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Marco Lemon

Ms. Clark

ENGW1111

27 October 2023

David Goggins: A diamond in the Battlefield

In a world filled with headlines and Hollywood portrayals that often misrepresent the

military, a deeper look into the lives of exceptional individuals can reveal the true character

of those who serve. Misconceptions and stereotypes about the military, caused by a mixture

of popular culture, historical narratives, and limited personal experiences, have long clouded

the public’s perception of the armed forces. Yet, if we look beyond these preconceived

notions, we find stories that challenge these stereotypes, stories that redefine the very essence

of military service. Stories about people who defy the meaning of who a soldier can be The

world of research and academic inquiry has not explored deeply into the misconceptions and

stereotypes surrounding the military. Studies have consistently shown that popular portrayals

of soldiers often fall short of capturing the complexity and diversity within their ranks. This is

something that is gone over in Ethics and the Twenty-First Century Military Professional,

written by Timothy J. Demy. In his work, the researcher challenges the idea that soldiers are

cold-hearted killers while also denouncing the expectation that is put on them to be ethical

while accomplishing their duties. “Yet it is precisely when that realm [moral values]

intersects with the experience of actual warfare that military professionals are called on to

maintain the high level of trust given to them by the citizens of their nations. They must be as

ethical as they are competent. America’s citizens expect members of the military profession

to lead and operate with a strong ethical compass(Demy, 1). The portrayals that were

denounced here tend to emphasize the physical and strategic aspects of military life while

overlooking the equally important dimensions of resilience, adaptability, and unwavering

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determination while also retaining one’s humanity. This incomplete narrative has given rise

to stereotypes that do a disservice to the dedicated individuals who make profound sacrifices

for their countries.

Nevertheless, in the dimly lit corner of a quiet gym, the clinking of iron plates mixes

with the sound of huffing and puffing. Sweating profusely, a man relentlessly pushes himself

to the limit, his determination like a fire in his eyes. This man is David Goggins, a living

embodiment of resilience and a prime example of the unyielding spirit within the military

community. His extraordinary story dispels a world of misconceptions about the military,

revealing cultural, ethical, and racial aspects that had been obscured by misunderstandings,

and demonstrating through his wisdom that a soldier, a man, can be who he wants. In this

profile essay, we will explore the extraordinary life of David Goggins, a man who has

emerged as an absolute truth amidst a sea of misconceptions about the military. Goggins is

not just another soldier; he is a living testament to the incredible human potential that can be

unlocked through unwavering commitment and resilience. A challenging childhood, ultra

marathons, and motivational speaking—these arcs of David Goggins’ life have shaped who

he is today. Through his relentless pursuit of self-improvement, Goggins challenges the

image of military personnel and encourages us to rethink what it truly means to serve one’s

country.

To begin, in order to truly appreciate David Goggins’ remarkable journey, we must

first delve into the historical context that has shaped the perception of the military in the

United States. As previously mentioned, the military has been linked with stereotypes and

myths, creating misconceptions that have left a permanent mark on society. The notion of the

military as an institution of strict conformity where individuality is removed is one such

misconception. This has had effects on the cultural, ethical, and racial diversity within the

military ranks, as these misconceptions have ruined the careers of potential servicemen and
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women, making them unable to be recognized for what they accomplished. What being a

military means at its core is to serve one’s country; people often forget that as they tend to

focus on the acts and behaviors committed by soldiers, which in people’s eyes often

overshadow their patriotism. However, with a focus on acts and behavior, this only made the

fire that eventually lit in David Goggins’ heart more apparent to the world.

The world may be full of paradoxes, but the way David Goggins goes about living his

life may be the biggest one of them all. Soldiers have historically been viewed as tough guys;

it is their essence, and it makes sense since they are the ones who will be the heroes in times

of total crisis. So, for David Goggins to stand out amongst all these people who are in better

than average physical shape and all have a minimum of will and drive in them to be the best

at serving their country, he must have something special. Well, it all lies in his mentality. As

can be seen through his numerous feats, such as completing the Navy Seal’s toughest

program, “Hell Week,” three times, David Goggins just doesn’t seem to stop. He seems to

have some sort of higher calling that forces him to continuously push forward. However, it is

simply due to the way he thinks about himself, his world, and his life. In Elizabeth Bishop’s

poem “One Art,” she describes that life is the process of learning to master the art of loss and

suffering, as these are inevitable things that people will have to face in their lives. David

Goggins has embraced this idea, as he is conscious of the fact that as his mind pushes him to

continue to suffer, he will grow stronger as well. In his renowned book Can’t Hurt Me,

Goggins puts this concept into his own words: “It’s a lot more than mind over matter. It takes

relentless self-discipline to schedule suffering into your day(Goggins, 130). With these words

in mind, Goggins’ goal of living the rest of his life constantly pushing himself past his limits

becomes apparent. This is a goal that not only proves his worth as a soldier, who is always
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willing to strive in his performance and demonstrate that humans are capable of truly growing

stronger, but it is also a way to show the world that soldiers are humans too and can thus form

their own identities, as did Goggins, and be inspirational while doing so.
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“Can’t Hurt Me”, 2020, Dosbrak

A man embarking on a 24-hour ultramarathon in scorching hot weather is subjecting

himself to an excruciatingly agonizing ordeal. As he takes his first steps onto the ground, the
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relentless sun blazes above like a deity, scorching every inch of his exposed skin. The air is

thick and suffocating, feeling like a heavy weight that clings to his sweat-drenched body.

With each stride, the man’s feet slam onto the unforgiving pavement, causing his shoes to

become ovens for his feet, as if they were slowly cooking in their own juices. His sweat pours

from every pore, but it provides no relief; instead, it mixes with the layers of sunscreen, dirt,

and salt, creating a toxic cocktail that coats his body in a repulsive sheet of dirtiness.

The heat and humidity plan to suffocate him, making every breath a wheezing gasp.

The dehydration is unreal, and his tongue feels swollen and parched, resembling the earth

beneath his feet. Every swallow is like swallowing glass, while his throat constricts like a

noose, tightening around it. His muscles ache with each step, as if lead courses through his

veins, threatening to get to them with a sharp grip. Blisters form and rupture on his skin,

leaving raw wounds, a constant reminder of the torment. His vision blurs in the heat, and his

mind becomes a hazy maze where time seems to slow to a crawl. As the hours drag on, the

man’s body becomes a battlefield of torment, and his spirit is tested to its limits. He is

trapped in a loop, a never-ending cycle of agony, as he battles the overwhelming fire,

knowing that the finish line remains a mirage in this hell. This is what David Goggins went

through November 1st 2005 when he ran in the “One Day” Race which had him run 100 miles

in 24 hours. Deciding to participate in this race meant Goggins had to push his body to an

extreme breaking point. However, completing it, which he did, would be an undeniably

extraordinary feat of endurance and athletic or physical performance. While this is impressive

in itself for pretty clear reasons, there is more importance to how this amazing feat has

inspired David Goggins’ thinking than showing the world how physically fit he is. As he has

described in one of his motivational speeches, personal experience is superior to theoretical

study when it comes to showing how one can build themselves up mentally through
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adversity. This precise form of thinking is helpful because it completely makes people rethink

their outlook on the problems and challenges they face in life. An article written by CNBC

that explores Goggins’ mentality perfectly reflects the public’s perception of his wisdom. The

article acknowledges that his mentality could “rub everybody the wrong way(Elkins, CNBC),

but that it is the only way towards success. The reason why this is meaningful is because it

reflects having to make a choice one day to better oneself and increases the ways and rate at

whichh this is done every single day. This choice can be hard to make as we live in a world

where we have access to a lot of means that ensure our comfort, but as Goggins said, it would

be a shame to die without knowing our full potential.

To conclude this profile, it is important to highlight the important roles of David

Goggins that have been developed: firstly, he excelled as a soldier, distinguishing himself as

a hero-like figure in a domain where he is ethnically considered rare. This put him forward as

a cultural inspiration and icon, and he encouraged bravery and patriotism. Secondly, he

showed the world what an incredible athlete he is, while also proving that anyone can

complete what they want to achieve. His background story of having lost 106 pounds in 3

months in order to enlist as a SEAL makes his word on this subject more legitimate, as he

showed that through effort comes results. Finally, David Goggins’ most important role is his

role as a human. His journey is one to admire, but the knowledge he has gained from it and

shared with the world is the real treasure in his case. He is the one who has shown what

humans are capable of.

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Works Cited

Demy, Timothy J. U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons | U.S. Naval War College
Research, digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=van-
beuren-les. Accessed 27 Oct. 2023.

Bishop, Elizabeth. “One Art by Elizabeth Bishop.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation,
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47536/one-art. Accessed 27 Oct. 2023.

Goggins, David. “Can’t Hurt Me Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War
Within.” Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, davidgoggins.com/book/. Accessed 27
Oct. 2023.

Dosbrak. “Cant Hurt Me .” Dosbrak.Com, www.dosbrak.com/products/cant-hurt-me-limited?

_pos=1&_sid=d4c3d458b&_ss=r. Accessed 27 Oct. 2023.

Elkins, Kathleen. “Retired Navy SEAL: This Mentality ‘rubs Everybody the Wrong Way’ but
It Led to My Success.” CNBC, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/ex-
navy-seal-david-goggins-this-mentality-led-to-my-success.html.