TCAV TV: You're not Tough - Story 21 

The toughest guy I ever met was a pulmonary patient in a Chicago hospital in the early nineties. He was almost 80 years old, 76 If I recall. He had was German, had fought at the Eastern front was at Stalingrad and was flown out on one of the last planes out. He had walked 10miles to the airfields with a bullet that had penetrated his cheek and came out the other side. He was in hospital in Germany and recovered and sent to the West to fight the Allies ending up at Normandy. He was actually a paratrooper but said he had only one combat jump in the war in Greece, but by the end of the war the Luftwaffe didn't have any planes left or very little. He was captured by American troops at D-Day number 7. We developed a great friendship. The guy spoke perfect English and ended up moving to Detroit after the war working in the Engineering field for the car industry. This dude was a complete badass and emitted a glowing personality. His wife said he liked me because I was well mannered and quiet and carried myself like a soldier. The stories this guy would tell were really extraordinary. His wife was actually tearing up during one of his accounts of hand to hand combat on the Eastern front with a young Russian soldier he said was probably no more than 16 years old of which he felt guilty the rest of his life. His wife told me he had told me things he had never spoken about. Wow, sorry for the long story.

Former Ranger and Legionair here, your are spot on, brother. It's those men, big or small, who can always find that ability to get up and keep going, one more time.....over and over and over.

I served in the Marine Corps, Army, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and State Department of Corrections. I learned early on in life that I’m not tough. I just survived every challenge put in front of me. Nothing special or remarkable. Another fantastic and real talk. Respect Brother!

I was a standout wrestler as a young guy. Leaving junior high school I had high school coaches, trying to recruit me to their school (those within my boundaries). When I finally chose one, I didn’t make the varsity team the first year. I was walking around Kickin rocks for a few days, and finally my coach pulled me aside and said “True toughness doesn't need a spotlight; it quietly manifests in the face of adversity.” I lnever forgot it. Thanks for this video .

Thanks Taylor, it seems to me that a truly cool person does not need to prove or show this to anyone, he simply overcomes difficulties.

I don't know how many guys I met who thought they were tough, but had no endurance. Good video as usual. RU-vid needs more guys like you influencing the young. There are so many bad examples online these days. Respect.

As a Combat Medic in the Army, it took me about a week of working Sick Call to to fully understand what you are talking about. Everyone is tough in ideal circumstances.

love it, looking forward to your book TCAV

Toughness is when you have been tested and attained the best ability-dependability.

Outstanding💯

Well said, Brother! A real Professional is also very humble. It is an on-going journey of self evaluation, growth, and development.

I needed to see this video I’m former U.S Army Infantry

Resolve is an emotion.

I needed to see this today TCAV

As I listened to you get into your lesson today I was going to offer the genesis of becoming durable, enduring en route to prevailing, must begin with humility. You nailed that to the cross better than I ever could have. Enough said. A test perhaps is reading through this passage, where many tough guys can't get past the first verse, to get to the part where humility recognizes how durability is achieved. Psalm 71:19-21. You, my friend have lived this passage. Our humility knows who brought us our troubles, we did. Our enduring through the battle, the test, teaches us where toughness really comes from, that faithful partnership with the invincible, and with our own feet, kicking ourselves into high gear, until we overcome our worst enemy, and, as you said many times, become our own best friend..

That's an old man's wisdom you have brother, I know because I am an old man!

So much truth here. Funny thing, not having a go at you, Taylor; my Dad had a single rose tattoo he got when drunk one night in Hamburg with the British Army. He told me guys who get tatts to make themselves look tough aren't. He said the toughest men he knew were those who got up every day, went to work and made sure their families were taken care of. One thing I learned in the Australian Army was that tough guys, really tough, resilient men, were like lions. And nobody has ever seen a lion swaggering around telling everyone "look at me, I'm a lion".

No bullshit, I think this is the first post I've made to a video like this, but this one got me. I've been living with a serious cancer for years. The docs have stopped giving me life expectancies. I've been lucky to hang around for the next poison or round of radiation to keep me going. It took my job, it took my professional goals, it completely altered my life. Having said that, I get up when I can, I love my kids, I love my wife, and Charlie Mike. People say all the time "you're so tough". I never really know how to respond, but now I do. Thank you .

I’ve had teachers who spoke to me this way. I listened, it made the difference for me. Young men need to hear from real experiences and not textbook psychology. I’ve always valued the thoughts and advice of those who admit they’ve f**k up and owned it.

Another great video! Thank you Bro!

Hardships build endurance.

Brother you hit the nail on the head and yout absolutely correct about being tough . Keep yout head up and moving forward at all times . God Bless Kyle

Tough is choosing to remain humble in a fake world of superficial people who despite their carefully curated public profiles, social media videos, and instant gratification remain true to their values, convictions, loyalties and honor. Truly tough people keep their integrity intact refusing to allow materialistic temptations to control their thoughts and actions. Tough is remaining true and loyal to the people in your life who have loved and supported your growth and struggle. Not abandoning them when it was no longer convenient, despite being tempted by others to leave. It starts from the inside out. A tough spirit and mind lives forever, unlike a tough body, which has an expiration date.

Really connected with this one. I thought I was the hardest guy on earth until I was running for my life. Life kicked me in the teeth a few times, it then proceeded to piss all over my broken mind and soul. I learned that you need to be broken to find your true inner warrior. Once you meet him and align with him you learn to never underestimate anyone. I keep him locked away for emergencies only. He is a demon who can face anything fearlessly. Possibly the realest content on the whole of social media. Peace.

Huge Respect.

I’ve heard that about special forces operators: that the most deadly ones are not the ones who act tough. They are the “sleepers:” people like the soldiers-heroes-who came back from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc., who fought in unspeakable conditions and quietly went about their lives thereafter as regular citizens. And, secondly: People don’t like bullies, and they don’t like show-offs. People, instead, respect others who can get things done, who do what is right, act for the better good, and do it all quietly without drawing attention. Now that’s power.

Great vidoes thank you!!!!

Well said

Another brilliant bit of content Toughest guy I’ve ever served with was 150 lbs ringing wet ,wore Harry Potter glasses and had a Bonsai garden. But if you were fighting him you were going to have to kill him to stop him. A few wannabes found that out the hard way Keep making the videos they are “Life lessons”

Just as a wise person does not refer to themselves as wise.

I used to think I was tough back when I was 22. I thought that lifting and being bigger than most people made me tough. Then I went to my first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class and got shit on by the smallest dudes. That humbled me. Now, I don’t underestimate anyone and I understand that there many people out there that are much tougher than I am.

Men who claim to be tough guys don't realize or more importantly accept their flaws.

God bless brother! Words i needed to hear... thank you!

All I know is between snowboarding, skateboarding and motocross and mountain biking. Apparently I have broke 42 bones and I know that I ain’t shit.

I think that the term of toughness has been created by people who never actually came to the core of their being, let alone put themselves into unpleasant situations (It also applies to the term of "genius"). Definitiv Klartext ! 👍🏻

Powerful stuff...I always say if u think ur tough try a 21 fast like Gandhi lol

I would love to read a book about your unique journey. Please tell me you have one in the works.

Did you ever notice Sometimes you actually pushed yourself more as a child than you do as an adult.

Everybody wants to be a tough guy but nobody wants to do the dirty work.

Will they allow you to do tatics, gear and weapon videos at your compound. It would not only be interesting to see how the Legion operates but would certainly grow your channel.

I have to disagree that "humble" means having a low opinion of yourself. In my experience, it means understanding the full truth about yourself: assets and liabilities.

Is all name tags in English or is yours because that’s your primary language?

Wes Watson?

There was a great story about Miyamoto Musashi. When he was at the height of his prowess as a swordsman he began to think of himself as nearly invulnerable. Then he stepped on a rusty nail on a dock and got an infection that almost took his life. He realized that Japan’s greatest swordsman was nearly taken out by an almost insignificant, inanimate object. He never allowed himself to think too much of himself again.

The only tough guy I've ever known was my grandfather. He spent 47 years underground mining gold under horrifying working conditions to support his family.

All the “tough” guy’s I used to look up to are either dead or in prison for life. I was called a coward for doing everything I could to get my kids and myself out of the big city ,away from the gangs and gun play. And now I have a beautiful family and a good job that provides a decent living, and most of all a safe environment for my children to grow up in. If that makes me a coward…I’m cool with it. At least I can watch my children grow and I’m not in a box or a cell. The only thing that got me to start thinking right was a strong male to mentor me and guide me properly. So if you have the opportunity…try to mentor those that seem hopeless…you would be surprised at the difference one strong man can do just by being a lighthouse for someone living in the dark. 🤙🏴🦍

Well said, brother. I have a whole new view of the word tough compared to what I used to think it meant 20 yrs ago. Being tough to me now means being the MAN my family needs me to be. Mind, Body, Soul...One step at a time Respect to all the men tuning in around the globe👊🏼 Thank you, TCAV 👊🏼🇨🇱

As a kid a “tough” guy was someone who could fight. As a man I realized “toughness” means endurance, resilience, discipline and grinding every MF day!! 🤙🏻

Great content. I signed up to the legion in 1990 at 19 years old. It tought me respect for myself and others and a lot more. Hello from Ireland 🇮🇪 mon ami.

I served in the Marines, Army, DOS, OGA and spent 8 years as a bouncer. Harder than all that was growing up in an orphanage. I considered myself pretty tough until I met a guy with similar background who grew up in a Mexican orphanage. I learned there is always someone tougher than you. Love the message you’re putting out there. Respect to you Shipmate/Legionnaire and I hope you check out my forthcoming book. War Junkie-A Cautionary Tale

The only connection I have to the French foreign legion is doing security for Jean Claude several years at world music awards in the late 90s in Monaco lmao

When we are young men it is expected that we “Will!” Fuck Up!” It’s just that simple. As young hard chargers we gonna Fuck up! Listen up hard chargers, TCAV is explaining the price he paid for being a Fuck Up?! In my honest opinion TCAV has paid a high price for being a Shit Bird! He’s much more mature and have learned from his mistakes. This should not be held against him. America write your congressman or senators and ask to reinstate this American Fighting Man back into his teams ASAP! Bring TCAV home! #secondchanxes Semper Fi

TC, you sure have got the conversation going here in the UK and have touched many people's lives. Thank you for your service sir. Love the content as always. Utter respect 🙏

I realized the truth about what you're saying on our 1st deployment to Afghanistan, and on our 3 night in country we were on a dismounted patrol about 20km SE of Kandahar and we were on a "cave clearing" Intel gathering op when we made contact with a platoon size force of taliban fighters. What I remember most about them was the ones that survived, ran in the side of the mountain BAREFOOT faster than you and I could run on flat ground. And I'm talking jagged, sharp rocks with loose peebles and stones. There ability to quickly melt back into the environment used to remind me of old Vietnam vet combat stories. I have a deep respect for the endurance of those people, and showed me how spoiled we are as a whole in the states.

Attention !!....Tu commences à parler comme un soldat français !! 😂😂😂 L'humilité, la modestie ... C'est ce que j'ai appris en servant dans l'armée française ... Il faut juste faire de son mieux, et la force réside dans le groupe, pas dans l'individu .... Il suffit d'avoir fait des stages commandos pour le savoir ... Certains obstacles sont impossibles à franchir sans l'aide de ton groupe, de ta section... Et tout est fait pour te le faire comprendre ..... Ceux qui gagnent sont ceux qui gardent leur cohésion une minute de plus que l'ennemi ...

TCAV you are an old soul. You are redefining what it means to be a man. I hope young men are watching and listening and taking these lessons to heart. Thank you for all you do and being the example. Stay the course!

You Might Be In The legion But You Will Never Remove The Seal in you. Cupcakes Lmao.

Is there any way you could talk about corporal punishment in the legion or is that a topic you can’t discuss yet?

On point. I worked all over the world in offshore drilling as a Subsea Engineer. A lot in West Africa ( many times in Côte d'Ivoire), I've experienced many things, and met many men who claimed to be tough. I've also met people who were "tough". They were the most quiet. One was my French Foreign legion body guard from Liverpool. His leg was heavily scared from grenade attack. We had some great chats. Quiet guy, but you can sense another side to him if it were needed. Other guys you can see straight through it.

Tough is actually grit. Yo, TCAV you are tough. Completing SEAL Team training and doing 5 freak'n years in the Legion is beyond amazing. When you're 80 years old your grandkids are going to live visiting Pop-Pop for all tgat wisdom and the stories you got on how this universe showed you what toughness is.

A real “tough guy “ is one who stands up for the lesser among us and treats everyone with respect and dignity. He is also one who does not take the path of least resistance. A tough guy is not afraid to make hard decisions, and then stand by those decisions. You are on point as always! Much respect!

I’m not cool and I know it

Toughest man I ever met gave me the best advice regarding being a “tough guy”….he pretty much said you can’t be 98% bad,..2%good…either your bad ,.or you are good,..no room for good on the street,.. glad I never went down that route

5 years USCG Taclet, 23 year LEO, UC dope, Swat and all the pins and accolades... I also am an alcoholic 8 years sober, pulled myself out of gutter a few times.. I aint tough.. and if you are walking around telling people you are tough. You probably aren't. If you tell people you are a good man or good dad or a natural leader.. You probably are none of the above😊 The quietest dudes are usually the toughest. Take note.

I remember being a younger cat trying to intimidate and be "tough". I started to realize that I wasn't tough at all and I was actually weak inside. Great speech bro, really sends a message to guys not just trying to be in the military but guys trying to be better at life in general.

The legion was the only place where I felt I truly belonged. Congratulations on what you have achieved. Viva la legion!!!

Hola,muy buenas palabras. Yo soy policia en Argentina. Saludos atte...

That’s Right Brother! Keep preaching it, we need to hear it 🙏 to many delusional people out there just waiting on that “wake up call” right around the corner- to show them how “tough” they really are- thanks for sharing the truth- God knows we need it 🙏 🤙

If you say “You think you are tough; you are not tough” VERY Very True. Being aware of the environment n self-aware of themself is very true.

Tcav in the house

Couldn’t be more true bro! As a previous tier 1 operator I have been broken mentally and physically more times than I can count especially during selection!

Great message for the day my man !!! God bless

Tough for me was losing everything I worked 25 years for, my business, my house, my money and family then rising from the depths of despair to start all over again and kicking ass. Beating depression, wanting to end my life so many times but staying strong and building something better than I had before

So true! More words of wisdom from Taylor! As a rule, I'd say all the men that I consider tough and I know have done amazing things are almost always extremely humble. Loud mouths that think they're tough for the most part have just never really been challenged. I've never completed something difficult and came out on the other side and said, WOW I'm amazing! My thoughts were always, holy shit! Glad I survived that, man I really gotta train more! My guess is from the most elite soldier to a top NFL star, in they're mind they're constantly saying, man that was close, I gotta improve! Guess thats the difference between the elite and the average.

The word of God calls being humble, meekness. The true definition of meekness is, power with restraint. The Lord is a man of war, the Lord is his name. Exodus 15:3

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream-and not make dreams your master; If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make a heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" if you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son! IF - Rudyard Kipling You message reminded me of my favorite poem and one that I believe captures the essence of what you were saying. I posted this for those who may never have read these words. Stay strong, keep hustling, and be humble but confident. And most of all , never, NEVER, give up!

Become a truck driver. Cdl. Thats how i got my stuff together. Im a formal vet. And at 45. Thats what helped me

T-Tough????ADROIT THANKS MATE Timothy

All that and a bag of chips, Long time since I've heard that. Thought It was a Yorkshire saying, where did you pick that one up. You might not like it, but you are inspirational. Thank you

Hero is another word like tough. It's so overused it's become meaningless.

Don Shipley says the guys who pass BUDS are the ones with a likable personality and are B’s in everything. Something to that effect.

Absolutely no shit!!! Every person in their lives no matter if it's combat or meeting a criteria for a job will fail. Even as a combat veteran I have failed twice to pass just a written exam for a police department, thus I gave up on it. I found out that even police departments have probation periods after graduations that once they hit the streets are graded on their actions by criterium is brutal especially domestic violence, restraints, and use of force. After their probationary time their FTOs or Field Training Officers are not going to be nice because they have to be objective to your performance on duty and evaluated, just like how Special Operations in the US Military works. I had a fellow casino security guy join the Las Vegas Metro to graduate and get fired after his probation. Meaning that you have to fit into any organization to be accepted. Scrutiny in any organization means that do you want this guy into your organization is the bottom line?

I served four years in the The Marine Corp The most well round best prepared guys that I met in my opinion were guys raised on farms they could shoot well do all the physical work they seem to adapt much easier to difficult situation . They were a lot more prepared from day one than I was and I learned more than a few things from them over the years .....

They wouldn't call themselves the Top G either and make thousands of videos telling everyone how badass they are.

*i'll tell you what broke me more than anything else, man. when i was laying there, detoxing from fentanyl & heroin, throwing up, shitting on myself, asking to die & would of done _anything_ just to be well again. that broke me like no other. _fuck that shit!_

thanks preacherman for the brainstorming _ i sh*t in my pants everyday because life is challenging but now i feel like it's ok .

Sometimes violence is necessary., doesnt mean someone is tough..just capable. Hate is poison to the soul...always Sometimes..expressing compassion and empathy is a tough thing to do if emotions are not aligned ..but it might come with less soul consequence in the end. Embracing a image of toughness doesnt come without certain challenges and is often a veil for a tired soul trying to escape the hordes of walking spiritually wounded... Sometimes it takes awhile to figure it all out

Would love to hear why a US citizen would join the Legion. Good luck in your journey.

Maybe you don't think you are tough compared to your peers, but anyone with a similar resume is going to be like a machine compared to the average dude.

I'm kinda speechless man. Long time listener, fist time caller haha. But seriously..the words and message you just put together in that video are something more special than you may realize my friend. Cause I've never heard anything quite like it. I hope you realize the significance of these videos. Seriously. Please continue.

I am just trying to be a badass maybe someday. I've been called one tough sob sorry I don't believe the hype.

I AM A TOUGH GUY YOU DONT WANT TO MESS WITH PAL! I WILL MEET YOU IN CALL OF DUTY OR WAR CRAFT. NAME THE TIME! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

when i did my service a guy that looked like a nerd. He was the badest mofo out of all of us. Didnt hesitate one sec. just did it. i learned a lesson. love that guy, to this day, hard as they come

Everyone projects the image they want others to see. And it's easier to project an image of who you want to be than for a lot of people to be that person. Great discussion again!

You come off as the loudest guy at the gun range, but when shit truly hits the fan your yellow.

Did you meet Adjutant Thomas Gast?

It is the same with the term "hero." It is used way too often and takes away from the real meaning.

Love you TAYLOR ❤... So true about the whole violence thing: dying is scary or at least flatlinig _________/_____________. + Have had three guns to face and ribs by a murdering Trio and: somehow came out alive(VERY SCARY!) Some victims not so lucky. Let alone all the buddies; LORD I TRULY LONG to just give a 🫂 too now. 😢 From my time as an Operator.

The other word used way too often and out of context is HERO.

Amen TCAV ❤💯✝️🇺🇸 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 New International Version 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong