To my Brother and Sister Comrades of RKC San Jose 2009

[americancouragecorner]

Comrades,

Congratulations on our sucessful completion of RKC San Jose 2009. Allow me to ramble for a bit. Read and enjoy and if I get into jargon you don't understand, please be assured it will all have a point.

My name is Mike Prosser. I am a police officer in southern California. I am a patrol officer. That means I drive a black and white Police car and am radio dispatched to calls for service. I am a Field Training Officer. That means I train new police officers who have recently graduated the academy. I breath down their kneck for five months as they learn the in's, out's, up's, and downs of day to day police work. I am a Sniper on the departments Special Weapons And Tactics team. That means that I am on call 24/7 to respond to emergency situations that a regular patrol officer is not trained or equipped to handle. I can be woken in the middle of the night or called away from my kids birthday party to accomplish my mission.

I know what the bolt of a Colt Commando rifle sounds like as it slams home and chambers a live round. I have watched as my heartbeat made the crosshairs of a .308 caliber sniper rifle dance across a suspects face. I have fired that rifle from an orbitting police helicopter. I have ridden to a target location on the running boards of an armored HUMVEE or in the armored turret providing cover for teammates as they approached a breachpoint on a search warrant. I have felt the huge sense of satisfaction as I pulled a rape victims drivers license from the bad guys pocket, knowing we had caught the right guy.

I have smelled the rare odor of helicopter exhaust mixxed with humid south pacific air as I waited to board with the rest of my platoon. That particular aircraft was known for crashing back then. I have been pelted in the face by dessert sand driven by rotorwash.I have seen the most amazing sunset from the deck of a ship in the Indian Ocean after a storm on my way to the Persian Gulf. I have heard the crack of AK47 bullets as they passed over my head and the crump of 61mm mortar rounds exploding in the sand five yards away. There is more...but you get my point.

The RKC has been the single hardest physical challenge I have faced in my life. That includes USMC Bootcamp, School of Infantry, Police academy training, and S.W.A.T. school. I live in a warrior culture composed predominantly of men. Alpha Wolves. Each of us in another setting would be the single dominant wolf of our pack. But we are all in the same pack. We all have blood on our fangs and scars from battles past.

I am not writing this to blow my own horn, or say LOOK AT ME! I am writing this to shout LOOK AT YOU! I am turned on by "normal" people. No...not aroused, but switched on. I get a huge kick out of being around a group as diverse as we are. I expected every one of us who was a firefighter, cop, soldier, sailor , airman, or Marine to pass. I am most impressed by our classmates who conquered the RKC who come from everyday walks of life.It was refreshing for me to be around such a diverse group of people who were united under such austere conditions. Mom's, Dad's, farmers, personal trainers etc...all swinging and snatching and heaving and hurting.The people who were challenegd in such a way for their FIRST time.

I wish us all sucess in our endevours as RKC's wether it is for money or just self improvement. Represent well and remember the RKC Code of Conduct. LOOK AT YOU RKC San Jose 2009!

Power to You

Mike Prosser

[0311bravo]

Great post Mike.
Remeber, if the helicopter's not leaking fluid from somewhere, there's something wrong with it.

Semper Fi.

[jtsaint72]

Mike,

Beautiful post man. I was one of those "normal" people. Outside of this Kettlebell world, I sell cars in Woodland Hills, CA. It was an honor and a privilege to swing, snatch, grunt, sweat and enjoy the pain with you and everyone else. We all had a certain look in our eye that I will never forget. I can't explain it exactly with out digressing into a Rocky III quote so I'll just let that be, but we all had that look and for me, a stronger man left on Sunday than the guy who showed up on Friday morning. Thank you for the post and sharing.

Power to You!

David Bradley

[John Du Cane]

Great post Mike, many thanks for putting it up.

[Pavel Tsatsouline]

Very moving, Com. Mike, thank you!

[Franz Snideman]

Wow! Fanastic post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for protecting civilians like ourselves!

Best,

Franz

[sruiz]

WOW! What a post! Your post has inspired me as I prepare (as a "normal" guy) for my upcoming RKC. THANKS! And "Thanks" for your service!

[praetorian]

Mike, thanks for being there and supporting your group like you did. I am proud to have you here in the RKC community.

Don't forget, "Port Arms" with your free hand!

All my best,

Mark Toomey, RKC TL, CSCS

[rifstonian]

wow, awesome post and something we have heard time and time again. The RKC Cert is no joke and is, for most, a life changing experience. Welcome to the Team Mike.

Rif

[kwashburn]

Rif says he hears it all the time... "Lives are changed"... Rif you are part of the reason.

Team Toomey was certainly "defense heavy", but enjoyed a single focus. We were all there to learn what it means to be a member of the elite group of RKC Instructors and Mark was an excellent role model. The focus in my RKC preparation was certainly overwhelmingly physical in nature with "get busy being afraid" ringing in my head. Somewhere mid Saturday, a major shift occurred, I was suddenly aware I was in over my head... mentally.

The focus and question changed, if you pass the physical tests, are you willing to OWN being an RKC Instructor? The bar is high, look around at those who dedicated themselves to teaching you all weekend. The quality of instructors at RKC was overwhelming and exceeded my expectations in both skill and character by a factor of 100. Without exception, each instructor brought a unique skill, coaching style, technique queues, teaching methods, and experience. Unanimously they brought the same level of committment, passion, dedication, and focus to teaching me ... regardless of the reasons that brought me to RKC.

Yes, I was one of the exceptions on Team Toomey, my defense experience is restricted to a conceal and carry for my Sig40... don't mess with my kids, you will lose. I may have survived the physical challenges presented and learned the techniques well enough to know where I need to begin my mastery of the techniques, but my struggle remains with the weight of the challenge ahead.... the challenge to become a respected RKC Instructor, the caliber I met this weekend.

Each RKC Instructor I met exemplifies what is required, and I speak for our entire team when I say we are very appreciative of the bar that's been set and the opportunity we have been given. Pavel, thank you for the team you have assembled as a constant reminder of what it means to be part of your team. Lives are changed, it appears to be designed that way.