Left the Navy SEALs to have more time with my 3 kids. What I learned in the military helped me raise confident kids.

Left the Navy SEALs to have more time with my 3 kids highlights Brandon Webb’s post-military pivot toward parenting after a long deployment cycle. Webb, whose life story is shared in an as-told-to essay, joined the Navy at 18 and later married Gretchen. After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, their first child was born in November 2001 while Webb was in Afghanistan. He left the Navy after 13 years, six months, and six days, supported by real estate investments and defense contracts. Divorce followed despite counseling and continued co-parenting. He then applied mental-management tools he learned in sniper training—visualization and reframing negative self-talk—during Little League coaching and at home. The approach aimed to reduce anxiety and help his children recognize negative thinking from adults and themselves.