Q: What does your call sign mean to you?
A: My callsign was given to me after I had the honor of becoming a MAT for OEW. When I think of ‘Sacrifice’, I feel it’s a selfless service to put yourself over something bigger than yourself.
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 Pennsylvania Army National Guard as an infantryman for nine years with three deployments.
Q: What would you like people to know about OEW?
A: I would like people to know that OEW is full of professionalism adapted from the military. This isn’t another running club at a Spartan Race, we carry ourselves professionally at all times. Also, understand we do more than races. We help our disabled veterans achieve Scuba certifications, Sky Diving licenses, and, most recently, expanded our offerings with an Adventure program... like climbing Mt Rainier and the Bataan Memorial Death March. Understand, we’re all doing this together in these missions.
Q: What is the best thing about being a MAT?
A: I feel the best thing of being a MAT is being a part of a team once again with a purpose. Being we’re in uniform, and having a responsibility to be physically fit for our mission in helping each other and a mission of helping others is a very small fraction of like being in the military once again. I learned you don’t need to be apart of the Armed Forces to serve those in our country.
Q: What is your daily contribution to OEW operations?
A: My daily contribution is more of an outreach setting. In my everyday job, I promote OEW and sometimes speak on the teams behalf and answer questions the public might have.
Q: Motto or principle you live by.
A: Change is good. When you remain the same, you’re not growing.
Q: What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in becoming a MAT?
A: For anybody who would like to become a MAT member, remember: it’s not about me or you...it’s about all of us. We are not looking for studs, we are looking for physically fit, reliable teammates. And I don’t mean just on the course, there’s logistics that tie into each event which sometimes we all take a part of. Get ready to be a part of something bigger than us.
Q: How do you stay in shape for the demands of the MAT?
A: Cardio & endurance are very vital in becoming part of the MAT. One of the best ways I trained before INDOC was Crossfit & heavy carrying (ruck marches are a good example).
Q: Favorite book or podcast.
A: Every human being should read the short-read book “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor E. Frankl. It’s a very short read which talk about a holocaust survivor and what he did for himself to survive through his time in a concentration camp. A few quotes from Dr Frankl:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
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.