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How do Navy SEALs maintain the ability to consistently work at a high-risk level?

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Chances are, you have heard of Navy SEALs. The US Navy’s elite special operations force. But has it ever crossed your mind that these guys are training for 3+ years before ever deploying overseas?

Think about that. Are you or have you been an athlete? Let’s change the perspective. Imagine practicing for your sport of choice and never playing in a game for a minimum of 3 years.

Not only that, but every single day Navy SEALs are training, it includes extremely high-risk training routines to include; weapons handling/shooting, jumping out of airplanes, diving in the water at night, fast-roping out of helicopters, and blowing things up.

What is the secret to their success? Many things but I’m happy to share a few of my observations.

For starters, Navy SEALs never begin a high-risk training evolution without first conducting a safety brief. During the safety briefs, things are discussed to include; expectations of the training evolution, dos and don’ts, safety procedures, contingency plans, and lessons that they have learned not to do.

Simply put, Navy SEALs communicate.

I know, I know…your mind is blown. Communication is a secret weapon of the US Navy’s elite special operators.

But if we all know how important communication is and as leaders we’re not consistently communicating some important things like; our expectations and beliefs. How is it fair that we assume our teammates know what our expectations and beliefs are?

It’s not.

So, do you want your team to be better equipped to perform at an elite level?

Communicate and keep things simple (and maybe wear sunglasses while doing it…Navy SEALs say that helps…just kidding!). 

Authored By: Jacob Werksman, Founder

Photo Sourced: US Navy

Jacob Werksman

After completing high school, Jacob deferred his acceptance to the United States Naval Academy to enlist in the United States Navy and shorten the length of time it would take to become a US Navy SEAL. After completing Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUD/S) training, Jacob was one of the youngest members to be assigned to SEAL TEAM 2 in Virginia Beach, VA at the age of 20 years old. During his time in service, he was able to simultaneously achieve his Bachelors Degree in Organizational Leadership with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Charleston at West Virginia. Jacob is going to be attending Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration from the Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary.

Throughout Jacob's career as a Navy SEAL Team Leader/Lead Sniper, he has completed 2 deployments overseas in support of combating human-trafficking, drug-trafficking, and terrorism threats world wide. Jacob has worked with governments and militaries of 11 foreign countries throughout his military career. As a Navy SEAL Sniper Team Leader, Jacob has managed teams as large as 54 US Navy SEALS in extremely high-risk situations overseas.

Victory Strategies is a Veteran Owned Business.