Q: What does your call sign mean to you?
A: Faith to me is believing in something even when the entire world is giving you every reason it can for you to quit and walk away. It's what you fall back on when you feel hopeless and gives you the second wind to hold fast.
Q: What branch of the military did you serve in (or are currently serving in), for how long, and what was your job?
A: I served in the Navy for 4 years as an Aircraft Structural Mechanic.
Q: What is your best or most unforgettable OEW-related memory? A: That's a hard one... it seems like every new OEW event tops the last one. At West Point we ran with Tyler Wilson, one of our Adaptive Athletes, and his wife was there with us the entire way. At the end of it she told us how grateful she was and how great of a job we did taking care of him, how running a Spartan was a long time goal of theirs and without our help it just wouldn't have been possible. I think seeing first hand the impact you can have on someone's life by just putting in some hard work and effort... that to me is the most awesome experience.
Q: What is the best thing about being a MAT? A: The best part of being on the MAT is having someone put their entire faith in you. It's a truly epiphanous moment when you have someone completely rely on you to keep them safe.
Q: What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in becoming a MAT?
A: Make sure you're doing this for the right reason, and that's to help others. If you're here because of your ego, it's just not gonna work out. When it comes to OEW, the mission has to come first. There's gonna be times when you have to humble yourself and do what you think is best for the team. This isn't meant to be a flashy position. Everyone that's on the team knows that and puts 100% of their heart and soul into this. There's just no room for anything less.
Q: What is your daily contribution to OEW operations?
A: MAT responsibilities aside, I help with the OEW communications team.
Q: Motto or principle you live by.
A: Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.
Q: How do you stay in shape for the demands of the MAT? A: I'm training 7 days a week. I usually train specifically for the event coming up. Every event will have different demands on your body. Climbing a mountain is nothing like riding a bike for hundreds of miles and neither of those are like doing a Spartan. So I research and plan my training routine accordingly. I always try to incorporate some sort of weight room regimen in there though.
Check out our OEW Spotify channel! Each Call Sign will share their own playlists of music that gets them pumped for action or helps them chill during their workday. Follow our channel and receive updates whenever new playlists are posted!
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About INDOC: The application process to apply for the Masked Athlete Team, Warrior INDOC, is now an open enrollment. Pre-requisite is to have military or LEO experience with honorable discharge. E-mail: indoc@enduringwarrior.org for submission details.
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