Hey all.

Out of curiosity, for those that are PJs and those that are training to enter the Pipeline, what kept you motivated, and what keeps you motivated, respectively?

As an ROTC member going after a CRO slot it is very hard to keep up physical fitness, along with grades. Studying for big exams and doing lots of homework and other ROTC things that take up time is hard to balance with an intense fitness program that requires a lot of good nutrition and rest to get the most out of it. I'll be honest and say that sometimes I feel like I won't make it and sometimes I do want to take a break.

But this is what I do to keep me motivated. I have a few simple Pararescue t-shirts that I wear to the gym or when I PT to kind of remind me why I'm going through the pain of whatever it is I'm going through. And I put a Pararescue poster of the emblem and motto in my room right next to my whiteboard (has all my assignments and other things i need to do for the month) so the first thing I see when I wake up is a big PJ poster.

It sounds kind of corny but it really does remind me why I'm going to do what it is that I'm going to do for that day, and what it is I'm working for, even when it gets really really tough.

What did you guys do to keep yourself motivated?

I beleive everyone at some point feels worn out or tired. The thing that keeps me going is simple, I want to be a pj and won't stop until i'm there. I feel like i can always do more, swim more, lift more, run more, so when i get to indoc I know that i'm in the best shape that i possibly can be in. I don't have any posters or shirts, just a mindset that I'll get through this no matter what the cost is. Whenever I feel like I want to give up because I'm sore or tired and cut my workout short, I tell myself if you quit now, you're already quitting on yourself at indoc, so I just get my stuff done. Two to three hours in the gym out of a 24 hour day isn't that much to ask. You could still go to class, lift/swim, then go study and should still have plenty of time for 6-7 hours of sleep.

I have different things that motivate me:

1)I miss the Air Force.

2)I like to help people.

3)I love being challenged.

4)I don't fit in with civilians...my close friends are all veterans(US & foreign) & brats.

5)I don't want to sit in another office cubicle.

6)I can't stand civilians (did I say that already?). I mean, I would rather sit at a bar listening to a bunch of Marines tell stories of how they killed XX amount of bad dudes, than to sit and listen to another civilian tell me about how "TiVo", "CROCS" or the latest gossip of Lindsey Lohen has changed their sorry, pathetic life into something that is now much more meaningful...seriously??


However, there are times that these motivations don't work. In times like that I choose to make my procrasinating side work to my advantage. In other words,when I get the voice that says, "Man, just quit!"...then I say, "Okay, I'll quit. But I'll quit tomorrow."...by the time tomorrow comes, then either the voice has gone away or you have implememted some other type of plan.

Well said. Sums up my mindset as well.

Different things motivate different people. Aside from the obvious, saving lives, protecting your comrades and having the best career anyone could ask for...

Whether you want to provide a better life for your family, get acknowledgement from your friends back home, or have women throw themselves at you, the details can be left up to the individual and what you value.

So for me:
There were two things that kept me motivated during the hardest times. During the stressful ones, when you don't have much time to think, getting P**sy always kept me going. Juvenile? Yes. Realistic? possibly. Did it keep me going? You bet.

But when it came down to individual events, when you know what’s coming and you know its going to suck, but you go ahead and do it anyways a few things went through my mind, but all one theme.
-No way would I let me team go through something I wouldn't. No way would I bow down to my cadre and let them break me. No way would I disappoint my team, my cadre, or myself with a break in willpower.

"Every day you aren't working on your marriage, is a day you are working on your divorce. Same goes for training."

Rescueathlete.com, these guys are my friends, brothers, team, we motivate each other, we have a common goal, we see each others progress, when one falls we do what we can to help him back up. The community itself motivates me to reach for new goals, seeing my friends reach new records fires me up to compete to reach that or exceed it, all about being apart of a team, and I feel like I am apart of one over there.

Its pretty simple for me,

The concept of not doing this (or at least trying my hardest) is something i cant even grasp. The guys im training with are amazing, and my coaches are all incredibly good at being motivational in their own way.

Pretty much my motto is, I could have pneumonia and i could NOT be in southern California. Im set up extreamly well with the resources ive found here. Training this last week with a cold royally sucked, but just kept telling myself It could be worse. The stories of indoc guys getting through it with pneumonia is pretty inspiring.

Plus its fun to look at everything im putting myself through as just another mental toughness challenge, 2 jobs full time, training 5 days a week, keeping on a strict diet, moving to a new area to be closer to the training center, all in the hopes of becoming a pj someday very soon.

The things that motivate me:

The first thing that motivates me is my Uncle. He served 37 years in the Air Force in a Special Operations Wing. He passed away my freshman year of college due to cancer. The stories he'd tell..wow.

The team and brotherhood that I could be apart of. Knowing that the guy beside you is just as good, if not better than you. Knowing when sh*t hits the fan, you have his back and he has yours. I never knew what that was like when playing college baseball. Some people cared, others didn't. My mentality was too serious for it.

I want something that will challange me mentally and physically...And well.. it's coming, starting December 28th. Being apart of something great, so elite, gets my blood boiling.

Training- Knowing the guy next to you is trying to beat you. The competitiveness and you're all training to risk YOUR life to save OTHERS. Is there anything better? Hell no.

Of course I hope I don't have to save anyones life. I want all our troops home safe. However, when that day comes my hand will be raised high to go get "them".

Also, SrA Jason Cunningham, fallen PJ, motivates me. He was involved in Roberts Ridge, Afghanistan. A hero to many. He made the ultimate sacrifice, costing his life. I won't go into detail, just do yourself a favor and research him.

I admire each and every one of you. Just even volunteering for these type jobs deserves a thank you.

Remember, You are a pretender or a contender.

Hooyah

That is one of the huge pulls for me. Everyone who makes it, wants to be there. And they want it bad.

4tun8...Hell yeah

** I'm by no means a CRO or PJ... just in the process of graduating and heading off to Indoc as a CRO Phase II select....still have a ton of work to do.

Along with a lot of what the other guys have said...

1. I've had a couple near death (or serious injury) experiences in the past... Fractured skull, Got skimmed in the neck by a spring shot out of a mountain bike fork at over 180 mph... would have gone into my throat and stuck there most likely killing me had it made direct impact, and one other occassion. Basically what this does for me is allows me to think about the next training day or event and think (no matter what, this can't be any worse than what I've already been through), then I just say F*ck it and move forward.

2. When you're at Indoc or Phase II for CRO, you are surrounded by paramedics.... if you were to pass out underwater or during training, they just simply have to do their job in a calm environment... these guys train and practice EMT regularly in combat scenarios. It will be easy for them to save/revive me.

3. Treat your life and training like its set in stone and on a video tape that you will have to watch again... I know I'd never be able to live with watching myself quit on a film

4. Your team, Your instructors, Yourself, Your family, The victims, Our veterans, and much much more....

5. Chance to do some of the coolest ***** in the world with some of the most amazing people every day of your life.

The video tape idea came from RSCTT on the navyseals forums... stole it from him but it works!

These are all great answers. Really reminded me what I'm going for. Thank you all

From the ST Related Documents Section:

Mental Preparation:

If you have a long wait between enlisting and entering indoc/selection, you might find that over time your motivation waivers. This could come out in several ways, including your exercise routine fading or you questioning why you applied to become a PJ/CCT in the first place. It is your responsibility to remain actively engaged in the process while you wait for your class date. Your recruiter will make efforts to engage you via phone calls, visits, e-mails, etc., but you are ultimately responsible for keeping your motivation high. The higher your motivation is when you arrive at indoc/selection, the easier it will be to stay focused and push past the difficult moments. Let’s face it, indoc/selection is going to be hard, but why would getting the opportunity to serve with an elite group of men be easy? Isn’t the challenge part of the reason you applied?

Some things you can do to stay actively engaged and mentally prepared for indoc/selection are:

If you are a spiritual/religious person, seek support from your church/clergy in staying focused and motivated. Gather strength and purpose through prayer and meditation.

Read books about Battlefield Airmen and the missions they have accomplished. Some examples are:

- Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson
- No Room for Error by Col. John T. Carney and Benjamin F. Schemmer
- Not a Good Day to Die by Sean Naylor
- The Rescue of BAT 21 by Darrel Whitcomb
- That Others May Live by Jack Brehm and Pete Nelson
- None Braver by Michael Hirsh

Visualize your success. Imagine yourself graduating from indoc/selection. When you read books about PJs/CCT, think about what it would be like if you were the main character in the story. Sports medicine has shown that visualizing your success increases your chances of actual success.

On an index card or post-it, write down the reasons that initially motivated you to become a PJ/CCT. Put this paper up somewhere you will see it every day.

Engage in open and honest conversations with your family about what it would mean for all of you if you became a Battlefield Airman. You can have both a family and a high-speed, exciting career. Your family needs to know what they are committing to in supporting you. If you don’t know what realistic expectations for your family are, find someone who is currently doing the job and ask them; have your family talk to their family. The choice you make does not affect you alone and you’ll find the support of your loved ones makes the entire process smoother and more meaningful for everyone.

Great stuff! Really something to think about.

Amazing post TE. That's why I come to this site.