Chapter 32 – The End of the Break and the Beginning of a New Challenge
The days in Los Angeles passed faster than Grant imagined. Every moment with his family felt even more precious, knowing that he would soon embark on the most challenging journey of his military career. He enjoyed every second, from movie nights with Lily and her parents to lively dinners at Jay and Gloria's house.
He took Lily for walks on the beach, helped Phil fix the backyard fence, and even had a long talk with Jay about war, leadership, and the toll it all takes on a man. He spent time with Hailey, Alex, and Luke, went on a few dates, and even played a little video game—something he hadn't done since his teens.
But, like everything else, the break came to an end.
It was a warm May morning when Grant woke up early, took a cold shower, and looked at himself in the mirror. His beard was neatly trimmed, and his hair had already returned to a more military cut. He pulled on a simple gray shirt and jeans before going downstairs for breakfast.
Mitchell and Cam were already in the kitchen, talking quietly. When they saw Grant, they smiled, but there was something in their eyes—a mix of pride and concern.
"Did you sleep well?" Cam asked, handing him a cup of coffee.
"Yes, I slept well," Grant replied, accepting the cup and sitting at the table.
Mitchell cleared his throat.
"So… Today's the day."
Grant nodded as he sipped his coffee.
"Yeah."
Cam sighed, crossing his arms.
"I can't say I'm ready to see you go again."
"I know," Grant said. "But I have to."
Mitchell smiled slightly.
"We know, son. And we're very proud of you."
Lily walked into the kitchen, still in her pajamas, and plopped down in the chair next to Grant.
"Are you leaving again already?"
"Not yet," Grant replied, ruffling her hair. "I'm going to the base today, but training doesn't start until next week."
She sighed dramatically.
"Will you be back before Christmas, at least?"
Grant hesitated for a second.
"I don't know, Lily. It depends on how things go."
She grimaced, but nodded.
"Well… If you can, at least bring something nice back from the super soldier's secret fort."
Grant laughed.
"I'll see what I can do."
Cam smiled, though his eyes were still full of emotion.
"I'll make you one last special breakfast before I go."
And so, Grant had a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit—a last meal with his family before heading off on another challenge.
A few hours later, Grant was ready. His backpack was packed, and Mitchell's car was in the driveway, ready to take him to the airport.
The goodbye was simple but full of emotion. Cam hugged him tightly, telling him to take care of himself. Mitchell did the same, but it was Lily who had the hardest reaction. She threw herself into her brother's arms and stayed there for several long seconds.
"I love you, little brother."
Grant kissed the top of her head.
"I love you too, shorty."
And with that, he got in the car and headed for the airport.
The drive was smooth, and soon Grant was at Fort Bragg. The base environment automatically sent him back into military mode. The warm Georgia weather contrasted with the cool Los Angeles breeze, but he was already used to it.
As soon as he arrived at the administrative building, he went straight to the office designated for Operator Training Course (OTC) candidates.
He opened the door and found a uniformed man behind a desk, reviewing some documents. When he noticed Grant entering, he looked at him and nodded.
"Specialist Tucker-Pritchett?"
"Yes, sir."
The man pushed a form toward him.
"Here you go. If you sign this, you will officially accept the invitation to the OTC."
Grant picked up his pen and looked at the paper in front of him. It was an important moment—one of those moments that define a life.
Without hesitation, he signed his name on the designated line.
The man took the document, checked it, and then put it away in a folder.
"Welcome to the next phase, Specialist. I hope you're ready for hell."
Grant just smiled.
He had been ready for a long time.
Chapter 33 – The Path to the Elite
The night was warm at Fort Bragg when Grant arrived at the barracks designated for Operator Training Course (OTC) candidates. He looked around and saw ten other men preparing for bed, each from a different background, but all sharing the same goal: to become elite operators.
Grant knew the next few weeks would be brutal. He had already undergone rigorous Ranger training, but this was different. Now, he was about to enter a community where only the best of the best survived.
He threw his backpack on one of the beds and began to prepare for bed, but he knew the real challenge would begin as soon as the sun rose.
Phase One: Assessment and Selection (3-4 weeks)
The first day began with a simple briefing. The instructor, an older man with a penetrating gaze and a firm voice, looked at the candidates and simply said:
"You're nothing. Yet."
And then all hell broke loose.
The first few days were an endless series of physical and psychological tests. Exhausting runs, swimming in icy waters, brutal land navigation in unfamiliar terrain, and exercises designed to push each candidate to their mental and physical limits.
Grant found himself running for hours with a 110-pound backpack, wading through muddy swamps, climbing steep mountains, and marching through the night without knowing where he was going.
"How much longer?" one of the candidates asked during one of the night marches.
"Just a little longer," Grant replied, trying to keep the team's morale up.
But the truth was, they didn't know. Time seemed to be non-existent there.
The psychological interviews were equally grueling. They were questioned about combat decisions, ethics, morality, and loyalty. Grant knew that any wrong answer could mean the end of his journey.
By the end of the fourth week, out of ten candidates, only six remained.
Second Phase: Basic Training Phase (6-8 weeks)
Now that the instructors knew who had potential, they began molding them into operators. This phase covered fundamental CQB (Close Quarters Battle) skills, advanced weapons use, explosives, tactical medicine, and survival.
Grant already had experience with close-quarters combat from his deployments with the Rangers, but the level of demand here was completely different. Every move was timed, every mistake resulted in immediate corrections—often accompanied by more punishing physical exercises.
One day, during a building breach training session, Grant and his team were forced to repeat the same exercise over 30 times because one of the operators hesitated upon entering a room.
"If you hesitate in the real world, you die. It's that simple," one of the instructors said.
At the end of the eighth week, two more candidates were eliminated, leaving only four.
Third Phase: Advanced Training Phase (8-10 weeks)
Now, everything became even more complex. Simulated missions, silent infiltration, working with foreign forces, ambush and counter-ambush tactics, helicopter training, and HAHO/HALO jumps.
Grant found himself training side by side with veteran operators, honing his skills and learning new techniques.
During a night infiltration exercise, his team had to traverse 20 kilometers of simulated hostile territory undetected. Every step was calculated, every movement coordinated with pinpoint precision.
"If we can do this undetected, beer on me," whispered one of the candidates.
They succeeded. And yes, they did drink the beer later.
By the end of this phase, the instructors were already treating the four remaining candidates as future operators. They had proven they had what it took.
Fourth Phase: Integration and Mission Phase (4-6 weeks)
This final phase was as close to reality as possible. They were sent into realistic combat simulations, working directly with experienced operators and conducting missions in environments that exactly mirrored what they would encounter on the battlefield.
During joint training with the CIA, Grant and his team conducted a simulated hostage rescue in a fortified compound. The precision, speed, and aggressiveness of the attack were so impressive that one of the instructors personally praised the team.
"You're already operators. Now you just need to make it official."
By the end of the sixth week, they had accomplished everything.
The remaining four were taken to a room, where one of the unit commanders was waiting for them.
He looked at each of them and then said:
"Congratulations. Welcome to the team."
And that's how Grant became a Tier 1 operator.
After graduation, Grant was officially assigned to C Squadron, one of the most experienced units in the Middle East.
His new teammates already knew of his reputation with the Rangers and welcomed him.
"I heard you made a splash in Afghanistan," one of the operators said.
Grant just smiled.
"Well… I like to keep things interesting."
Now, his life would change completely. There would be no more months-long missions, but rather highly specialized operations with precise objectives and significant impacts.
He looked around and knew this was where he belonged.
And the next chapter of his journey was just beginning.
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