Eventually though, I know it’s time to get down to work. I’m just loath to ruin the moment. As if reading my mind, he smiles.
“Whenever you’re ready, we can get started.”
I’m relieved at his words.
“Come on then,” I say as I get to my feet.
I have a small boardroom-style set-up in my office for meetings and interviews. I feel most comfortable there when working. My space is set up the way I like it; I feel comfortable there and at my most productive. I envy those who can write in bed or on the sofa – I’ve tried it but can’t seem to make it work for me.
Jessen follows me through to my office, and I indicate a chair at my tiny boardroom table as I go to gather my supplies from my desk. Taking a seat at the table with him, I lay my pencils, notebook, and a recorder down on the surface.
“Before we get started, I want to know if you’re comfortable with me recording our session? They’re useful for referring back to and reminding me of facts I might have forgotten. However, if it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t do it. I’ll stick to written notes.”
“I’m fine with that. I will tell you right up front, though, there will be things I cannot tell you – as in, I am forbidden to share them, by law – not because I’m being a dick. I will give you as much as I am allowed to, and will tell you when I can’t. All I ask is you respect those boundaries as set by Uncle Sam.”
I nod. “Fair enough. I can’t fault you for that. So, since I won’t always know what I can and can’t ask, I’ll follow your lead and take you at your word. Fair?”
“Yeah, I can live with that.”
With that, I place the little recorder in the middle of the table and switch it on. Recording the date, time, and who I’m interviewing, as well as the topic of the interview, I start.
“What made you want to be a soldier? Specifically a sniper. Is it something you’ve wanted to do since childhood, or due to life circumstances?”
“I come from a long line of military men, and women for that matter, going all the way back to my great-grandfather – my dad, uncles, and an aunt, grandfather, grandmother, great-grandfather. So it was kind of a no-brainer for me. I wanted to be like my dad.”
“Wow, that’s quite a line up. Literally all military?” At his nod, I ask, “All the same branch or different ones?”
“For the most part, they chose army – infantry, including both World Wars. A few went into the air force and a couple into the navy, my dad being one of them. I followed in his footsteps.”
“Your dad must be really proud.”
“Yeah, him and my mom both. He’s retired now, and they’re living their best lives travelling the US in an RV with their Golden Retriever and their cat.” I like them already, and I’ve never even met them.
I work my way through the lighter questions, enjoying learning more about this man. And the more I learn, the more I like. It’s clear he has a deep love of his family and teammates. We eventually reach work-related questions, and I’m hyper-aware I’m wandering into territory that might be off-limits to me, or potentially something he won’t want to talk about.
“So why SEALs? What appealed to you about being a SEAL?”
“I’m competitive by nature – if I’m going to do something, I want to be the best at what I do. SEALs are the best of the best the navy has to offer, so it was a natural choice for me.” He pauses, and I see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows. “And besides that, I wanted to make a difference.
“There’s a lot of evil in this world, and I wanted to be a part of the solution. We all have a right to freedom and to feel safe. I want to help uphold those rights.”
It’s plain to see how passionate he is about what he does.
“Can you tell me about your training? Anything you’re able to share, just so I have a better understanding of what you go through. I mean, I know it’s intense and difficult, but I’m interested in knowing more than that.”
He laughs. “Yeah, let’s go with ‘intense and difficult’. Then again, our jobs aren’t easy, so I guess it would be kinda pointless to make it easy on us during training. Everything we go through it to build stamina, endurance, and equip us for surviving any way we can.”
Jessen describes the some of the exercises they do and gives me insight into their “hell week.” By the time he’s done, I have even more respect for our SEALs than before. Their job certainly isn’t an easy one.
Apart from the physical toll on their bodies, the danger they face every day on a mission takes a toll mentally. Add to that the shitty side of humanity they’re exposed to – I’m in awe – of SEALs in general, but this man specifically.
Jessen’s the only one I’ve ever had the chance to talk to one-on-one like this, and the more we talk, the more I admire him. He seems so down-to-earth and like really good people, and suddenly I have a longing to get to know him better.
5
LUCKY
“What made you decide to become a sniper?”
