Navy SEAL Josiah Kauffman: Forged Through Failure – Overcoming Injury, BUD/S, and the Unseen World of SDV
Release Date: 10/27/2025
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info_outlineHow do you define Resilience when your dream is shattered moments after surviving the impossible? What happens when Failure isn’t just an option—but a brutal reality delivered via a broken bone after Navy SEAL Hell Week?
In this gripping Part 1 of 3, BD sits down with Josiah Kauffman, former Navy SEAL, BUD/S classmate (Class 265!), and founder of Warrior Calling. Josiah takes us deep into his extraordinary journey—beginning with the crushing blow of a femur stress fracture following Hell Week with Class 263, forcing a complete reinvention of his path.
This is a masterclass in Grit, Growth, and Grace under pressure. Josiah shares the raw truth of BUD/S—the unforgiving nature of winter training, the evolution of SEAL standards emphasizing Character over brute strength, and the realization that training is merely the job interview.
He then offers a rare glimpse into the high-stakes, unseen world of SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Teams, detailing the discipline, sacrifice, and conviction required for missions most people will never hear about.
If you’ve ever faced a setback that felt like the end, Josiah’s story will show you how failure can be the forge that shapes your true purpose.
💡 In This Episode, You Will Learn
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The brutal reality of suffering a femur fracture after Hell Week — and how to come back stronger.
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What winter BUD/S is really like: freezing water, crushing waves, and relentless tests of commitment.
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Why Hell Week truly separates those called to serve from those who just want the title.
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How BUD/S is “the job interview,” and the real work begins once you earn the trident.
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The evolution of SEAL training standards to emphasize character, humility, and trustworthiness.
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The no “soft start” intensity of SDV Teams — where every operator is held to elite standards.
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A rare look inside SDV missions: high secrecy, deep sacrifice, and pure frogman discipline.
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How to maintain motivation when your work is invisible to the world.
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Why the definition of mental toughness evolves — from surviving pain to living with purpose.
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Leadership lessons on setting high standards, trusting your team, and living your “why.”
⏳ Timestamps
(00:00) – Intro & Welcome Josiah Kauffman
(01:04) – BUD/S Class Origin: Starting in Class 263
(01:30) – Winter Class & Brutal Surf: The harsh realities of cold-weather BUD/S
(02:12) – The Crushing Setback: Femur fracture discovered after Hell Week
(03:00) – Rolled to Class 265: Reinventing after injury
(04:29) – Hell Week’s True Test: What commitment really means
(05:37) – First Impressions vs. Reality: Meeting the combat-hardened instructors
(06:47) – BUD/S: The Job Interview
(08:20) – The Evolution of BUD/S Standards: Mentorship and character
(10:17) – Building Professional Warfighters
(10:58) – Arriving at SDV Team One: No “soft start”
(11:38) – The SDV World: High-stakes, small-team operations
(13:00) – High Standards Breed Excellence
(14:35) – The “Pucker Factor” of Leadership
(16:11) – SDV Missions: The Pinnacle of Clandestine Operations
(17:29) – The SDV “Buy-In” Challenge: The unseen mental battle
(19:54) – The “True Frogman” Identity
(21:17) – The Demands of SDV: Misery, mastery, and repetition
(23:09) – Evolving Mental Toughness: Beyond BUD/S
(23:59) – Understanding the Brotherhood
(25:22) – Sustaining the Career: Purpose over pride
(26:59) – Geopolitical Tensions & OpSec
(32:00) – Outro
📚 Resources Mentioned
Warrior Calling: https://thewarriorcalling.com
👤 Guest Information
Josiah Kauffman
Former Navy SEAL (BUD/S Class 265) | Founder of Warrior Calling | Mentor & Speaker
🔗 Website/Link: https://thewarriorcalling.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiahk265
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Every setback is a test of identity — a question only you can answer: Will you break, or will you build again?
This conversation with Josiah Kauffman is just the beginning.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we dive even deeper into his mindset, lessons from the Teams, and how purpose is forged through pain.
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