Tuesday March 5, 2013
Volume CXXXV Issue 7
Cade Courtley, former Navy Seal, speaks at President’s Speaker Series
PHOTO COURTESY SEALSURVIVAL.COM
Andrew Lichtenstein Staff Reporter
Last Wednesday, Cade Courtley, a graduate of the University of San Diego and a former Navy SEAL, spoke at Embry-Riddle about his experiences in the Navy. He also spoke about his personal views of this country and where we are headed socially, politically, globally and financially. Marc Bernier is the Special Assistant to the President for Government and Community Relations and the Moderator of the President’s Speaker Series. His first question for Courtley was “What defines Hell Week?” Courtley’s response was “The first
word.” During Hell Week, Courtley was subjected to hypothermic conditions, burned 25,000 calories a day, lost 15 pounds and was able to function on a collective total of 45 minutes of sleep. Courtley then went into a bit more detail, explaining the 36-month process to become a Navy SEAL. After basic training, a recruit goes to 7 months of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, or BUD/S. After that, the recruit goes through 6 months of advanced training. The next several months are spent training recruits for job specific duties. During this period, they may learn new languages or be selected for sniper school. Of course, rigorous physical
conditioning is a recurring part of the curriculum. The graduation rate is 15%. “I was looking for the hardest thing I could find…I never had a plan B,” Courtley said. Courtley added that the job is “95% away from home. Coincidentally, that number also happens to be the divorce rate.” Since much of what the SEALs do is classified, I asked him where the gratification is. He said that it is about his men. “To be able to plan, execute and make it back safely with all of your boys is really what it’s all about. That is enough gratification for me.” Courtley was very proud to say that he “never lost a man as a platoon leader.” The mission comes first, he said.
However, the men are a close second. After 9 years as a Navy SEAL officer, sniper, and platoon leader, Courtley decided he wanted to do something else. He left the Navy in the summer of 2001. A few months later, the towers fell. He wasn’t done just yet. After he left the Navy, Courtley decided to work for Blackwater. “I wanted to keep challenging myself. I wanted to put my skills to good use,” he said. Cade Courtley served in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, as well as several other countries around the world.... CONTINUED ON A2
to come. “The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.” – James Madison, 4th US President. On the topic of Presidents, let us address the issue of the President that is never there. It has become quite evident
that whatever passion for the position has long since escaped that embarrassingly decorated office. The head J is hardly ever seen now at student, athletic and campus events and when he is, his presence oozes insincerity and patronizing conversation. Granted, the lesser Js do put in their
time and efforts to actually show their support. They actually seem to be doing most of the work in SGA and are its current driving force. However, the lack of humbleness and graciousness in that office is stifling... CONTINUED ON A5
Opinion: ERAU “Illuminati” opposes SGA Dear SG-J, It hurts to have to address this issue in an anonymous piece, but to otherwise address these issues in a dialogue just is not possible anymore. People are tired of SGA. WE ARE ONE is tired, the administration is stagnant and change needs