At one time in my life i was part of secret laundry detail for the salvation Army. SUD/S class 165. The winter class of 2001 hell week was miserable. They had us scrubbing pants on wash boards out in the cold. We had to learn the difference between washing detergent and fabric softeners in the cold rain... Refined me into the hardened clothes washer I am today.
In desert storm my platoon shared a 5 gallon tub that we used to wash clothes and take ho baths out of. We were vehicle maintance and you just can't scrub out grease in a little tub with cold water. And the best was when you hung your clothes to dry and dust storm would come along and coat everthing in fine sand...sigh...I'm still picking sand out my hair.
My Father was in Alaska for Cold Weather Warfare Training in the late '60s. He was Army, SF. He's told me about climbing out of glacier cracks without help. He had to use ropes around his feet "raise left foot hold, he'd step up, raise right foot hold, step up. So cold your spit freezes and shatters before it hits the ground. Sure do miss my Dad. He passed last fall. At 77 years old. He was what you'd call a naturally gifted man. Everything just came easy to him. My hats off to you guys. Thank you for being you. Very grateful to live in the greatest country in the world!
I lived in Kodiak for a little bit back in the day and remember one night I was at the harbor and saw some guys I assumed were the seals training zipping out into the dark on a black zodiac type of boat. Just seeing that gave me goose bumps and thought how tough, brave and smart y'all are. To me it was an honor to see it.
I was born and raised in Alaska down by Kenai. And my dad was with a reconnaissance unit between FT. Rich and Elmendorf 85-91. He always hammered in the importance of having a winter kit in your car pretty much all the time. Even if it’s a sleeping bag, hat, and a candy bar. Because being cold and miserable in training is one thing. But in the real world it’s life and death.
I hated Kodiak in winter while I was stationed there, brutal weather, lacking sun and stuck on an island away from civilization. 22 years later I look at it with fondness and how it helped shape my as a young man. Semper Paratus!! I really am enjoying all your content and letting it influence my present life just as Kodiak did.
@@johhnyytwotime510 this is something that I definitely want (need) to do. Modern people (myself absolutely included) are soft. Far too soft. And I hate it.
@@connorbaz5980 First I wanna say I respect your honesty, but there's no rush from my statement. Gradually you'll find something that's Challenging in your path of life that's either gonna make you or break you as a man, and its for you to decide how you Follow through. Then you'll realize what kind of men you are. The fact that you're honest with yourself and know you need to do something to get out of your comfort zone tells me you're gonna be just Ok, just never give up.
@@johhnyytwotime510 that's definitely a struggle for me. Jumping in way too fast because I feel like I'm out of time. I absolutely need to learn how to pace myself better. I grew up all outdoors, working from dawn to dusk doing anything from landscaping to logging in my later teenage years, but I've just fallen so far. I've always looked up to Tough Men, and I've wanted to serve in the military since I was a kid. That's a goal I have for the near future, and due to the success of some others my age, it's definitely within reach if I give it all I got. I'm a trucker now though, and although there's things I love about Trucking, it's just not sustainable for me. Health/Fitness is definitely the hardest thing to get under control, but also not having the time to learn practical skills that I always wanted to, and letting the ones I do know go to waste and rust. Also, the signals...not sure how many people are affected by this, but I'm having a hard time with all the wireless crap around. Truck Stops have it, everyone has a WIFI spot in their truck, heck, even the trucks themselves have wireless computers (ELD's) inside now. Spent a night at a Terminal we have in Denver Colorado, and there was some sort of monster wireless signal interfering with my truck. When I woke up I had a migraine headache and over 300 error messages on my ELD. All that crap CANNOT be healthy for the Human brain/body. That said, I want to live how people used to live. Back when tough times made strong Men. Actual Men, not immature gamer kid-ults that get offended over another kids insults online. Thanks for the encouragement and advice though. I'm learning from as many people as I can how to be more real, writing things down, and (slowly) putting them into action. (Edit: nothing wrong with video games per se, I think they can be a lot of fun and a good investment of time in moderation, I was referring to the sort of kid-ult who's so obsessed with the digital realm that he cannot function in real life as God and Nature intended.)
I am an Ex Artic Warrior from Alaska and a candle with a lean too made of natural substances can keep you warm in the sub artic weather with some warm tea from the natural surroundings makes you realize you can live as long as you have fire and the will to figure it the f out.
i live in rural alaska, just had our first snow yesterday , in two months it will be as cold as -55f and dark all day, this place makes you realize how valuable common sense is, and learning from your mistakes is kinda hard if youre not breathing anymore.many valuable lessons to be learned here tho, i love it here.
I love hearing the stories. Everybody has seen the specials on BUDS, but the more obscure stuff is what i find interesting. I can listen to stuff from all kinds of vets too.
I thought I was bad to the bone having backpacked thousands of miles and camped solo hundreds of times down in the lower 48 in super rugged and super cold areas… Then I moved to the interior of Alaska at age 30 and I realized I didnt know a damn thing. In 5 years of living here I’ve learned more about true wilderness than I could have in 10 lifetimes down in the 48. Alaska is just a totally different monster.
Alaska is badass truly the last frontier. I would like to move there and give it a try. My brother lived in palmer but got depression from the darkness and cold packed up and moved his family to Wisconsin. Once a moose wouldn't let him out of his front door for work till it got a face full of bear mace which did the trick
Chadd, I love how even though the SEAL pipeline is as brutal as almost anything or condition you're likely to be tested in in life, you grab on to every value each lesson has and learn/absorb all the lessons you can from them! Thank you for caring enough to pass this info and lessons on to those in life who value it, especially the young! Anyone who can't find value in your lessons, well they're beyond help at that point! I love your channel and attitude about life and thank you for your service! You continue to serve every day!
Kodiak would be miserable, but fun. I used to go hiking at 11,000 feet in Cripple Creek, CO. Duck hunting trips in Texas in February, and it is 4° and wet. Fucking sucks but you find out what's possible.
That is so hard core, much respect for our military and SEALS. As a professional Firefighter in Cold New England weather I remember a time it was so cold. After the fire is out you have to pick up thousands of feet of fire hose. Everything turns to ice and your bones hurt from being in a burning building to freezing cold weather. Your coat and pants are ice and the couplings are frozen and won't screw back together. So you stick the end of the fire hose in the exhaust pipe to heat it up to screw the hose couplings back together. After 25 years I retired in 2015 and never spent a winter in the cold again, from Florida to South East Asia my butt is always somewhere warm Hee he. God bless the men and women of our military and thank you for everything and your sacrifice.
I spent 10 years of my life in Alaska, come back from overseas, and was working El Paso sector USBP. Applied for Alaska state Troopers and border patrol, and got hired by the Fed first, and was in Alaska when I got offered the job. Quit the day Obama was sworn in, drove back to IL bought a Toyota truck with a topper, and drove to Alaska in February, lived out of that truck for 3 months and went everywhere in that state. I love that state and it’s no joke, it will kill your ass if you’re not prepared. So many real life memories there and, I will go back when we are free to travel again.
Half of the scoutmasters for my troop were SEALs at that school. We learned things that we weren't supposed to be taught. Mitch Croft was a hell of a guy to learn from.
Wow, I really enjoy your channel here on 3 of 7! I thought I had experienced some cold weather survival training as a US Marine, since I went to Bridgeport and their cold weather package. And while it was cold and challenging there, it's nothing compared to what you experienced. Especially your last recollection of that 5 minute water immersion. I can't imagine that. Kudos to you, your service history and Christian testimony.
A friend of mine Tyler Black that has unfortunately passed was telling me how he did cold weather survival in Kodiak with the teams. I always enjoyed talking with him about what little he actually could talk about to a civilian. Great guy that sadly passed away to early in life. Keep doing what you do and we enjoy watching your videos.
Really dig your videos. In the Canadian infantry you have to do basic winter warfare training and, if you're lucky, there's an advanced winter warfare course. All the stuff the infantry does in the summer, including navigation by day and night, digging trenches and your fighting hole at night, but with snowshoes, sleds with all the platoon's gear (heavy weapons, ammo, food, 10-man arctic tents, stoves and fuel), and minus 30 degree weather that freezes the ground, and freezes you if you don't dress properly. Oh, and you still have your rucksack on your back, loaded down with even more weapons, ammo, food and your sleeping kit. Pretty much everyone on my course got snow-blindness to varying degrees. Winter warfare sucks Frosty's balls, but it makes you a better soldier. 🥶
Anyone who’s been in a severe snow storm even for a short time realises how frightening and dangerous it can quickly become. If you don’t have the correct clothing you can quickly become hypothermic. Staying dry is absolutely key.
In Arkansas in 09 we had a horrible ice storm. The entire town of about 70k people was out of power for about a week, some longer. It got so cold we had to wear coats inside while covered up with blankets.
I was in the 101st in 1983 we were sent to fort wainwright in January, it was -73 windchill. After a week of getting our gear and some instructions we lived outside for th next 8 weeks. We would set up these big octagon tents and soon as one was erected the national guard unt that was “training “ with us would run over us to pile up inside the tents and all I heard was medic! Medic! Anyhoo we set up tents for the entire day freezing to death while all the weekend warriors filled up tent after tent
Welcome to the real world brother. Kodiak is awesome. Normal stuff for us Alaskans. Glad you got the experience. Makes sense seeing your up to date videos and live feeds.
A knaptent and a paraffin stove was a great part of my national service, Any bad weather, sleet, snow or ice cold rain. The platoon knapped their patch of tent together(that was a hassle) and voila, we had warm shelter to dry wet gear and maintain weapons. That maneuver was called "Texas- Sibir". Guns operative first, environment second.
I bought a table shuffleboard for my game room, it's the one game everyone loves no matter age or skill levels that you can play with children or make it a drinking game, darts, and pingpong table is a close second
i knew a Navy SEAL. he was one of the shortest men to complete training. but as you've said; heart, integrity and mental determination is what makes a man, not his physical size. he had many great accomplishments in his life and was one of the most loved and respected men i've ever met.
Man I did Arctic Warfare training in the Northern tip of Alaska and it was always 20 degrees below zero and the snow was damn near waist deep. It truly sucked but it was good training!
Seals immerse themselves in ice water just short of limb amputation. I tested myself with a cold shower in 25 degree outside weather for as long as i could to see how much i could take. I made it 45 minutes and could barely stand up. Took me over 2 hours to warm up. As brutal as that was i didn't even come close to limb amputation just severe shivering. The iron mental resilience and toughness of these warriors i don't and never will have
I've spent a lot of time in Alaska and can definitely relate to the cold hands. We were on Nancy Lake in December and went out to do some target shooting. In 20 below weather, it doesn't take long for your fingers to start freezing when you take your gloves off. I was so cold that I couldn't aim my rifle and wasn't even sure if I could pull the trigger. Anyway, love your stories and your devotion to the Lord. God bless you brother!
Such awesome memories being stationed in AK. Arctic training center, eielson AFB airfield seizure jumps, malamute drop zone prior to expansion when all we had was c-130. Cold is never fun, cold and sweating your tail off conducting land navigation in snow shoes or cross country skis is another level when you grow up in the hot humid south. Great stories and bringing back some great memories.
Cool video man! I enjoy your story telling. I was an FMF Corpsman and did CWST at Bridgeport, CA and Ft Drum, NY. I can relate to being as cold as you were after the dip in the water. God Bless
Great stuff senor. Alaska is no joke. THE coldest I have EVER been and can still feel to this day is from when I was 5 years old in Fairbanks. It was during break-up (springtime for the lower 48 crowd) and I was out screwing around in the woods with only my break-up boots (knee high rubber boots), jeans, sweatshirt and my waffle long johns on. Break-up in Alaska is a muddy, sloppy, icy, watery, snowy mess. I was on my way home and had to cross a ditch. The ditch was full of water and ice. I didn't think it was that deep and WOWEE was I wrong. I sank like a rock and was INSTANTLY soaked and frozen to the bone. I couldn't breathe from being cold shocked like that but somehow by the Grace of the Almighty I crawled out of that icy, watery ditch. I sat down, took my break-up boots off to dump the water out, put them back on and started the long walk home. I just instinctively knew that I couldn't stop and had to keep walking no matter what. You are 100% correct on every part of your body being in pain when you're frozen like that. I showed up at the back door frozen purple and my mom freaking out. She stripped me down and stuck me in a tub of the most heavenly hot water. God bless you mom, RIP.
Great story telling, thank you! “Cold” memories you never forget!!! I smile every time I think of mine and I too feel blessed to have had those experiences. Great character builders that never leave you. -Minty
Great video! I've met a couple guys who were Navy SEALs and I've heard some of their tales of the various stages of the path taken to eventually become SEALs. I hear in your voice the same conviction they had when they told their personal stories. The only issue I had with this video was that you actually watched curling that was televised from the winter Olympics but it sounded like you said curdling (which is a process used in the production of things like cheese curd or tofu). The reason I noticed the difference was that my mother was a fan of the sport. I could be mistaken in what I head but I don't believe I was.
I was station in the coast guard on that very base. I used to see you guys drive around a in a camo Ford Bronco that said US Navy on the side. We used to watch you also go by in the boats to the other side of the island. For the cold weather drop off. This was way back in 92"
I would have never been able to cut it ! I have Raynodes Syndrome where thr circulation in my fingers and toes go numb in just mild cold weather. When I served in the Navy it was always in Asia or the Phillipines nice warm climates. You're a Hell of a Operator to have to made it through my friend.
Yep. Staying dry, feet dry, core temp normal is a thing. Many times we were doing electrical construction work before they got the roof on. Muck boots are a must. Building Matsushita RnD for Indy cars was a lake the whole time. Cinder blocks and 2x12s to the container was a slippery tight rope act, guys would slip and splash. oy. Lake Matsushita. Everyone was cold and wet and getting hit with electricity from the generator operating power tools.
Chadd, I have lived in the northeast and have spent many a day in the woods hunting in zero and subzero temperatures a day at a time, I thought that was tough, I don't know how in the hell, you guys did it, oh yeah you're a "SEAL" Oustanding,.....your stories crack me up !!!
Just found the channel, awesome stories! I grew up on Kodiak, usually would see the SEAL boats halibut fishing at bouy 4.. and hearing big fish hit with a burst of full auto before hauling in the boat.
It's said that "THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING " this training has no doubt made you a stronger person. It has tested your learned skills, your self strength, and your faith in your higher power. Feel proud. Not everyone can lead that life.
Just discovered your channel, what a great find! You’re great on camera, have a ton of stories/wisdom, and just come off as a cool dude. Also, many thanks for your service.
I was stationed at Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks in the 559th combat engineers. Our winter indoctrination required us to sleep overnight in a lean we constructed to below 25 degrees below zero. We had double arctic bags. We also did long range patrols in the Yukon Command Maneuver Area. There were not even maps of the area at that time. We had to leave the vehicles running because if you shut them off, they would not restart. Also did ski training at Ft. Greeley Alaska. Our company built ice bridges across the Tanana river.
Skiing on the little hill on greely or down to black rapids? I used to fire up the greely rope lift when no one was around and have the place to my self as a smart ass high school kid ‘90-92
What is interesting to me is that Cold weather training was one of the most brutal yet it seems like you have made Kodiak your home. 👍 I heard Alaska is some of the most beautiful country one will ever witness but not sure I would be up to the winter"s there. ✌️
I LOVE Kodiak AK, if I could afford to live there, I would! I've been over just about every inch of AK in my 15 years there, Kodiak is my fav! And boy do they have some big brown bear!
Yup - burning down your shelter a pretty usual occurrence during the aircrew survival training course I did lol. Making that nice warm fire at the entrance seems like a great idea at the time.....
Thank you for this episode, Chadd. It reveals the depth of commitment to surviving SEAL training that is required to succeed and earn the Trident. It also reveals the unbridled passionate love of liberty and our once great nation that every SEAL has burning within their hearts. I have camped at -20F in the Boundary Waters in winter. -20F is (to me) where the cold starts to take the fun out of it. I cannot freaking imagine the cold and the pain you and your fellow SEAL candidates had to endure during this cold weather training on Kodiak Island in January. I did not have to sit in ice water for five minutes and then try to erect my tent and then rewarm my body. That must have been hellishly painful!!
What makes Alaska a Challenge now is the fact so many birds have died from bird flu there goes all the indicators that birds provide. Going for walk in areas where once Chick-a-dee's, mag pies and ravens flourished. Now, the trees have all gone eerily silent.
Was stationed at ft Wainwright. Was always surprised that seals would come up there in the summer to train. Asked one of em why they didn't come up there in the winter. He said why would they want to it's cold then. Hollywood boys.
Awhile back, Coast Guard AST's had to take that course. I served 23 years in USCG and another Coastie that I know was on a SEAL team. Many people don't know but there have been a few Coasties that became SEALs.
Living in far north of America I can relate. Excellent survival routines like this, educates you for all the things you rely on, and need, to make it through cold arduous evolutions of cold weather survival. Great video brother.
My unit went through SERE at Fort Bragg run by the 5th SFG. I was 82nd Airborne at the time. There were more survival training missions later in my career while with the 10th Mountain. Winter training in the Adirondack Mountains was brutal.
Chad, I lived on Kodiak from 1988-1989. You are exactly right. Rain, sleet, and/or snow is the norm for Kodiak in the winter. My father lived in Kotzebue AK (90 miles inside the Artic Circle) for 5 years. Pretty cold days and nights.
As an avid winter camper I try to leave my mistakes in my camping videos. I was roasted online about my lack of subzero fire starting skills. People don’t grasp how hard it is to do anything much less handle ropes /strings / lines when your fingers are just frozen lol I’m a fat and husky human maybe better suited for cold weather, heck I think my junk is fully retractable when it’s super cold and wet outside. Lol I can’t imagine doing Alaska with minimal gear, great stories. I enjoy your content. GMG 89-93
Long story short kept hollering after 20 or 30 min went by a man came by to see what I was screaming about help and every curse word I could think of as I remember I had to hold on side of boat while going to my camp about a half mile to shore,also remember warming up was very painful got in shower tried warm water it was like fire even the cold tap water seemed hot then finally put dry clothes on and stood by heater most of the day then I was so sleepy
You know, when doing a snowmobile recovery, under the ice, at 10,000 ft, I know what your version of cold is. We started at8 a.m. and had to to 10 miles into to back woods to get to the lake. It was a very cold and long trip before we even got there. We had our drysuites on but it did not matter. My Aga froze up under the ice at 30 ft thanks to the neglect of the dive captain cleaning it properly( that turned into a huge issue, but a story for another time), as I was the training Lt at the time and was unaware of the equipments unauthorized use by thar individual. The ride back after the succesful recovery was as the sun was going down. 10 miles of pure hell. It was all part of a rocky mountain search and recue team and like you, the stories are unreal, but very real. Thank you si much for taking the time to share your experiences. I never made it back to Buds but will forever be a SEAL at heart. I have tried to accomplish everything I could in the civilian life to put all of what my buddies in the teams told me and showed me. I was even able to be invited onto the Underwater recovery and investigation team called the "Trident Foundation" and performed many missions all over the country. I would really like to one day find the moment to be in one of your classes. The boat you see in my i.d. is one of three in Baja and so the story goes. My training camp in Loreto was named Water Warriors, and one day, when the world stops burning, I will start it up again. I am in AZ now helping my son build his dream property on 10 acers. It all takes time, as he too is a Navy veteran. One of my passions is helping Vets. Www.veteranshealthsupplements.com. Great work on all you have done and are doing!!!
At one time in my life i was part of secret laundry detail for the salvation Army. SUD/S class 165. The winter class of 2001 hell week was miserable. They had us scrubbing pants on wash boards out in the cold. We had to learn the difference between washing detergent and fabric softeners in the cold rain... Refined me into the hardened clothes washer I am today.
In desert storm my platoon shared a 5 gallon tub that we used to wash clothes and take ho baths out of. We were vehicle maintance and you just can't scrub out grease in a little tub with cold water. And the best was when you hung your clothes to dry and dust storm would come along and coat everthing in fine sand...sigh...I'm still picking sand out my hair.
We all been to the Sally bro no big deal.
That's good for the resume for sure. You could make a whole section titled mental toughness.
I can't imagine doing laundry.
Got eeeeeeeeem
My Father was in Alaska for Cold Weather Warfare Training in the late '60s. He was Army, SF.
He's told me about climbing out of glacier cracks without help. He had to use ropes around his feet "raise left foot hold, he'd step up, raise right foot hold, step up. So cold your spit freezes and shatters before it hits the ground. Sure do miss my Dad. He passed last fall. At 77 years old. He was what you'd call a naturally gifted man. Everything just came easy to him. My hats off to you guys. Thank you for being you. Very grateful to live in the greatest country in the world!
Cheers from Alaska Tonsina Alaska
Sorry for your loss bro
I lived in Kodiak for a little bit back in the day and remember one night I was at the harbor and saw some guys I assumed were the seals training zipping out into the dark on a black zodiac type of boat. Just seeing that gave me goose bumps and thought how tough, brave and smart y'all are. To me it was an honor to see it.
I was born and raised in Alaska down by Kenai. And my dad was with a reconnaissance unit between FT. Rich and Elmendorf 85-91. He always hammered in the importance of having a winter kit in your car pretty much all the time. Even if it’s a sleeping bag, hat, and a candy bar. Because being cold and miserable in training is one thing. But in the real world it’s life and death.
I was there with your dad probably across the street. I was in 4/11 Field Artillery Airborne
I hated Kodiak in winter while I was stationed there, brutal weather, lacking sun and stuck on an island away from civilization. 22 years later I look at it with fondness and how it helped shape my as a young man.
Semper Paratus!!
I really am enjoying all your content and letting it influence my present life just as Kodiak did.
i tell anyone who's a city kid...go to Alaska and find work for a couple months, you'll come back a better man...simple as that.
@@johhnyytwotime510 this is something that I definitely want (need) to do. Modern people (myself absolutely included) are soft. Far too soft. And I hate it.
@@connorbaz5980 First I wanna say I respect your honesty, but there's no rush from my statement. Gradually you'll find something that's Challenging in your path of life that's either gonna make you or break you as a man, and its for you to decide how you Follow through. Then you'll realize what kind of men you are. The fact that you're honest with yourself and know you need to do something to get out of your comfort zone tells me you're gonna be just Ok, just never give up.
@@johhnyytwotime510 that's definitely a struggle for me. Jumping in way too fast because I feel like I'm out of time. I absolutely need to learn how to pace myself better. I grew up all outdoors, working from dawn to dusk doing anything from landscaping to logging in my later teenage years, but I've just fallen so far. I've always looked up to Tough Men, and I've wanted to serve in the military since I was a kid. That's a goal I have for the near future, and due to the success of some others my age, it's definitely within reach if I give it all I got.
I'm a trucker now though, and although there's things I love about Trucking, it's just not sustainable for me. Health/Fitness is definitely the hardest thing to get under control, but also not having the time to learn practical skills that I always wanted to, and letting the ones I do know go to waste and rust. Also, the signals...not sure how many people are affected by this, but I'm having a hard time with all the wireless crap around. Truck Stops have it, everyone has a WIFI spot in their truck, heck, even the trucks themselves have wireless computers (ELD's) inside now. Spent a night at a Terminal we have in Denver Colorado, and there was some sort of monster wireless signal interfering with my truck. When I woke up I had a migraine headache and over 300 error messages on my ELD. All that crap CANNOT be healthy for the Human brain/body.
That said, I want to live how people used to live. Back when tough times made strong Men. Actual Men, not immature gamer kid-ults that get offended over another kids insults online.
Thanks for the encouragement and advice though. I'm learning from as many people as I can how to be more real, writing things down, and (slowly) putting them into action.
(Edit: nothing wrong with video games per se, I think they can be a lot of fun and a good investment of time in moderation, I was referring to the sort of kid-ult who's so obsessed with the digital realm that he cannot function in real life as God and Nature intended.)
Semper Paratus Mate. Kodiak Air Sta. 1991-93!
True blooded Alaskan Indian here. Right on Chadd . Cheers from Alaska 💪🇺🇸
I am an Ex Artic Warrior from Alaska and a candle with a lean too made of natural substances can keep you warm in the sub artic weather with some warm tea from the natural surroundings makes you realize you can live as long as you have fire and the will to figure it the f out.
i live in rural alaska, just had our first snow yesterday , in two months it will be as cold as -55f and dark all day, this place makes you realize how valuable common sense is, and learning from your mistakes is kinda hard if youre not breathing anymore.many valuable lessons to be learned here tho, i love it here.
Yup Alaska should be required for all humanity to weed out STUPID.
I love hearing the stories. Everybody has seen the specials on BUDS, but the more obscure stuff is what i find interesting. I can listen to stuff from all kinds of vets too.
I thought I was bad to the bone having backpacked thousands of miles and camped solo hundreds of times down in the lower 48 in super rugged and super cold areas… Then I moved to the interior of Alaska at age 30 and I realized I didnt know a damn thing. In 5 years of living here I’ve learned more about true wilderness than I could have in 10 lifetimes down in the 48. Alaska is just a totally different monster.
Alaska is badass truly the last frontier. I would like to move there and give it a try. My brother lived in palmer but got depression from the darkness and cold packed up and moved his family to Wisconsin. Once a moose wouldn't let him out of his front door for work till it got a face full of bear mace which did the trick
Yes it is.
Lessons are not always easy but the experience is ever lasting.
Chadd, I love how even though the SEAL pipeline is as brutal as almost anything or condition you're likely to be tested in in life, you grab on to every value each lesson has and learn/absorb all the lessons you can from them! Thank you for caring enough to pass this info and lessons on to those in life who value it, especially the young! Anyone who can't find value in your lessons, well they're beyond help at that point! I love your channel and attitude about life and thank you for your service! You continue to serve every day!
Kodiak would be miserable, but fun. I used to go hiking at 11,000 feet in Cripple Creek, CO. Duck hunting trips in Texas in February, and it is 4° and wet. Fucking sucks but you find out what's possible.
Not enough exclamation points
Delta
@@DurinThe_Deathless!!!!!!!! Mak'n up lost time. :)
That is so hard core, much respect for our military and SEALS.
As a professional Firefighter in Cold New England weather I remember a time it was so cold. After the fire is out you have to pick up thousands of feet of fire hose. Everything turns to ice and your bones hurt from being in a burning building to freezing cold weather. Your coat and pants are ice and the couplings are frozen and won't screw back together. So you stick the end of the fire hose in the exhaust pipe to heat it up to screw the hose couplings back together. After 25 years I retired in 2015 and never spent a winter in the cold again, from Florida to South East Asia my butt is always somewhere warm Hee he. God bless the men and women of our military and thank you for everything and your sacrifice.
I spent 10 years of my life in Alaska, come back from overseas, and was working El Paso sector USBP. Applied for Alaska state Troopers and border patrol, and got hired by the Fed first, and was in Alaska when I got offered the job. Quit the day Obama was sworn in, drove back to IL bought a Toyota truck with a topper, and drove to Alaska in February, lived out of that truck for 3 months and went everywhere in that state. I love that state and it’s no joke, it will kill your ass if you’re not prepared. So many real life memories there and, I will go back when we are free to travel again.
In the topper you didn't have issues with humidity accumulating into condensation from your breathe?
@@Zack-lq9tb I left the windows on both dudes cracked for ventilation.
Half of the scoutmasters for my troop were SEALs at that school. We learned things that we weren't supposed to be taught. Mitch Croft was a hell of a guy to learn from.
Wow, I really enjoy your channel here on 3 of 7! I thought I had experienced some cold weather survival training as a US Marine, since I went to Bridgeport and their cold weather package. And while it was cold and challenging there, it's nothing compared to what you experienced. Especially your last recollection of that 5 minute water immersion. I can't imagine that. Kudos to you, your service history and Christian testimony.
Curr-delling 😂 lmfao. CURLING my boiiii
A friend of mine Tyler Black that has unfortunately passed was telling me how he did cold weather survival in Kodiak with the teams. I always enjoyed talking with him about what little he actually could talk about to a civilian. Great guy that sadly passed away to early in life. Keep doing what you do and we enjoy watching your videos.
Tack!
Really dig your videos. In the Canadian infantry you have to do basic winter warfare training and, if you're lucky, there's an advanced winter warfare course. All the stuff the infantry does in the summer, including navigation by day and night, digging trenches and your fighting hole at night, but with snowshoes, sleds with all the platoon's gear (heavy weapons, ammo, food, 10-man arctic tents, stoves and fuel), and minus 30 degree weather that freezes the ground, and freezes you if you don't dress properly. Oh, and you still have your rucksack on your back, loaded down with even more weapons, ammo, food and your sleeping kit. Pretty much everyone on my course got snow-blindness to varying degrees. Winter warfare sucks Frosty's balls, but it makes you a better soldier. 🥶
Thanks!
At least he ain’t catch his hut on fire, no wait did he?😅 10:01
Love hearing your stories. More of them, and I'm sure everyone would agree.
One of my favorite things is seeing and hearing the experience people have in this great state
Anyone who’s been in a severe snow storm even for a short time realises how frightening and dangerous it can quickly become. If you don’t have the correct clothing you can quickly become hypothermic. Staying dry is absolutely key.
In Arkansas in 09 we had a horrible ice storm. The entire town of about 70k people was out of power for about a week, some longer. It got so cold we had to wear coats inside while covered up with blankets.
I have lived in Kodiak my whole life, still live here and am raising my family here!!
I was in the 101st in 1983 we were sent to fort wainwright in January, it was -73 windchill. After a week of getting our gear and some instructions we lived outside for th next 8 weeks. We would set up these big octagon tents and soon as one was erected the national guard unt that was “training “ with us would run over us to pile up inside the tents and all I heard was medic! Medic! Anyhoo we set up tents for the entire day freezing to death while all the weekend warriors filled up tent after tent
Three years in the 10th Mountain Division at Ft Drum NY, the whole time was cold weather training lol
Welcome to the real world brother. Kodiak is awesome. Normal stuff for us Alaskans. Glad you got the experience. Makes sense seeing your up to date videos and live feeds.
The “I Love Me Binder” is something everyone should have, it might bring some value no matter what a person does.
I have a "I love me" wall 😂
A knaptent and a paraffin stove was a great part of my national service, Any bad weather, sleet, snow or ice cold rain. The platoon knapped their patch of tent together(that was a hassle) and voila, we had warm shelter to dry wet gear and maintain weapons. That maneuver was called "Texas- Sibir". Guns operative first, environment second.
I bought a table shuffleboard for my game room, it's the one game everyone loves no matter age or skill levels that you can play with children or make it a drinking game, darts, and pingpong table is a close second
Man I felt cold just listening to your stories.
i knew a Navy SEAL. he was one of the shortest men to complete training. but as you've said; heart, integrity and mental determination is what makes a man, not his physical size. he had many great accomplishments in his life and was one of the most loved and respected men i've ever met.
Midgets unite !!!!!! Hooooyahhh!!
@@letsgetit90 your response shows just how small a person you are.
Pocket seal
Smurfs rule
Man I did Arctic Warfare training in the Northern tip of Alaska and it was always 20 degrees below zero and the snow was damn near waist deep. It truly sucked but it was good training!
We do cold dipping for fun and health. Cheers from Alaska
Seals immerse themselves in ice water just short of limb amputation. I tested myself with a cold shower in 25 degree outside weather for as long as i could to see how much i could take. I made it 45 minutes and could barely stand up. Took me over 2 hours to warm up. As brutal as that was i didn't even come close to limb amputation just severe shivering. The iron mental resilience and toughness of these warriors i don't and never will have
I've spent a lot of time in Alaska and can definitely relate to the cold hands. We were on Nancy Lake in December and went out to do some target shooting. In 20 below weather, it doesn't take long for your fingers to start freezing when you take your gloves off. I was so cold that I couldn't aim my rifle and wasn't even sure if I could pull the trigger.
Anyway, love your stories and your devotion to the Lord. God bless you brother!
Curling prob one of my faves too..
Such awesome memories being stationed in AK. Arctic training center, eielson AFB airfield seizure jumps, malamute drop zone prior to expansion when all we had was c-130. Cold is never fun, cold and sweating your tail off conducting land navigation in snow shoes or cross country skis is another level when you grow up in the hot humid south. Great stories and bringing back some great memories.
Cool video man! I enjoy your story telling. I was an FMF Corpsman and did CWST at Bridgeport, CA and Ft Drum, NY. I can relate to being as cold as you were after the dip in the water. God Bless
Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge and Thank You Chadd for your service!!!
Hey Chadd, I love hearing your stories, this is my new favorite channel.
Great stuff senor. Alaska is no joke. THE coldest I have EVER been and can still feel to this day is from when I was 5 years old in Fairbanks. It was during break-up (springtime for the lower 48 crowd) and I was out screwing around in the woods with only my break-up boots (knee high rubber boots), jeans, sweatshirt and my waffle long johns on. Break-up in Alaska is a muddy, sloppy, icy, watery, snowy mess. I was on my way home and had to cross a ditch. The ditch was full of water and ice. I didn't think it was that deep and WOWEE was I wrong. I sank like a rock and was INSTANTLY soaked and frozen to the bone. I couldn't breathe from being cold shocked like that but somehow by the Grace of the Almighty I crawled out of that icy, watery ditch. I sat down, took my break-up boots off to dump the water out, put them back on and started the long walk home. I just instinctively knew that I couldn't stop and had to keep walking no matter what. You are 100% correct on every part of your body being in pain when you're frozen like that. I showed up at the back door frozen purple and my mom freaking out. She stripped me down and stuck me in a tub of the most heavenly hot water. God bless you mom, RIP.
That reminds me of a story my Dad in Special Forces had to cross a river while it's snowing, they strip down to cross & keep gear dry
Chadd, it was awesome! Former Marine here, but never had cold climate training. Just 8-weeks of MCRD in the 1970.
8weeks?
Jan where I live, its -12⁰ to -30⁰f. Thats the high for the day. Mess w ballistics? Under statement. Home of 110th Green mtn boys.
Great story telling, thank you!
“Cold” memories you never forget!!!
I smile every time I think of mine and I too feel blessed to have had those experiences. Great character builders that never leave you. -Minty
Great video! I've met a couple guys who were Navy SEALs and I've heard some of their tales of the various stages of the path taken to eventually become SEALs. I hear in your voice the same conviction they had when they told their personal stories. The only issue I had with this video was that you actually watched curling that was televised from the winter Olympics but it sounded like you said curdling (which is a process used in the production of things like cheese curd or tofu). The reason I noticed the difference was that my mother was a fan of the sport. I could be mistaken in what I head but I don't believe I was.
I was station in the coast guard on that very base. I used to see you guys drive around a in a camo Ford Bronco that said US Navy on the side.
We used to watch you also go by in the boats to the other side of the island. For the cold weather drop off. This was way back in 92"
I would have never been able to cut it ! I have Raynodes Syndrome where thr circulation in my fingers and toes go numb in just mild cold weather. When I served in the Navy it was always in Asia or the Phillipines nice warm climates. You're a Hell of a Operator to have to made it through my friend.
I was stationed in FT. Wainwright, AK... us army infantry in AK trains everyday outside ...
I was stationed with the first infantry division for 3 years in Germany. I came from Alabama I know some of the cold you are referring too.👍
I was in the 11th ACR, with the 4/11 air squadron in Fulda, Germany. Very hot and humid summers and very cold winters for sure.
how anyone can survive seal training is beyond me. well done sir.
Loved the flaming debris hut. A country boy should have known to build that fire out a few feet.
No matter how bad it is Kodiak has the best beer.lol
Thanks from a fellow American! I only started a small construction company nothing like you did!
Yep. Staying dry, feet dry, core temp normal is a thing. Many times we were doing electrical construction work before they got the roof on. Muck boots are a must. Building Matsushita RnD for Indy cars was a lake the whole time. Cinder blocks and 2x12s to the container was a slippery tight rope act, guys would slip and splash. oy. Lake Matsushita. Everyone was cold and wet and getting hit with electricity from the generator operating power tools.
Have you been the UDT-SEAL Museum yet where NSW was created and we trained for Normandy in Fort Pierce FL? Not to be missed!
Chadd, I have lived in the northeast and have spent many a day in the woods hunting in zero and subzero temperatures a day at a time,
I thought that was tough, I don't know how in the hell, you guys did it, oh yeah you're a "SEAL" Oustanding,.....your stories crack me up !!!
Just found the channel, awesome stories! I grew up on Kodiak, usually would see the SEAL boats halibut fishing at bouy 4.. and hearing big fish hit with a burst of full auto before hauling in the boat.
Enjoyed your Kodiak experience!!
So glad i live in Florida
Me too!
I'm very much enjoying the Stories
Go Navy !!!!!!
After going to AK.. I ended up living there 9yrs lol beautiful
I was freezing just listening to this! 🥶
It's said that "THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING " this training has no doubt made you a stronger person. It has tested your learned skills, your self strength, and your faith in your higher power. Feel proud. Not everyone can lead that life.
3:27 cones and rods: it takes approx 20min to develop one's night vision after looking at white light
Just discovered your channel, what a great find! You’re great on camera, have a ton of stories/wisdom, and just come off as a cool dude.
Also, many thanks for your service.
I was stationed at Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks in the 559th combat engineers. Our winter indoctrination required us to sleep overnight in a lean we constructed to below 25 degrees below zero. We had double arctic bags. We also did long range patrols in the Yukon Command Maneuver Area. There were not even maps of the area at that time. We had to leave the vehicles running because if you shut them off, they would not restart. Also did ski training at Ft. Greeley Alaska. Our company built ice bridges across the Tanana river.
ALIT...NWTC.... Did mine in the 90's.
Yes brutal.
Many FTX's.. nothing like breaking contact wearing snowshoes.
One of my sons has my VB boots. Best cold weather boots made.
Skiing on the little hill on greely or down to black rapids? I used to fire up the greely rope lift when no one was around and have the place to my self as a smart ass high school kid ‘90-92
This is the humanizing stuff about such tough situations people love. Keep it going
Earned!!
My biggest regret is not serving but at 42 now with 6 knee surgeries know I would have been a liability.
What is interesting to me is that Cold weather training was one of the most brutal yet it seems like you have made Kodiak your home. 👍 I heard Alaska is some of the most beautiful country one will ever witness but not sure I would be up to the winter"s there. ✌️
Kodiak isn't bad for most of hte winter. The big storms that come ashore though... that's some scary stuff
GOD Bless You Christian Brother. Thank You for your Stories of being a Warrior.
Chad I’m so glad I came across you on here ! I’ve been watching you ( catching up ) man I wana meet you one day !!
I LOVE Kodiak AK, if I could afford to live there, I would! I've been over just about every inch of AK in my 15 years there, Kodiak is my fav! And boy do they have some big brown bear!
😂 still dark at 10am....yep welcome to Alaska
Yup - burning down your shelter a pretty usual occurrence during the aircrew survival training course I did lol. Making that nice warm fire at the entrance seems like a great idea at the time.....
Thank you for this episode, Chadd. It reveals the depth of commitment to surviving SEAL training that is required to succeed and earn the Trident. It also reveals the unbridled passionate love of liberty and our once great nation that every SEAL has burning within their hearts.
I have camped at -20F in the Boundary Waters in winter. -20F is (to me) where the cold starts to take the fun out of it. I cannot freaking imagine the cold and the pain you and your fellow SEAL candidates had to endure during this cold weather training on Kodiak Island in January. I did not have to sit in ice water for five minutes and then try to erect my tent and then rewarm my body. That must have been hellishly painful!!
What makes Alaska a Challenge now is the fact so many birds have died from bird flu there goes all the indicators that birds provide. Going for walk in areas where once Chick-a-dee's, mag pies and ravens flourished. Now, the trees have all gone eerily silent.
awesomeness!
Loved Alaska, FT Wainwright 2006-2009
Was stationed at ft Wainwright. Was always surprised that seals would come up there in the summer to train. Asked one of em why they didn't come up there in the winter. He said why would they want to it's cold then. Hollywood boys.
I lived in Kodiak in the 70's and worked in a cannery and and crab fishing boat.
I LOVE these stories. If you went on SRS and did a full story it would probably be a great listen
Rumor has it that the Coast Guard runs the Arctic survival seal training in Kodiak . Great stories..thanks .
True.
Awhile back, Coast Guard AST's had to take that course. I served 23 years in USCG and another Coastie that I know was on a SEAL team. Many people don't know but there have been a few Coasties that became SEALs.
Chadd has rewired lots of my thoughts. Nuff said
Talk about pushing to your limit.
Thank you for your endurance and your commitment.
Being hypothermic and setting up a tent is tuff! Being wet with water that cold causes you to lose function of your extremities.
Living in far north of America I can relate. Excellent survival routines like this, educates you for all the things you rely on, and need, to make it through cold arduous evolutions of cold weather survival. Great video brother.
Thanks for posting! Yeah good memories from Kodiak and Shelikof Strait. Cheers, SV Good Karma.
I was on deployment on the Eisenhower and we watched curling too! 😂😂😂😂
Loved the winter in kodiak
My unit went through SERE at Fort Bragg run by the 5th SFG. I was 82nd Airborne at the time. There were more survival training missions later in my career while with the 10th Mountain. Winter training in the Adirondack Mountains was brutal.
😍 awesome ❣️ I used to live outside Fairbanks. Love Alaska 😍🥶❣️
Chad, I lived on Kodiak from 1988-1989. You are exactly right. Rain, sleet, and/or snow is the norm for Kodiak in the winter. My father lived in Kotzebue AK (90 miles inside the Artic Circle) for 5 years. Pretty cold days and nights.
As an avid winter camper I try to leave my mistakes in my camping videos. I was roasted online about my lack of subzero fire starting skills. People don’t grasp how hard it is to do anything much less handle ropes /strings / lines when your fingers are just frozen lol I’m a fat and husky human maybe better suited for cold weather, heck I think my junk is fully retractable when it’s super cold and wet outside. Lol I can’t imagine doing Alaska with minimal gear, great stories.
I enjoy your content. GMG 89-93
These stories are awesome Chadd
Long story short kept hollering after 20 or 30 min went by a man came by to see what I was screaming about help and every curse word I could think of as I remember I had to hold on side of boat while going to my camp about a half mile to shore,also remember warming up was very painful got in shower tried warm water it was like fire even the cold tap water seemed hot then finally put dry clothes on and stood by heater most of the day then I was so sleepy
You know, when doing a snowmobile recovery, under the ice, at 10,000 ft, I know what your version of cold is. We started at8 a.m. and had to to 10 miles into to back woods to get to the lake. It was a very cold and long trip before we even got there. We had our drysuites on but it did not matter. My Aga froze up under the ice at 30 ft thanks to the neglect of the dive captain cleaning it properly( that turned into a huge issue, but a story for another time), as I was the training Lt at the time and was unaware of the equipments unauthorized use by thar individual. The ride back after the succesful recovery was as the sun was going down. 10 miles of pure hell. It was all part of a rocky mountain search and recue team and like you, the stories are unreal, but very real. Thank you si much for taking the time to share your experiences. I never made it back to Buds but will forever be a SEAL at heart. I have tried to accomplish everything I could in the civilian life to put all of what my buddies in the teams told me and showed me. I was even able to be invited onto the Underwater recovery and investigation team called the "Trident Foundation" and performed many missions all over the country. I would really like to one day find the moment to be in one of your classes. The boat you see in my i.d. is one of three in Baja and so the story goes. My training camp in Loreto was named Water Warriors, and one day, when the world stops burning, I will start it up again. I am in AZ now helping my son build his dream property on 10 acers. It all takes time, as he too is a Navy veteran. One of my passions is helping Vets. Www.veteranshealthsupplements.com. Great work on all you have done and are doing!!!