How a Rucksack Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

By Fairport Wealth

Lessons Learned from Military Training

“We take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” Cynthia Ozick

First and foremost, Memorial Day is a time to show thankfulness for the courage of our fallen heroes, the men and women who prioritized duty, honor and country for our freedom.

At Luma Wealth, we’d also like to honor the groundbreaking efforts of the women in the military, whose bravery includes shattering glass ceilings to be included in the fight — for example, Intelligence Officer, Kate Wilder, who passed every event of the year-long U.S. Army Special Forces qualification in 1980, before women were officially allowed to wear the Green Beret.¹ The Pentagon opened up combat roles to women in 2016, and by February of this year the New York Times reported that a woman (whose name was not disclosed for security reasons) was on track to become the first official Green Beret.²

In order to graduate from Green Beret training, soldiers have to complete rigorous physical training that includes ‘ruck marches,’ carrying thirty-five plus pounds on their backs. And interestingly, the guidance the Army provides on proper ruck march techniques has many parallels to wealth planning.

Wealth Planning Lessons Gleaned from Special Forces Rucksack Training³
Here are three ruck march techniques, as outlined in the army’s physical training handbook, that can help you achieve your financial goals:

• Technique #1: Keep your weight directly over your feet and the sole of the shoe placed flat on the ground by taking small steps at a steady pace – because when a goal seems overwhelming (like carrying an extremely heavy backpack or saving enough money to last you through retirement) you have a better shot of achieving it when you break it down into smaller goals.

• Technique #2: When walking cross-country, step over/around obstacles; never step on them. When traveling up steep slopes, always traverse them; climb in a zigzag pattern rather than straight up – because everyone’s life includes bumps in the road and transitions, such as a career change, divorce or the loss of a spouse. When your path takes an unexpected turn, you can maneuver around hurdles and reach your goal nonetheless.

• Technique #3: When descending steep slopes, keep the back straight and knees bent to take the shock of each step. Do not lock your knees. Dig in with heels on each step – because investors know that markets go up, and from time to time they also go down. At times like these, you need to keep your focus on your path, stay clear-headed and follow your plan.

We are grateful
We appreciate the men and women who serve our country. And we remember the fallen, who lost their lives in service. We are also thankful for our clients and colleagues and the supportive community we’ve built at Luma Wealth.

If a rucksack is not your thing, we offer more conventional training to help you achieve your financial goals. Please visit our website to learn about upcoming educational programs, or as always, reach out to your Luma Wealth advisor whenever you seek guidance.

¹ The True Story of the First Woman to Finish Special Forces Training, The New York Times Magazine, February 28, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/magazine/woman-special-forces-green-beret.html

² First Woman Set to Pass Special Forces Training and Join Green Berets, The New York Times, February 25, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/us/politics/first-women-special-forces-green-berets.html

³ SFAS Physical Training Handbook, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, The Special Operations Center of Excellence, Special Forces Proponent, Version 1.2, April 2, 2020 https://m.goarmy.com/content/dam/goarmy/downloaded_assets/pdfs/SFAS_PT_Handbook_v1.2_02APR2020.pdf