No Excuses, Drill Sergeant!

Monroe Mann

Published On: Apr 1, 2025

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Name: Monroe Mann Break Diving Level: Level 1 Number of Certified Dives: 15 From: United States In: United States

Dr. Monroe Mann is the founder of breakdiving.io and a bronze-star nominated Iraq war vet.

It was 4am in the morning. Cold, and raining.

The blisters in my combat boots caused me to wince with every step.

My back was killing me from carrying the heavy pack. The rifle weighing my shoulders down even more.

The water and sweat together dripping down my forehead into my eyes, the salt stinging my eyes.

I mumbled under my breath, "I can't go any further."

The drill seargeant must have heard me. "WHAT DID YOU SAY, PRIVATE?"

"Nothing drill sergeant!"

"Do NOT lie to me, maggot! What did you say?!"

"I said, I can't go any further, drill sergeant!"

"No excuses private. I don't care how much it hurts. You keep going until you reach your destination! You do not stop until the mission is complete! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!"

I mustered as much enthusiasm as I could, "DRILL SERGEANT, YES, DRILL SERGEANT!"

I hated him at the time, but... I did make it back to the barracks. I had what it takes after all. And he knew better than even I did what I was capable of.

Years later, those two words, "NO EXCUSES", etched their way into my brain. And I fused them into the Break Diver's Creed: NO RULES. NO EXCUSES. NO REGRETS. And it embodies what it means to be a Break Diver in pursuit of his dreams.

You need to embody it into your life as well.

You can check out my two TEDx talks about the philosophy of Break Diving here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPCWO5177KI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Pqzod-gF8

And when you're ready, come join us at breakdiving.io