David, Special Operations Sniper
Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais
Dr. Michael Gervais
4.6 • 1.8K Ratings
🗓️ 13 June 2018
⏱️ 82 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This week’s conversation is with David (leaving his last name out for security purposes.)
He's been a top special operations sniper for more than 10 years.
David has four combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan and one tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During the last 21 years he has served in a variety of leadership roles that include; Fire Team Leader, Senior Weapons Sergeant, Tactics and Weapons instructor, Team Sergeant Air Operations NCOIC.
David’s won countless awards along the way and just won the USASOC Sniper competition (top completion for snipers in all branches of special ops).
He’s been asked multiple times how he won and he attributes it to his mental game!
This conversation is a treat.
We get to learn from someone truly on the razor’s edge; putting his life on the line. We talk about what goes through his mind in the most pivotal moments, where everything is at stake, including his and others’ lives around him.
We discuss the difficulties that come with transitioning back and forth between combat and every day life, his addiction to adrenaline, and how he manages dealing with some of the difficult sights and sounds he’s witnessed.
I have the utmost respect for the people who choose to serve our country and put their lives on the line to protect others and I hope this conversation gives you a glimpse into what that sacrifice is really all about.
_________________
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You know a lot of a lot of guys especially younger with you know how many people have I killed but I find the most |
| 0:07.3 | gratifying effect is how many people have saved |
| 0:10.7 | How many lives have I changed? That's way more important to me. Right. |
| 0:25.0 | Welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery Podcast. |
| 0:29.0 | I'm Michael Jervay. |
| 0:30.0 | And by Trade and Training, I'm a Sport and Performance Psychologist and the co-founder of |
| 0:35.6 | Compete to Create and the whole idea behind this podcast is to learn from people |
| 0:39.7 | who have dedicated their life efforts towards mastery. |
| 0:43.3 | And what we're wanting to do is dig to understand |
| 0:46.4 | the mental skills that they use to build and refine their craft, |
| 0:49.6 | but also understand the psychological framework |
| 0:51.6 | that they operate from. |
| 0:56.0 | Finding Mastery is brought to you by Vitruvian. Vitruvian is on a mission to help people live longer, stronger lives and their |
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... |
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