--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When 9/11 happened, I was like, 'I gotta…" description: "\"When 9/11 happened, I was like, 'I gotta do something.' I went and talked to the recruiters, and I found out about the Special Forces 18X program. They..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/tim-kennedy-9370_army_when-9-11-happened-i-was-like-i-gotta-do_2326892.jpg" --- # When 9/11 happened, I was like, 'I gotta do something.' I… ![“When 9/11 happened, I was like, 'I gotta do something.' I went and talked to the recruiters, and I found out about the Special Forces 18X program. They take qualified people off the street, and they give them a shot at Special Forces. I was like, 'So I could go try out for Special Forces?'” quote by Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/tim-kennedy-9370_army_when-9-11-happened-i-was-like-i-gotta-do_2326892.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/tim-kennedy-9370_army_when-9-11-happened-i-was-like-i-gotta-do_2326892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/tim-kennedy-9370_army_when-9-11-happened-i-was-like-i-gotta-do_2326892.jpg) > “When 9/11 happened, I was like, 'I gotta do something.' I went and talked to the recruiters, and I found out about the Special Forces 18X program. They take qualified people off the street, and they give them a shot at Special Forces. I was like, 'So I could go try out for Special Forces?'” [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A personal crisis can spark decisive action, leading to transformative opportunities like elite military service. **In simple terms:** Crisis can motivate big life changes. Key Takeaway Turn urgency into purposeful action. Themes motivation career change service resilience Mood determined inspired Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career transition - military enlistment - personal development - overcoming adversity Key Concepts goal setting military training personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What urgent feeling could you channel product? - What steps are needed to pursue a new path? A Different Perspective Opportunity may be limited by resources or eligibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Special forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-forces/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) ## Related quotes > [I always have that nagging feeling of wanting to go back and getting my long gun back and be a sniper on a Special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-always-have-that-nagging-feeling-of-wanting-to-go-back-and-getting/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [People want to hear what I do with Special Forces, as a ranger, as a sniper. And I'm like 'What does that have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/people-want-to-hear-what-i-do-with-special-forces-as-a-ranger-as-a/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I was deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq with British Special Forces Units. I have great respect for the British military and the country as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-was-deployed-in-afghanistan-and-iraq-with-british-special-forces/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I've been to Afghanistan and Iraq a few times, and then I've done deployments elsewhere - with Special Forces, we go all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-ve-been-to-afghanistan-and-iraq-a-few-times-and-then-i-ve-done/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [Peacetime Special Forces are different than wartime Special Forces. And I'm just not sure I was born to be in peace time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/peacetime-special-forces-are-different-than-wartime-special-forces/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [“When recruiters, co-workers, old classmates, and other people Google your name and click on a link to you on LinkedIn, your profile page is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-pinola/when-recruiters-co-workers-old-classmates-and-other-people-google/) [Melanie Pinola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-pinola/) > [Recruiters in our country are known for lying to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/recruiters-in-our-country-are-known-for-lying-to-people/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [“Consider all recruiters to be lazy and short of time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopesh-tiwari/consider-all-recruiters-to-be-lazy-and-short-of-time/) Roopesh Tiwari > [“The recruiters came and talked with us in school, and I remember it like yesterday. I wasn't interested. I told them I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dau/the-recruiters-came-and-talked-with-us-in-school-and-i-remember-it/) [Stephen Dau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dau/) > [“People desperate for belonging and validation become prime targets for cults. Don’t show recruiters your low self-worth. Protect your neck by knowing your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vennie-kocsis/people-desperate-for-belonging-and-validation-become-prime-targets/) Vennie Kocsis > [I asked all of our recruiters to give me all resumes of prospective employees with their name, gender, place of origin, and age blacked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/i-asked-all-of-our-recruiters-to-give-me-all-resumes-of-prospective/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“On my next weekend without the kids I went to Nashville to visit her. We had a great weekend. On Monday morning she kissed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-galloway/on-my-next-weekend-without-the-kids-i-went-to-nashville-to-visit-her/) [Noah Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-galloway/) > [Recruiters sometimes have their wires crossed when it comes to what Millennials really want at work. While fancy perks are great, many Millennials are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/recruiters-sometimes-have-their-wires-crossed-when-it-comes-to-what/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [“The corporate-development teams of large companies, insofar as their small-company deals are concerned, are really glorified HR recruiters with fatter checkbooks. That”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-garcia-martinez/the-corporate-development-teams-of-large-companies-insofar-as-their/) [Antonio Garcia Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-garcia-martinez/) > [Our model is very, very different to LinkedIn. We only deal with very small companies. We don't have any support for recruiters. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naval-ravikant/our-model-is-very-very-different-to-linkedin-we-only-deal-with-very/) [Naval Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naval-ravikant/) ## More by Tim Kennedy > [What's the definition of terrorism? It's to achieve an objective through the use of force and fear. These are just nasty, evil, disgusting human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/what-s-the-definition-of-terrorism-it-s-to-achieve-an-objective/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I'm an eight-year Green Beret, Ranger, sniper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-m-an-eight-year-green-beret-ranger-sniper/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I have no problem putting on a kit, carrying a big sniper rifle, and running a few thousand meters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-have-no-problem-putting-on-a-kit-carrying-a-big-sniper-rifle-and/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [When you're in Ranger School, it sucks. You're not eating; you're not sleeping. You're marching miles - for months at a time. It's horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/when-you-re-in-ranger-school-it-sucks-you-re-not-eating-you-re-not/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I always have that nagging feeling of wanting to go back and getting my long gun back and be a sniper on a Special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-always-have-that-nagging-feeling-of-wanting-to-go-back-and-getting/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [Peacetime Special Forces are different than wartime Special Forces. And I'm just not sure I was born to be in peace time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/peacetime-special-forces-are-different-than-wartime-special-forces/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [Fighting is a very independent thing, and it's not a team sport, and it's not the NFL, you know, because we don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/fighting-is-a-very-independent-thing-and-it-s-not-a-team-sport-and-it/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I love the idea of what America is. America is a bunch of people that do these incredible, thankless, selfless jobs that nobody really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-love-the-idea-of-what-america-is-america-is-a-bunch-of-people-that/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I hit hard, and I'm hard to take down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-hit-hard-and-i-m-hard-to-take-down/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [There are some parallels between 'Zombieland' and 'Range 15,' except 'Zombieland,' with Woody Harrelson, there's this pleasurable fun in every scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/there-are-some-parallels-between-zombieland-and-range-15-except/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I think the most rewarding thing is going over and being deployed and having done meaningful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-think-the-most-rewarding-thing-is-going-over-and-being-deployed-and/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I don't need MMA, but I love fighting. Those are very different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-don-t-need-mma-but-i-love-fighting-those-are-very-different-things/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [No matter what I do, it's all about the workouts. When I travel, I make sure I get my workout in first. When I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/no-matter-what-i-do-it-s-all-about-the-workouts-when-i-travel-i-make/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I'm competitive when I fight, but I don't get emotionally involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-m-competitive-when-i-fight-but-i-don-t-get-emotionally-involved/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I'm not hard to find unless you're ISIS - then, it's a rough night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-m-not-hard-to-find-unless-you-re-isis-then-it-s-a-rough-night/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) [Explore all 73 Tim Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When 9/11 happened, I was like, 'I gotta do something.' I went and talked to the recruiters, and I found out about the Special Forces 18X program. They take qualified people off the street, and they give them a shot at Special Forces. 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