Jason Delgado
A CONVERSATION WITH...
this out, you had to prove yourself to the unit in which you were going to operate in. My battalion at that time was 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. And so they sent out an indoctrination. And the indoctrination is all physical-mental. There’s a lot of mind games that they play with you. And there is a lot of physical requirements. Tough physical requirements that you don’t see up to that point in the Marine Corps. Boot camp was like the hardest thing you ever endured up to that moment. Then indoctrination is like the rude awakening. Like, welcome to where we’re going to torture you and see what kind of stuff you’re made of. To succeed in an indoctrination or even in the process of becoming that type of individual operator, special operator, you have to learn how to separate your metaphysical form from your physical form. There’s no way in hell you’re going to be in your mind and succeed at some of these evolutions that you have to go through. You have to literally dig deep down inside and just not care anymore. You have to go into zombie mode. Once you realize that you have no quit in you, that’s basically what zombie mode is. Like I don’t care what my body’s going through right now, I’m pushing through. And once you find that out, once you discover you have no quit in you, that’s the point where your commanders or those employing you want you to be. Because they know 100% that when they send you out, you’re going to
Especially in this day and age. It’s like everyone has a chip on their shoulder and no one swallows that pride and works for the greater good. So I want to get that message out there to the younger kids. It’s OK to be a warrior but you have to understand you’re working in a team. You have to sometimes stop and make sure you’re taking care of your team and your family because otherwise you’re going to wind up like me, losing it all. To succeed in an indoctrination or even in the process of becoming that type of individual operator, special operator, you have to learn how to separate your metaphysical form from your physical form. Q: Jason, what does it take to become a Marine scout sniper? Can you tell us about the selection process or some of the more harrowing moments in that whole process of becoming an elite warrior? Bring us into that part of your life. JASON DELGADO: To become a Marine Corps scout sniper, you first join an infantry unit or a special operations unit like Marine reconnaissance battalion or force reconnaissance company. From there, you’re able to get to scout sniper school. This is back when I was a scout sniper, a lot has changed now. But back when I was actively seeking
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88 | December 2017
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