Personal+Narrative+PP

Personal Narrative
I was so excited! It was the middle of summer and a beautiful day. My family and I were taking a trip in Key West, but it wasn't just any normal vacation. We were in Key West for one very important reason, we were diving with ex-special forces divers.

We drove for around seven hours before we finally reached Key West. When we got there we had to go through a security check to get to where we were staying because we were staying on one of the many naval bases there. We were there representing T.R.U.E. (Teen Research Underwater Explorers), and we were sharing a small condo style house with the founder of our group, Mark Stephens, a former special forces diver himself. However, I soon found out this wasn't any normal navy base this was the home of the U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Diver Training Facilities. It's the only facility like it in the world, although navy seals train at a similar facility.

This complex was called SFUWO or Special Forces Under Water Operations. This is where we spent most of our time. The first time we got there we were given a tour and a basic overview of what was happening that week. We also got to meet the sum 15 wounded warriors we would be working with. The next day we got in the pool for the first time we got in the water with the wounded warriors. That was the day we did basic skills with them and their family. After that, the wounded warriors and their families went over some diving tips and had a sort of refresher course. I got to work hands on with all of them, and let me tell you, it was an eye opener. The next day was the first day some of the divers and I got to dive in open water. Some of the wounded warriors and the helpers went to a lagoon not to far from the navy base and did a few basic dives. The next couple days consisted of more dives at the lagoon with different groups of people. The day before our last day there we got to go out on a boat and dive at five different reefs. The dives of that day were, in my opinion, better than any before then. The last day was Closing Ceremonies and we said goodbye to all the great people we worked with.

Now you know a little bit more about my family and I's amazing vacation to Key West last summer. We got to stay on a navy base, train at SFUWO, and most of all dive with 15 amazing wounded warriors. That's why that was a vacation to remember.