I take a look around me, at all the people who are not complaining and getting the job done, which makes me stop focusing on myself and focus on them. Also, I think about the future patients I am going to have and if I have done everything I can to be prepared to save them.

I would always have some trail mix bag with me and of course a drink with electrolytes. I would eat about 6 eggs in an omelet in the morning, then snack, then lunch, and that was a big plate of salad and whatever other stuff was at the chow hall. Then a snack, then protein shake after a workout, then dinner which was chicken or steak with lots more vegetables. Lastly, a protein shake before bed and repeat.

I have absolutely seen guys who I thought would make it and did. The traits that I always see in guys who make it are, first that they are all about the team and put in all their efforts to help out with whatever they can. Second, they are always in shape and physical studs because if you can get through the smoke sessions with no problem then you can take care of your guys. Lastly, the biggest thing I see from guys is when they are able to stay calm and cool when we tell the team to start doing pool work in which they might pass out. This shows that they are 100% committed to accomplishing the mission no matter what it takes, they have burned the boats.

Obviously saving lives, as well as being the guy in charge of the team and the aircraft. It was a privilege and an honor to have such responsibilities placed in my hands at only 26 years old. I also loved the travel and the fact that every day on the job was different and exciting.

Indoc was really draining physically, and watching people I got to know really well quit was hard. Sadly it was such a huge accomplishment also. People who were way physically stronger than myself quit. Mentally the most difficult part of the pipeline after Indoc was Paramedic, it was like drinking from a fire hose, but also rewarding because medicine is the foundation of a PJ and I knew I would be learning how to make people survive otherwise unsurvivable wounds.

There are lots of countries I have been to where French is a secondary language, but I don't think the next couple wars will always be in the middle east so I would recommend learning the language that most interests you.

I have flat feet and it has never stopped me from doing whatever I need to do, in fact, I have always been a pretty fast rucker.

I always would think of the injuries as a more mechanical issue than just a person screaming and in pain. In the moment you need to do what you have to do in order to save the person’s life. So you have to put aside feelings for that time in order to get things done. After you finish the moment, you will need to speak with someone and make sure you don't let that experience seep in too deep and create a problem. At the end of the day, you just gotta make it happen.

The hardest part of leading a team is that everyone is an alpha male and has the "best way" to do things. Many times people don't know what they want and all you can do is make the best judgment possible with the information you are given and just make a decision.

I have heard of some people getting it in the military, but to be honest, I never thought about it affecting me at all. I was ready to do whatever it took to bring someone home and expose myself to those types of things because I knew the mission was about setting aside my own fears in order to bring someone back to their families.

It is good to be afraid to fail, it means you care and it will make you push yourself further because of it. When I get the feeling that I might not be extremely confident at something, I never allow myself to not do it, because that sets a mental precedent where you will allow yourself to quit spontaneously. It sounds too simple but sometimes you just need to put one foot in front of the other and get the job done even if it is not perfect.

1. Watching someone hug their family again.

2. Biggest obstacle was finding out that I am not invincible and making a lot of mistakes.

You can check out my reading list here.

No, sometimes I didn't know what I had gotten myself into. But it was all worth it in the end.

Happens all the time, there are always going to be times when you don't want to do something. That is when you have to realize you have to sacrifice short term comfort for long term goals. No one is perfect, and that doesn’t change when you become a PJ.

I wouldn’t go unless you have a full ride scholarship.

Anywhere from 400m to 1 mile depending on the workout.

It's a long application process. You can look the Interservice Physician Assistant Program online and see the requirements. I would say that unless you currently have a scholarship or are in some other way uniquely invested in your current schooling, I would recommend joining now, then doing more schooling on the military's tuition program. I think what helped me get into PA school was the experience I had in conjunction with the fact that I earned all my credits while being deployed and was successful in both aspects.

I went through the Interservice Physician Assistant program. You earn a BS degree after the first 16 months (Phase 1), then you earn a Masters Degree in Physician Assistant Studies in the following 12 months (Phase 2).

The experience is absolutely attractive to schools. I am currently in a top 10 school for PAs and I believe that is one of the biggest reasons I was accepted. Schools know you will never quit or fail if you have had that mentality instilled in you from experiences in Special Operations, not to mention the opportunities and experiences I have had as a PJ really set me apart from other candidates.