Conducting clandestine missions behind enemy lines, capturing enemy targets and intelligence against impossible odds to bringing a threatening act of sea piracy to resolution in the blink of an eye is only the beginning of being a Navy Seal. Being a Navy Seal is known to be physically and mentally demanding training in the military and senior Daniel McCaffrey said he’s up for the challenge. Half way through his sophomore year, McCaffrey knew he wanted to end up in the military as an officer. It was not until his junior year when he realized becoming a Navy Seal was what he wanted to do.
“It drives me to do something special and be an important part of our country,” McCaffrey said. “Sitting in an office for a few years makes me feels like I’m just doing stuff for myself instead of helping others. Once I’m a Navy Seal, I’ll be helping everybody and not just myself.”
McCaffrey received his acceptance letter to the Naval Academy last summer. Once accepted, McCaffrey attended seminars where he was placed into companies, platoons and squads. He became close to his comrades’ and has kept in touch during the summer.
“It’s kind of cool having a bunch of people you know always have your back and can always talk to,” McCaffrey said. “We did everything from eating, to working out and going to classes together. We basically lived the academy life.”
The wrestling teams enables McCaffrey to drive himself to maintain a mental toughness which takes a huge part in getting into Seal training.
“It helps me get into shape which is so vital in becoming a Navy Seal,” McCaffrey said “It takes a lot of determination because being a Navy Seal is extremely competitive.”
The training McCaffrey will have to endure will consist of six months of preparation for extreme physical and mental challenges of basic underwater demolition, Seal Buds school and parachute jump school that will increase physical shape and confidence that will help him succeed. On June 28, McCaffrey will leave for Annapolis MD, where he will stay for four years until he graduates. When this is over, McCaffrey will then go into the military.
“‘The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday’ is the Navy motto that represents the next day will be even harder,” McCaffrey said. “It’s going to be a long six months in hell I can tell you that.”
