M By Patty Miller
h
numerous times before they reach their original goal.
Not so for Dave White. Growing up in Santa Barbara County, Calif., when he was eleven he knew he wanted to fly jets and land them on carriers in the Indian Ocean. Even at that young age, once he made up his mind he set his focus on the outcome and worked toward that goal. Congressman Bob Lagomarsino nominated him for an appointment to the Naval Academy in 1983, and he spent his next four years there.
While there White was elected
Navy Seal Success
any sixth graders know what they want to be when they grow up, but most of them will change their minds
freshman class president, and he lettered all four years on the lightweight football team. “We played a high level of football,” White said. “We were all super athletes, just not great in size, and we beat Army three years.” He said the only year his team didn’t beat Army was his freshman year.
After that year beating Army was his goal. He focused on that goal and with persistence and the help of the team they beat Army the next three years. Although becoming a Navy SEAL was not in his original plans White came by the honor in a circuitous way. “Just prior to graduating “Service Selection Night” I found out I had 20/25 vision in one eye and I wouldn’t be able to fly,” White said. “I had never considered what I was going to do if
I couldn’t fly; I had no plan B. It was too late to apply for SEAL School. Four of my classmates had already been chosen.”
He took the only choice left, to attend Nuclear Power School. “I knew if I didn’t make it through the school I could choose any field I wanted, and I didn’t make it.” White was off to SEAL training in Coronado, Calif.
“SEAL training for me was perfect,” White said. “I was the Iron Man in my class. My body loved it. I was perfectly fit to be a SEAL. At the Naval Academy I had to remember everything. As a SEAL, all I had to do was survive.” There were 105 officers and enlisted men who started in his training class of 153, and one year later 13 survived and three were officers. “I was an ensign,” White said. “SEAL training is the only training where officers and enlisted men train together, and they are trained by enlisted SEALS. The trainers look closely at the officers because they know some day they could be serving under them. They expect more from officers in training; they want to make sure you are a true leader.” Upon arrival at SEAL training the first thing he was told to do was put on his dress blues to attend chapel for one of the Seals in the class before him. He had died of hypothermia on a 6 1/2 mile ocean swim, 50 yards from shore. “At that moment I thought about being a SEAL,” White said, but in 1998 he went to the Middle East. “I had been thinking nothing ever happens to me. Saddam Hussein went into Kuwait and three days later I was there.”
All in all it was a good experience,” White said. “I have a real appreciation for what soldiers are going through and the cultural barriers they are up against. I think it is difficult for a civilian to understand.” From security surveys at embassies to working in Washington, D.C. he transitioned from active duty to
22 VETERAN FAMILY NETWORK h AUGUST 2011
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