Full Mission Profile

Full Mission Profile
Capture. Death. Destruction. A radical new training philosophy uses the threat of (fictitious)
dire consequences to motivate the Warrior Athlete to push the workout envelope
Rob Ord
Its not hard to grasp the importance of mental and

physical preparation for individuals in areas where
physical abilities make all the difference. Occupations
such as military, law enforcement, fire, or emergency
rescue fields all require a great deal of physical and
mental toughness.
However, as a trainer, I have sometimes found it

difficult to find the words necessary to inspire those
in such physically demanding professions to reach deep
enough, breaking down all personal barriers, to find that
part I call the Warrior Athlete. Sometimes, mere words
are not enough. Sometimes, what is required to push
someone beyond their perceived limits is to introduce
an element of harsh reality.
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(continued)
Great men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers

triumph in war. ~Seneca
It has been my experience that adversity is required
before triumph can be realized. As a mentor and coach
to potential SOF warriors, I utilize a number of tools
of adversity to prepare candidates for the physical and
mental demands of their training pipelines. Many of
these methods can be seen in the CrossFit Journal series
of articles on Pre-SOF Training. In this article, however,
I want to introduce a powerful element of reality:
the Full Mission Profile.
The Full Mission Profile (FMP) is a real-world test of
mental and physical toughness. First, I introduce a
real-world, life-and-death scenario. Then I provide a
plan and a hard timeline. Lastly, I give you a workout
to complete. The prescribed workout attempts to
mimic the physical skills necessary to complete such a
mission in real life and real time. Its important to note
that the plan is not based on the best case, but the
worst case scenario, because we all know hope for
the best, but prepare for the worst.
This is not just another beat-you-down workout. This

is a real-world scenario with real, and sometimes
dangerous, consequences. When doing your favorite
CrossFit workout, you can try to beat your best time,
your buddys time, or your gyms highest score, but if
you fail, there is little lost. If you attempt a Full Mission
Profile and fail, you will know that your (admittedly
fictional) team is compromised. The diplomat you were
to rescue was killed in the failed evac attempt. The boat
exploded with you still onboard. The hikers died on the
mountain. When I run an FMP and someone quits or
is unable to finish, we all take a moment, during the
debrief, to reflect on our fallen brother, because in a
mission he would have died.
The CrossFit community is full of warrior athletes, some
of whom have been tested on real battlefields at home
and abroad. These are men and women that love the
challenge of pushing themselves to new limits, the
experience of intensity that goes well beyond what many
consider exercise. Ask them why they do CrossFit, and
theyll often explain that they just love the pain. Do a
Full Mission Profile and youll have the real answer.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FULL MISSION PROFILE - PSD AMBUSH
PRESENT DAY - BAGHDAD, IRAQ
SITUATION:
WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF TRAVELLING FROM THE AIRPORT TO A MEETING WITH IRAQI
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AN AMERICAN DIPLOMAT AND HIS PERSONAL SECURITY DETACHMENT
(PSD) WERE AMBUSHED IN A BAGHDAD SUBURB BY A GROUP OF HEAVILY ARMED INSURGENTS.
ALL VEHICLES WERE BADLY DAMAGED BY RPG AND SMALL ARMS FIRE, AND ARE NO LONGER
VIABLE. HELO SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE BUT WILL TAKE APROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES TO
ARRIVE ON THE SCENE. THE INSURGENTS, BOLSTERED BY THEIR SUCCESS AT STOPPING THE
CONVOY, ARE BECOMING MORE AGGRESSIVE AND ARE INCREASING IN NUMBER.
OBJECTIVE:
BREAK CONTACT WITH THE AMBUSH, SAFELY ESCORT THE PRINCIPAL TO A SECURE LOCATION
NEARBY AND CALL FOR HELO. PROVIDE DEFENSIVE PROTECTION UNTIL HELO RADIOS THAT
THEY ARE INBOUND. MOVE TO THE PICKUP LOCATION, RENDEVOUS WITH HELO AND EXTRACT
TO BASE.
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(continued)
MISSION
PHASE I - BREAK CONTACT:

PROVIDE DEFENSIVE FIRE AND TACTICALLY MOVE TO A STRUCTURALLY SOLID BUILDING
NEARBY THAT PROVIDES THE BEST PROTECTION FROM FIRE.
PHASE II - DEFEND PRINCIPAL:
ONCE IN THE BUILDING, ESTABLISH DEFENSIVE FIGHTING POSITION AND CALL FOR HELO.
ENEMY INSURGENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE AND WILLING TO RISK
THEIR LIVES TO GET TO THE PRINCIPAL. DEFEND PRINCIPAL AT ALL COSTS. MAINTAIN
POSITION UNTIL ENEMY WITHDRAWS OR HELO IS INBOUND.
PHASE III - MOVE TO PICK-UP POINT:
HELO WILL NOTIFY WHEN THEY ARE 10 MINUTES OUT, AND WILL RADIO EVERY TWO MINUTES
OF STATUS. THE EXTRACTION POINT IS ON THE ROOF OF A BUILDING APROX 500 METERS
TO THE NORTH EAST. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ONCE THE HELO MAKES CONTACT, THE TEAM
PREPARES TO MOVE OUT QUICKLY TO MINIMIZE THE TIME THE HELO IS IN DANGER OF SMALL
ARMS AND RPG FIRE.
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(continued)
THE WORKOUT
PHASE I - BREAK CONTACT:

4 ROUNDS OF:

RUN 400 METERS

10 MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS (4 COUNT EXERCISE)

20 PUSH UPS

30 SQUATS
PHASE II - DEFEND PRINCIPAL: - 45-MINUTE TIMELINE BEGINS

DECK OF CARDS (WITH JOKERS)

HEARTS
DIAMONDS
CLUBS
SPADES
JOKERS
BURPEE
DUMBBELL SNATCH - 35LBS(M)/20LBS(F) EACH ARM
DB CLEAN - 35LBS(M)/20LBS(F)
PULL UP (KIPPING)
RUN 400 METERS AND DOUBLE THE NEXT CARD
NUMBERED CARDS ARE WORTH THEIR FACE VALUE.

JACKS
11

QUEENS
12

KINGS
13

ACES
14
Example:

4 of Clubs = Do four kipping pull-ups

JACK OF HEARTS = DO 11 BURPEES

8 OF SPADES = DO 8 DUMBELL CLEANS

ACE OF DIAMONDS = DO 14 DUMBELL SNATCHES
*MUST COMPLETE ALL CARDS PRIOR TO MOVING TO PHASE III.
PHASE III - MOVE TO SECURE LOCATION:

3 ROUNDS OF:

RUN 400 METERS

30 SQUATS

20 PUSH UPS

10 MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS (4 COUNT EXERCISE)
TIMELINE:
45 MINUTE TIMELINE BEGINS WITH PHASE II DEFEND PRINCIPAL AND ENDS UPON SUCCESSFULL
COMPLETION OF PHASE III MOVE TO SECURE LOCATION.
FAILURE TO MEET THE TIMELINE WILL RESULT IN TEAM HAVING TO CONTINUE STREET BATTLE AND
MOVE TO NEW SAFE LOCATION FOR PICK UP.
E & E ESCAPE & EVASION:
IN THE EVENT THE TEAM FAILED TO MEET THE DEADLINE, COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

4 ROUNDS OF:
RUN 400 METERS
25 BURPEES
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(continued)
Rules of Engagement
1. Do it right! Accuracy matters more now than ever. In a real-world scenario, you would not disregard the way you
have been trained to clear a room or shoot with your eyes closed. So it is with the elements of the workout. Do
it right or go home.
2. Fire teams move together. It is OK to get ahead of the rest of the team while in a phase of the operation, but one
member cannot move on to the next phase until all members are finished and can move together. This means
that if youre the last to finish a phase, you are putting your teammates and the mission in jeopardy. It also means
if you are the first to finish, then you should be motivating your teammates.
3. Mentally get into it. Work from the perspective that its a mission, not just another workout. Your enemy is
waiting for you to stop to catch your breath in order to take advantage of you and your team. With my trainees
there is a saying: Train harder than your enemy thinks you can.
4. The timeline cannot be modified. Maintain awareness of where you are and how much time you have. If you need
to pick up the pace, do it!
5. Laggards die. If you fall behind in the workout, you fall behind in the mission. What would you like written on
your headstone?
FAILURE IN ANY OF THESE ELEMENTS CONSTITUTES
FAILURE OF THE MISSION.
Rob Ord has trained hundreds of individuals

seeking entrance into the Navys elite
special operations communities. On his website
www.brassringfitness.com, he also provides
balanced, highly effective training regimens for
those seeking to achieve the disciplined mind and
body of the Warrior Athlete.
This Full Mission Profile was conducted alongside
CrossFit H.E.L [www.crossfithel.com] Head Coach,
Kevin Aillaud in his world class training facility in
Portland, OR.
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Full Mission Profile

Its not hard to grasp the importance of mental and

However, as a trainer, I have sometimes found it

Subscription info at http://journal.crossfit.com