One-on-One with Ian Schinelli,
Retired Navy SEAL and Luminox Ambassador
By Devin Pangaro
There’s a certain gravitas to Ian Schinelli. An unmistakable presence that can be felt a thousand miles away over a single video call. Although we had only the briefest of introductions prior, it was readily apparent that his 10-year journey serving our country as a Navy SEAL would immediately resonate with GOVX members nationwide. What I soon learned was that like so many things, there was much more than meets the eye.
He played D1 NCAA soccer. He backpacked Europe. He self-trained for the SEALs by creating his very own version of Hell Week. He conducted Special Ops missions as one of the Elite. He flew to England to compete in a triathlon against ex-members of the British Special Forces. He supports the Navy SEAL Foundation. He mentors aspiring SEALs. And finally, he’s a dad.
This is his story.
GOVX:
Your resume speaks for itself, but if we were to go back to the beginning, could you tell us about your early life coming from a military family and what inspired you to start your journey?
IAN SCHINELLI:
I’m a little bit of an anomaly to be honest. I was an only child who moved around a lot due to my dad’s position. He was an officer in the Air Force, and that lifestyle is a little different than most in the military. You tend to see nicer living accommodations and bases.
As I grew up, there was never a push from anyone in my family to enlist. One grandfather has served in the Navy, the other in the Army. We never openly talked about their experiences, and my dad joined the Air Force more out of necessity than anything else.
But he was extremely intelligent. His position was more on the mathematics side, which later became an influence as I was considering my career options. In college, I played soccer and even entered the draft to play pro after my junior year. Being a bit burnt out from playing, I accepted an accounting internship and seriously looked at a career in finance.
Through happenstance, I met a SEAL recruiter via my roommate at the time, and that got the spark going.
GOVX:
What level of familiarity did you have with the SEALs at this point? What was the driving force?
IAN SCHINELLI:
I honestly didn’t know a ton, outside of it being extremely difficult. But it got the ball rolling, and the recruiter told me essentially to check back in a year after I graduated. The idea of becoming a SEAL just stuck in my head. As I was finishing up school, I was like, you know, I don’t really want to be an accountant. I doubled down on this thought by asking myself, what’s the hardest thing I could think of doing?
What’s something I could earn that my family couldn’t provide me? For me, being a SEAL was it.
So, I said F— it. Let’s go.
I wasn’t a lifelong ambition. I thought I was supposed to play sports or crunch numbers, but I kind of flipped the script, and went all in on it. I became fixated on quitting everything and just focusing on my training. Eight months of locking myself in a gym, working out with MMA fighters and mental preparation.
GOVX:
So you created your own Hell Week, what did that entail?
IAN SCHINELLI:
I put myself through my own Hell Week, which in retrospect, I wouldn’t advise. It was five weeks, and my buddies held me accountable by keeping up with me the whole time. We’d train all day and play everything from basketball to racquetball until 2 or 3AM. I didn’t drink alcohol, I stuck to a sleep regiment.
With Hell Week, I felt like if I put myself through this, I’ll know I can do it on my own. I’m not saying it was easy, it was hard as hell. But knowing mentally what I’m capable of, helped give me a leg up over some of the other guys.
When I finally got to boot camp after being accepted into the SEALs, it was almost the exact same week that I started my training one year prior. It was one of those serendipitous moments.
GOVX:
Being a lifelong athlete, how did that mentality come into play during your time in the military?
IAN SCHINELLI:
So, there’s plenty of common links between sports and the military. They’d do an analysis on how SEALs with athletic backgrounds perform in service. Ex football players would have the hardest time, because of the endurance aspect. Water Polo does well obviously, so does lacrosse, cross-country and soccer. You look at those sports specifically and there’s a grit factor involved.
Like we've got to dig deep, even if things aren’t looking good right now. That kind of mentality plays. You always have to find a way to make it work. There’s also the team aspect. Those who have been involved with team sports, tend to know inherently how to work as a team, which is really the core of the SEAL community. You can’t survive as well alone.
GOVX:
I’d imagine there’s some physical challenges that being an athlete can assist with as well.
IAN SCHINELLI:
Yeah, I mean even when you’re on the boats, your lower extremities need to be able to handle the stress. We’re constantly moving, and there’s times where I’ve had to coach other SEALs through something. But end of the day, you’re going to spend a lot of your time either on your feet or in the water. You have to be prepared.
GOVX:
You're a proud Luminox Ambassador, how did you get connected them and what drew you to their brand?
IAN SCHINELLI:
I’ve been involved with the Navy SEAL Foundation for years now, and my buddy Jeff Lear reached out to me about participating in the NYC SEAL Swim on the Hudson River. From him, I learned that Luminox was looking for qualified ambassadors to represent their brand.
I was familiar with Luminox from my time in the SEALs, and their work as a long-time partner of the foundation. So, the decision was easy. I had grown up around watches and my dad’s a big watch guy, so I knew the credibility that came with the Luminox name. I liked what they did on behalf of the SEAL community, and they made me feel at home from the start. I was introduced to the Every Hero Needs a Hero initiative, and it’s been a great fit. Luminox is very adamant about protecting the sanctity of what the SEAL teams are. Their watches represent the quiet professional without being over-the-tip or disingenuous. It’s a subtly in the design that I can appreciate. As far as creating a quality product that means something, I couldn’t have asked for a better brand to work with.
GOVX:
You mention the watches embodying what you’re looking for. What do you appreciate most about what a Luminox watch brings to the table?
IAN SCHINELLI:
Well first things first, my daughter loves that the watches are always illuminated. At night, when all the lights are off, she can look over at a my watch stand and see what time it is. For me, to just repeat myself, it’s the subtle stuff. The Navy SEAL Foundation Diver’s Watch has the trident engraved on the back, which I always end up showing to my buddies at the gym. The Back to the Blue release reminds me of some of the ships I’ve been on. I like that connection. When I’m going for a formal look, I’ll always reach for my Black Out. It goes with everything.
GOVX:
You’ve supported multiple foundations, but you’ve been heavily involved with the Navy SEAL Foundation, what can you tell us about that?
IAN SCHINELLI
I got started a while back, and it’s been full steam ahead ever since. Initially, I was in a transitional period after my service, and looking for way to stay committed and connected to the SEAL community. I've since competed in triathlons to support SEALS and their families, and soon I’ll be headed back to NYC to run in the New York City Marathon on behalf of the foundation.
My goal in 2025 is to further develop the partnership and become more involved with the fundraising efforts.
GOVX:
You’re also involved in a SEAL mentorship program called The Warrior Calling. How did that come to be?
IAN SCHINELLI:
Yeah, so a guy I was a second phase instructor with started a program to mentor those looking to get into the SEAL pipeline. I basically serve as a resource for future SEALs to bounce questions off of, learn about the process of getting accepted, and most importantly, outline their preparation. I've work with The Warrior Calling team to develop a program for strength training. It’s on me to ensure that they’re dialed in and where they need to be.
We usually have them three months to a year, it’s all about setting expectations and providing necessary guidance. For these guys, they have questions, and for me, it’s a chance to give back to the next generation.
GOVX:
So lastly, time management is something that can be a struggle for many of us. How do you stay on top of that despite your packed schedule?
IAN SCHINELLI:
That’s a great question. When I have my daughter, I’m on a very tight schedule. Say 9am to 3pm, I’m on dad time. I review my schedule daily, to make sure I’m where I need to be.
For me, I know I have to utilize the hours in my day to be a family man, mentor through The Warrior Calling, check in with the Navy SEAL Foundation, and work on my brand partnership duties with Luminox. Filling in those gaps helps me set my work schedule.
To keep up with my fitness, I know that I have to wake up at 4AM to get my workouts in. Otherwise it’s not getting done. Later in the day, I may be able to fit in another workout after I get my daughter from school. At night, it’s family time. My quiet hours, if you will. Those are non-negotiable. It’s all well written out time blocks.
GOVX:
Ian, thank you for your service and sitting down with us today.
IAN SCHINELLI:
Absoutely, thank you.
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