Navy SEAL Jon "Fuss" Fussell Explains How to Stay Calm When Everything Goes Sideways

Introduction and the Concept of Team

Jock Putney: John "Fuss" Fussell, welcome to the Pathway to Peak Performance. So good to see you, my friend.

Jon Fussell: Yeah, man. Good to be here. How you been?

Jock Putney: Doing well. We always have a charity for the show that the guest picks, and I believe you chose Children of Valor, which used to be SEAL Kids. You want to talk a little bit about what they do?

Jon Fussell: Sure. SEAL Kids was started about 14 years ago to support the children of Navy SEALs with all things educational. They recently expanded to all Special Operations—Green Berets, Army Rangers, Air Force, MARSOC—so they changed the name to Children of Valor. Whether it’s tutoring or testing, it’s a great organization doing good work.

Jock Putney: That’s great stuff. So, John, we’re going all the way back to where it starts. What motivated you? You once told me that the pathway to peak performance is really about sustainability. For someone who has operated at your level, I think that’s a really insightful statement regarding the peaks, the valleys, and what is sustainable over time.

Early Life and Military Influence

Jon Fussell: I was one of four kids. I had an older brother, an older sister, and a younger brother, so I was the "grey man" in the sweet spot. I grew up with a lot of military service in my family. My dad was a Green Beret, my uncle was a Navy SEAL, and my grandfather fought in World War II. It was always in the background, but it didn't define anyone; they did their piece and moved on. I wrestled through high school and college, and about halfway through college, I got the bug to serve. I started doing my homework and next thing you know, I’m trying out for SEAL training.

Jock Putney: You grew up in Virginia Beach and went to Old Dominion, so you were right around that culture. What gave you the vision to head in that direction?

Jon Fussell: I got into rock climbing in college and met some guys in the SEAL teams through that. I liked their mentality. It was the late 90s and we weren’t at war yet, so my generation signed up just to give it a go. I figured if I was going to put myself in harm's way, I should surround myself with the best people possible.

The Challenges of BUD/S

Jock Putney: You’ve described boot camp as "light duty" compared to BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training). You mentioned it doesn't matter if it's spring or winter; they’ll find a way to get you hypothermic. What was the most challenging thing there?

Jon Fussell: It’s like eating an elephant one bite at a time. No single evolution is insurmountable, but it is non-stop. Physically, I was an okay swimmer and a decent runner, and the obstacle course came naturally. But the great equalizer is the cold water. The Pacific Ocean doesn't care, and it’s chilly year-round. That’s what weeds people out—that and being sandy and chafed.

Jock Putney: And the pool competency tests?

Jon Fussell: Jon Fussell: SEALs make their money by being problem solvers. If you can’t keep your cool when the stakes are high, you can't solve problems. In the pool, they teach you procedures for when your tanks are taken off or your air is limited. If you stay calm and follow the procedure, you get through. The guys who freak out don't make it.

The Long Road to Becoming a SEAL

Jock Putney: People think once you finish BUD/S, you’re a SEAL. But that’s not the whole story.

Jon Fussell: Not at all. Initial training is about six months. My class started with 178 and graduated 28. That’s just step one. Then you go to SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) for about nine months. That is world-class training. Once you finish that, you’re officially a SEAL. Then you go to a team, form a platoon, and do an 18-month work-up cycle before you ever go overseas. It’s a demanding life; the average career span is actually quite short because of those demands.

Transition to Officer and Advanced Operations

Jock Putney: You started as an enlisted sailor despite having a college degree. Why that route?

Jon Fussell: I met some senior enlisted guys through rock climbing. They advised me to learn it from the "deck plates" up. They said if I became an officer and wanted to be enlisted, I couldn't go backward, but I could always get a commission later. I did five years enlisted, then went to OCS (Officer Candidate School) and spent 15 years as an officer.

Jock Putney: You eventually moved into higher-level operations within JSOC. Talk about that intensity.

Jon Fussell: To get to that top level (DevGru), you usually need to be in for several years. When I commissioned, it actually reset my clock, so it took me longer to get there. After 9/11, things got incredibly busy. We deployed 12 days after the attacks. Later, I spent time at SEAL Team 10, SEAL Team 4 as a platoon commander in Iraq, and a stretch at SDV Team 2 (SEAL Delivery Vehicle).

Jock Putney: Can you explain what it's like being in an SDV?

Jon Fussell: Jon Fussell: It’s a wet sub, meaning you’re on scuba inside the sub. It’s not spacious. You, the pilot, and the navigator are crammed in a tight, pitch-black box underwater. If you have a problem with your gear in there, it’s not a great place to be. It’s a long, tough day.

Team vs. Group Dynamics

Jock Putney: You talk a lot about the difference between a "team" and a "group." Let’s get into that.

Jon Fussell: I do some consulting now, and after the 50th person asked me to "talk to their team," I had to politely tell them: "You’re not a team. You’re a high-functioning group of good people, but you aren't a team." There are psychological differences. In the military, you see plenty of groups, but the closer you get to the bullets flying, the more you see the word "team." That’s where the rubber meets the road.

Reflections on Service and Resilience

Jock Putney: What’s the funniest thing you ever saw in the Navy?

Jon Fussell: There’s a lot of dark humor. People falling down at the wrong moments, or someone finishing an operation missing a sock—you know it was a rough night for them. The backgrounds are so diverse; I knew a guy raised in a cult and another who ran away from the circus to join the military. It’s a crazy melting pot.

Jock Putney: On a tougher note, how do you handle it when things don't go right?

Jon Fussell: It’s about resilience. We’ve lost a lot of friends in combat. You have to step back objectively. Did we do something dumb, or did the enemy just get a vote? If it was beyond your control—like a buried pressure wire—you look at it objectively, dust yourself off, and drive on with the job.

Jock Putney: John, it’s been great having you. I appreciate you coming up from Virginia Beach to talk.

Jon Fussell: Thanks for having me. See you.