Most college students graduate after four years and go on to pursue a career related to the major that they studied. For Craig Hendrickson, this could not be farther from the truth. Hendrickson, a senior kinesiology major from Long Island has never been to a job fair or a resume workshop because he has known what he wanted to do after college all along; become a Navy Seal.
Hendrickson has wanted to be a Navy Seal since he was in 6th grade and this past year his dream was made a reality when he received an invitation to attend BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition/ SEAL) training after he graduates in Coronado, California. While out there Hendrickson and other potential SEAL candidates will be put through the toughest physical, mental and emotional six months of training of their lives.Image may be NSFW.
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In order to prepare for the grueling physical training, Hendrickson works out four times a day. Everyday he swims laps, lifts weights, runs long distances up to 15 miles while wearing a 45-pound vest in addition to some other form of core training (pull ups, push ups etc.) also with the vest.
“The physical aspect, that is on you. You cannot blame anyone else for you not being physically in shape,” said Hendrickson. “I have been training for this since I was 13 years old.”
This past summer Hendrickson was 1 of 100 officer candidates selected to do a one-month mini-BUDS training out in Coronado. While out there he said he lost 15 pounds and by the time the training was over only 50 officer candidates remained. Of those 50 candidates, only 17 received a letter to attend the real BUDs training after they graduate.
“There were definitely long days out there,” said Hendrickson. “Days would begin at 3 in the morning and end at 10 at night so the lack of sleep definitely made it pretty difficult but I was so happy to be out there."
Hendrickson is a member of the Navy ROTC here at Penn State, which means if he completes the training he will become a Navy SEAL officer.
“The most challenging thing I think I will have to do is that I will be expected to lead guys that are 27 or 28 years old,” said Hendrickson. “These guys have been in real combat for up to ten years and yet they have to follow orders from me, a kid straight out of college.”
Video: Hendrickson connects with a fallen hero
Hendrickson says he shares a deep connection with a former Penn State Navy SEAL Micheal Murphy, who won a posthumous Medal of Honor for his service in Afghanistan.