, or CAB, you will understand this guy way better than I did. So...here goes.
I don't listen to many podcasts. Preferring to watch Vlogs, or Videos on YouTube. But today, at Jersey Mike's, I met a Combat Veteran from Iraq. He is a Marine (since, you know, there are no former Marines) and he showed me a clip from a Podcast where a Navy Seal was explaining to his Wife that he was not an "Adrenaline Junky", he did not miss "the Action", "The Danger," or "the risk." What he missed was: CLARITY.
Before I go on, let me explain how valuable this discussion was for me. Until that SEAL said that one word: "CLARITY", I had always thought that Soldiers "missed" war because of the Action, Power, and Adrenaline. Like a lot of folks, I have been misled on how Soldiers (and other people in tense instants) feel, or think. He changed my perspective. He gave me a new way to look at something I thought I understood. That is why, dear Brothers and Sisters from the Pointy end of the Stick , you need to tell someone at least a little of your story. Otherwise those hard earned lessons...are lost. Now...back to CLARITY.
"I told my wife that I don't hang glide, do Halo Jumps, or use "wings" to soar down mountains because I want to die, or for an adrenaline rush. I do it for that moment of ClARITY.
For a single second, before you jump, launch, or soar, you have to empty your mind of everything except the moment you are in. That moment and the next second are crystal clear. Nothing else matters.
You don't care if the Electric bill is late, if your daughter's rehearsal dress is ready, or your wife wants you to pick up some milk and bread on the way home. You don't care about feeling, of have thoughts of old girlfriends, drunken parties, or stupid sh*t you have done. None of that. All of it is fades into nothingness. All you have is a single minded focus on the moment. Clarity. Everything you know, see, or feel, has been reduced to just one single second. One second of complete freedom from every thought. Only the moment and the next second count. Your mind is truly totally focused. Nothing can get in and distract you. It is perfectly clear to you what you need to do now, or next.
If your foot hurts from a blister, or the barrel is too hot, or your gear is chafing and a rock is sticking into your knee cap...all that is banished from your consciousness. Nothing, I mean nothing can reach you. You are sitting in a crystal clear glass of water ...with full CLARITY. Your next move or choice is yours to make without any distractions. And you can see clearly what to do.
You don't think about fights with your wife, or when to get the car fixed, or if you can pay rent. All the stuff of everyday living has been shunted aside so you can do one thing and one thing only; survive the next second. One moment of Clarity surrounds the next moment until you act. Once you make the choice to act...everything speeds up. Everything. Suddenly you find yourself alone and thinking again. Stuff crowds back in: "Where's my buddies? Why is their blood on my Uniform? How come my ammo is gone? Should I call my wife and tell her?"
All the thoughts and feelings that were gone for a bit, rush back in ...CLARITY IS GONE.
That's what I miss, that moment of pure clarity hanging there like an eternity with my whole mind focused on just that moment...and the next second.
I am not an Adrenaline Junky, I am a CLARITY junky.
I may not have quoted him exactly, but this is what the Marine showed me on that Podcast. When I got done watching it, I asked him if he had Clarity. He said:
"In Combat sure. Many times. In Civilian life, only twice. When my wife asked me to marry her. And when I told my brother (who was drunk) to take his hands off Mom. It was just like that SEAL said...CLARITY.
Now I am looking back at my narrow world view of Combat and Pressure and getting a different perspective. Imagine if that SEAL hadn't tried to explain to his wife, or that Marine taking the time to talk to an old Vet (Non Combat Vet) that viewpoint might have been left dormant.
What do you guys think? Does Clarity makes sense to you? Welcome Home.
I don't listen to many podcasts. Preferring to watch Vlogs, or Videos on YouTube. But today, at Jersey Mike's, I met a Combat Veteran from Iraq. He is a Marine (since, you know, there are no former Marines) and he showed me a clip from a Podcast where a Navy Seal was explaining to his Wife that he was not an "Adrenaline Junky", he did not miss "the Action", "The Danger," or "the risk." What he missed was: CLARITY.
Before I go on, let me explain how valuable this discussion was for me. Until that SEAL said that one word: "CLARITY", I had always thought that Soldiers "missed" war because of the Action, Power, and Adrenaline. Like a lot of folks, I have been misled on how Soldiers (and other people in tense instants) feel, or think. He changed my perspective. He gave me a new way to look at something I thought I understood. That is why, dear Brothers and Sisters from the Pointy end of the Stick , you need to tell someone at least a little of your story. Otherwise those hard earned lessons...are lost. Now...back to CLARITY.
"I told my wife that I don't hang glide, do Halo Jumps, or use "wings" to soar down mountains because I want to die, or for an adrenaline rush. I do it for that moment of ClARITY.
For a single second, before you jump, launch, or soar, you have to empty your mind of everything except the moment you are in. That moment and the next second are crystal clear. Nothing else matters.
You don't care if the Electric bill is late, if your daughter's rehearsal dress is ready, or your wife wants you to pick up some milk and bread on the way home. You don't care about feeling, of have thoughts of old girlfriends, drunken parties, or stupid sh*t you have done. None of that. All of it is fades into nothingness. All you have is a single minded focus on the moment. Clarity. Everything you know, see, or feel, has been reduced to just one single second. One second of complete freedom from every thought. Only the moment and the next second count. Your mind is truly totally focused. Nothing can get in and distract you. It is perfectly clear to you what you need to do now, or next.
If your foot hurts from a blister, or the barrel is too hot, or your gear is chafing and a rock is sticking into your knee cap...all that is banished from your consciousness. Nothing, I mean nothing can reach you. You are sitting in a crystal clear glass of water ...with full CLARITY. Your next move or choice is yours to make without any distractions. And you can see clearly what to do.
You don't think about fights with your wife, or when to get the car fixed, or if you can pay rent. All the stuff of everyday living has been shunted aside so you can do one thing and one thing only; survive the next second. One moment of Clarity surrounds the next moment until you act. Once you make the choice to act...everything speeds up. Everything. Suddenly you find yourself alone and thinking again. Stuff crowds back in: "Where's my buddies? Why is their blood on my Uniform? How come my ammo is gone? Should I call my wife and tell her?"
All the thoughts and feelings that were gone for a bit, rush back in ...CLARITY IS GONE.
That's what I miss, that moment of pure clarity hanging there like an eternity with my whole mind focused on just that moment...and the next second.
I am not an Adrenaline Junky, I am a CLARITY junky.
I may not have quoted him exactly, but this is what the Marine showed me on that Podcast. When I got done watching it, I asked him if he had Clarity. He said:
"In Combat sure. Many times. In Civilian life, only twice. When my wife asked me to marry her. And when I told my brother (who was drunk) to take his hands off Mom. It was just like that SEAL said...CLARITY.
Now I am looking back at my narrow world view of Combat and Pressure and getting a different perspective. Imagine if that SEAL hadn't tried to explain to his wife, or that Marine taking the time to talk to an old Vet (Non Combat Vet) that viewpoint might have been left dormant.
What do you guys think? Does Clarity makes sense to you? Welcome Home.
Posted 2 mo ago
Responses: 4
Posted 2 mo ago
It sounds logical to me. I was never in combat but I did have moments of clarity in my civilian career. I was an electrician for 35 years and moments of clarity occur when working on a hot panel that can't be shut down. One slip or one dropped screwdriver could cause an ARC Flash that has roughly the temperature of the surface of the Sun exploding out at you. You become focused intently on what you are doing and nothing else is in your mind but the task at hand.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
2 mo
Yeah, I think that is what he was talking about. But he missed that feeling...do you? Or was just part of the job?
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TSgt James Herslebs
2 mo
I miss some of the people I worked with but I don't miss the possibility of turning into a Human Torch or wearing an Arc Flash Suit . The suit reminded me of a Chem warfare suit and horribly hot. :)
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SGT Kevin Hughes
2 mo
TSgt James Herslebs - I hated NBC training for that same reason, that suit might keep you alive in a chemical attack, but it was trying to kill you in 100 degree heat plus humidity! LOL
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TSgt James Herslebs
2 mo
I wore the chem warfare suit in Southern California in the summer. Good time! We had to set 40 foot telephone poles by hand in the suit to simulate setting up communications during a chemical attack! Thought I was going to sweat to death before any chemical could kill me!:)
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Posted 2 mo ago
SGT Kevin Hughes
The closest I can come to the issue of CLARITY wsa walking point and being a member of an ambush patrol ,both of these required CLARITY up the kazoo,both of these kept my heart in my throat senses on high alert and a adrenaline high all at the same time, Welcome Home Brothers
The closest I can come to the issue of CLARITY wsa walking point and being a member of an ambush patrol ,both of these required CLARITY up the kazoo,both of these kept my heart in my throat senses on high alert and a adrenaline high all at the same time, Welcome Home Brothers
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SGT Philip Roncari
2 mo
I consider myself lucky,damn lucky ,and considering some of your past exploits you fall into that quite nicely,my friend ,Phil
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SGT Kevin Hughes
2 mo
SGT Philip Roncari - I had a moment of clarity that came back to me. I got into it with a bunch of bullies. Six against one and I was way smaller than the smallest of the punks. I wouldn't do what they said. So in a moment of Clarity, I thought: "This is going to hurt." And I was right.
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SGT Philip Roncari
2 mo
SGT Kevin Hughes
Well,now that you mention a moment of clarity from the past,I’ve got one from my freshman year of High School,I went to a city school on advice from my dear old dad who said it would keep me away from my friends who he considered juvenile delinquents(,they went to the local area schools) anyhow seems some of my new classmates considered I was a prime candidate for their bullying and protection rackets,ambushed between classes in a cloakroom (now that’s old school huh) I did the unexpected and stabbed my assailant with my compass from geometry class,which I flunked out of later,(never a math student) I wasn’t bothered for the rest of my High School career,lesson learned ,never underestimate your opponent, Welcome Home Brothers.
Well,now that you mention a moment of clarity from the past,I’ve got one from my freshman year of High School,I went to a city school on advice from my dear old dad who said it would keep me away from my friends who he considered juvenile delinquents(,they went to the local area schools) anyhow seems some of my new classmates considered I was a prime candidate for their bullying and protection rackets,ambushed between classes in a cloakroom (now that’s old school huh) I did the unexpected and stabbed my assailant with my compass from geometry class,which I flunked out of later,(never a math student) I wasn’t bothered for the rest of my High School career,lesson learned ,never underestimate your opponent, Welcome Home Brothers.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
2 mo
SGT Philip Roncari - Yep! That qualifies, and is eerily similar to my experience. For those six bullies I mentioned wanted "Tribute" to use the restroom and I refused to pay. A nickel or a beating. I took the beating. Sadly, I did not have a compass. Like you though, I put up enough of a fight that word got out, but sadly, it didn't all stop. But I never paid a nickel.
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