WEBVTT 00:00.730 --> 00:02.280 - It's important because I believe 00:02.280 --> 00:05.780 it's the first milestone that each infantry soldier 00:05.780 --> 00:08.290 should attain before progressing on. 00:08.290 --> 00:11.350 It gives them full rounded skills 00:11.350 --> 00:12.760 in their level one taskings. 00:12.760 --> 00:15.310 It really trains them to develop those taskings 00:15.310 --> 00:18.053 to create a better foundation for the rest of their career. 00:18.990 --> 00:20.990 - You know there's a lot of pressure as the rounds go by 00:20.990 --> 00:22.640 you see other troopers drop out. 00:22.640 --> 00:25.540 Who I thought was, someone who I thought was better than me. 00:25.540 --> 00:28.440 You know them going out was like kind of a shock 00:28.440 --> 00:30.870 and when they leave, they leave 00:30.870 --> 00:32.447 the pressure on my back by saying, 00:32.447 --> 00:35.290 "Hey," you know, "you're the only trooper left. 00:35.290 --> 00:37.000 You're the only five left, 00:37.000 --> 00:38.510 and as the pressure went by I feel like that 00:38.510 --> 00:41.180 actually forced me to try harder. 00:41.180 --> 00:42.350 - I feel really good. 00:42.350 --> 00:44.300 I'm really happy that I got my EOD. 00:44.300 --> 00:46.850 I mean I came into this thing like, unbranded private. 00:46.850 --> 00:50.113 Like I didn't really know much, so I'd come into CIB like, 00:50.960 --> 00:53.280 I got taught everything, like hands on 00:53.280 --> 00:56.027 with like the weapons, there's a medical lane 00:56.027 --> 00:57.693 or something like that. Like I didn't know a lot 00:57.693 --> 01:00.683 so I was learning a lot of stuff for the first time. 01:01.900 --> 01:03.130 - Well it's definitely been challenging. 01:03.130 --> 01:04.700 The constant attention to detail 01:04.700 --> 01:06.550 that is an absolute necessity. 01:06.550 --> 01:09.730 Every day I stayed back late just 01:09.730 --> 01:12.400 to make sure that I got all those details 01:12.400 --> 01:16.410 and it really paid off when it came testing day. 01:16.410 --> 01:18.390 Even though I practiced a lot before winter 01:18.390 --> 01:22.020 the actual test lane, it really drove home 01:22.020 --> 01:23.590 all those small little details. 01:23.590 --> 01:27.410 I made a few mistakes but I'm glad I made it through. 01:27.410 --> 01:29.110 - I was the first guy to cross the finish line. 01:29.110 --> 01:32.290 However, I had one of those rock climbing Korean soldiers 01:32.290 --> 01:35.030 out there keeping me on my toes the whole way, he was quick! 01:35.030 --> 01:36.180 Yeah he was quick! It's always good to 01:36.180 --> 01:37.560 have someone to push you like that. 01:37.560 --> 01:39.290 - I'm the only guy from my team, 01:39.290 --> 01:42.560 let alone the only guy from the entire SF regiment, 01:42.560 --> 01:46.078 so there was a lot of hidden pressure there. 01:46.078 --> 01:47.360 There was a lot of hidden pressure, 01:47.360 --> 01:49.230 I'm just representing not only my team, 01:49.230 --> 01:53.040 my group, but also the entire SF regiment coming out here. 01:53.040 --> 01:55.150 I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. 01:55.150 --> 01:57.680 I just kept cool, but it was, 01:57.680 --> 01:59.030 there was a lot of pressure behind it. 01:59.030 --> 02:00.950 I tried to keep my cool but yeah, it was hard. 02:00.950 --> 02:04.380 It was tough, and just having to be a good role model, 02:04.380 --> 02:08.580 not only to the lower enlisted in 02:08.580 --> 02:11.750 our army but as well as the rock soldiers. 02:11.750 --> 02:14.740 There was a lot of weight coming in as an SF guy, 02:14.740 --> 02:17.380 but the key for me was to stay calm 02:17.380 --> 02:19.863 during the situation and it worked out.