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Military.com Forums Navy Discussions SEAL/SWCC and EOD SEAL Information-Future BUD/S Hopefuls|
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New Member |
I am not a SEAL, but I have decided to put down all the things that I have learned through massive amounts of research and put them here. First and foremost, if you have a SEAL Challenge contract, that is it, you are to go to The SWCC at Coronado California as soon as you complete your Basic Training. Most will be given the Grad N Go option, where your Ship Date will be determined by the start date of the next BUD/S class. They do this so that all potential BUD/S canidates can be put in the same unit during Basic Training. This is the Navys answer to lowering failure rates at BUD/S by weeding out unqualified applicants before they arrive at BUD/S.
Currently the Indoc. period at BUD/S is 5 weeks. This is done so that more training can be covered during BUD/S to better prepare you for entry to the teams. Furthermore, currently HELL WEEK falls in the third week of First Phase. This was done to cut the class sizes down early to save money, and so that Instructors could focus their energies on the most qualified students earlier in the training cycle. However, all of these facts are subject to change at the discretion of the Commander of the NSWC. As far as physical fitness. For those of you that are currently very athletic and feel that you don't need to bring the intensity of your training to new levels, you are wrong. If you go in with this mindset, you are dooming yourself to fail. Most of the training drops in BUD/S are Drop On Request (DOR), but about 20% or 1 in 5 are still due to medical or acedemic (Could Not Keep Up) reasons. Most of the injuries recieved during BUD/S are extremity injuries resulting from lack of preperation. The problem is that SEAL training is designed to strengthen the muscles of the ENTIRE body. Such things as pullups, pushups, situps, dips, boat runs, the obstacle course, swims, runs, and log-PT (150 telephone pole that you carry, run with, do sit-ups with, and do right and left shoulder arms with) are almost daily delights, (Note: Dont be caught light in log-PT or Ole Misery will find you). Due to the non-stop pace of training, the muscles, and skeletal structures of people who are not prepared WILL NOT be able to withstand the constant torment. You will suffer any number of physical issues from shin splints, high ankle sprains, knee injuries, hip injuries, torn rotator cuffs, pulled muscles, all the way up to more serious issues like broken legs and compressed vertebre. The only way to lessen the likelyhood of these is to train hard. I for one would rather be injured before going because if I couldn't stand the PT I surely couldnt survive HELL WEEK. To prepare for this, there are alot of good resources out and around. One of the most common is the following. http://www.navyseals.com/community/navyseals/navysealworkout_main.cfm On top of the things listed in this workout. I recommend periodic ruck sack marches, with distance and weights increasing up to no less than ten miles with no more than 1/3 of your body weight. Try to get your times down to average about a mile every 15 minutes. This may seem like a slow pace, but with 50 pounds on your back you quickly learn it is anything but. Also I recommend riding a bike if possible. This is great for strenghtening the structures of the knees and ankles, and the cardio is a real plus. Distance and times are for you to decide. The third thing that is a great help is to practice holding increasing amounts of weight directly over your head, starting small and working up in both weight and reps. Take it from one shoulder to the other, and perform squats with the weight. Will help to get you ready for log-pt. Try to do all workouts by the book, and if you fall short, then ensure you have the discipline to work until muscle failure. Get used to the feeling, because a complete lack of physical strenght is what BUD/S is all about. If you can't dig deep without being yelled at, then maybe you should rethink your priorities. I hope this helps those of you that just wanted an idea of what to expect, and what was expected of you. Remember the key to BUD/S is to never give up on yourself. Good luck and see you at BUD/S This message has been edited. Last edited by: BJones18X, |
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New Member |
A couple of more things. You can expect to spend most of your time at training cold, sandy, and wet. Surf torture may feel like just that, but is designed to teach you to mentally ward off the effects of hypothermia on the body. It also has the less-than desirable effect of washing away whatever strenght, both mental and physical, that you thought you had left. It is said that these conditions are just a SAMPLE of what a SEAL will endure on a real-world mission. Also keep in mind that BUD/S is just a stepping stone in your quest to become a SEAL operator. After this period you still have 18 MORE months of training, misery, hard work and evaluation before you earn the title of SEAL. Once again best of luck to you, and all this is designed to enlighten NOT discourge you. The skills and training you will recieve are second to none, and well worth the sacrifice for a life-time membership in the most elite group in the United States Navy.
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Member |
BJones Both your posts were well thought through. Well done. However, a couple of points. One cannot ward off the effects of hypotherma. It is like the flu, cancer, or any other disease. In the cold surf for long periods your body will accept just so much cold, then go into hypothermia. No amount of mental defense can ward off a trauma such as hypothermia. However, to fold with your posts, mental training can ward off the effect of quiting based on the severe cold, and it is cold. The total training for a SEAL from day one through Trident pinning is 11 months, Six months of BUDS and 5 months of SQT. At this point a graduate receives their Trident and can address himself as a SEAL. However, as a FNG to a Team he will receive training that is intense at first, tapering off as the FNG becomes seasoned. Training never ceases for a SEAL, or for that matter any other combatant. I would like to add to your fine posts by advising BUDS hopefuls to strenthen your character to accept humbling discipline from the BUDS Instructors. And most of all, trainees are not enrolled in BUDS/SQT for the end purpose of wearing a Trident Badge and googling the girls, but rather, such trainees are schooled to become combatants where lives are exchanged at the point of combat. |
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New Member |
Really informative post. So let me ge this straight.
BUD/S-6 Months Airborne School - 3 Weeks SQT - 5 Months 18 Month workup So its about 2 1/2 years before your first deployement? Do other SOF units train that long before going on there first deployment or do only SEALS train that long before going on there first deployment. |
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New Member |
SB5,
I would like to thank you very much for your kind words, and I apologize for any errors that I made. Either way it is an honor to be told good job by a man with your experience. Shabib, Look at the following link to give you a little more info into the US Army Special Forces. I believe the 18/D may take the cake for training cycle. http://www.goarmy.com/special_forces/training.jsp Not sure if they do cycles before a deployment, but that is some crazy training. |
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New Member |
BJones18x your right that the 18D has the craziest and longest training but the rest of the 18(letter) training seem shorter than SEAL training.
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New Member |
You say "SWCC." That would be Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman, right? Does SWCC stand for something else that concerns SEALs?
Sorry if I'm mistaken. |
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Member |
You are correct. SWCC is the fast boat part of NSW. However, I did not correct that bit because I had nitpicked enough of the original post. The statement should read, vice SWCC, BUDS (Basic Underwater Demoliton School), NSW, Coronado, CA. |
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New Member |
Sorry, I was a lil groggy when I wrote that. I meant to say the NSWC. Sorry for the mistake.
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Member |
Not to worry. I knew what you meant. We are 5X5. |
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New Member |
Most people cannot ward of hypothermia but it is very possible. Through the use of Tummo-meditation you can learn to control your body temp. There have been a few studies done as well as National Geo filming of monks sitting onside in himalayas in sub zero temps naked while it was snowing for over 1 hour. |
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New Member |
Heya,
Just a few questions: 1) With all that training, when do SEAL contracts begin? In other words, does the training count for time served? If you train for 11-18 months, does that come off your total time, or does your total time begin once your operational (but still a FNG)? 2) What do people from the SEAL challenge who wash out wash out into? How are the medical rolls treated, and what are their options? I'm interested in the Navy, and planning to use the SEAL workout this summer and get myself trained up. I figure I'll gauge my performance and take it from there, but I'm worried because by the time I finish college and apply to the Navy, I'd be starting to push the age limit for SEAL officers, I think. I'd also prefer to have experience rather than go in completely green, but, again, I may end up running into some age limits. ~CK |
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Member |
The Serpas can attest to any studies of warding off hypothermia. Their mountain climbing parties are full of, or should I said absent of climbers who risked hypothermia. When performing BUDS training there is no time for cold undurance studies. You're either able to handle it or not. |
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New Member |
College,
All training will count for you as part of your enlistment time. Your enlistment begins the day that you finish your paperwork in Basic, and you start receiving pay from the military. The current enlistment time for a SEAL Challenge contract is a MINIMUM of 6 years. The contract is extended to base that you will be training for 2 years before you are available for deployment. Please realize that regardless of making it thru the training you will still be obligated to serve the 6 year term. Your career path if you do not make it will be Needs Of the Navy. Also, the only way to CONTRACT into SEALS is to get the SEAL Challenge contract. If you are serious about it, then make sure you get that contract, as it is worth up to 40K in signing bonuses, and advancement to E5 upon completion of training. FWIW- Regardless of whether you go in as an Officer or Enlisted, you will still be the FNG. The Teams are ALOT different in their command structure than other Fleet assets. The only advantage to being an officer is that you would have better pay. But also remember that Officers only get ONE shot to get it right at BUD/S. |
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New Member |
Wow, this is the first reference I've heard of it being a 6 year enlistment. Is that only with the SEAL Challenge contract? Honestly, for that kind of commitment, I'd think the bonus would be better. With my current college and JROTC, I think I'd already be going in as an E-3, but E-5 would be nice.
Yeah, but a new guy with better pay! Besides, I'm already 1/2 way through college, I might as well finish up. As far as the one-shot thing for officers, I've been working out for months now, and plan to work out right up until I leave or decide to do something else. All I really need to add into the SEAL workout is more distance running and swimming. If I decide to go in, the only thing that will stop me is medical/injury issues during training, god forbid. Once I'm in, I'm in, no DoRs here! |
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Highly Experienced Member |
Bjones, This is incorrect for the Navy. The Navy enlist everyone for 4 year enlistments. For speciality training such as advanced electronics fields, SEAL, EOD, Diver, and other 6 year programs the individual signs a 24 months extension. Generally these extensions are cancelled or reduced based on the amount of training recieved. The general DOR at BUDs will have the entire extension cancelled. This is in contrast to the other services. If the enlistment obligation for 18(?) is 5 or 6 years the Army will require a 5 or 6 year enlistment and it will not be adjusted if training is not passed. Marine Corps is the same way, 4, 5 or 6 year enlistment based on MOS. |
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New Member |
Thank you for clarifying, sorry for the misinformation.
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Member |
I may be mistaken, but I believe the Navy corpsmen that make it through BUD/S (that is, before SEALs became their own rate) go though at least a portion of the 18D training. Please correct me if I am wrong. |
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New Member |
Lyonsda,
that is correct that SEAL Corpsman do go through part of the 18D training. In Dick Couch's Finishing School he mentions the 18D program and how SEAL corpsman go through the same program. |
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New Member |
SEAL Corpsmen go thru the first 22 weeks of the 18D program. This portion of the 18D program covers basic paramedic skills for the most part. The second 26 weeks that comprise the 18D program are extremely advanced, and is considered a C School for the Navy. This means that it is a senior level school, and not all corpsmen will get the training.
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New Member |
Hey BJones18x,
This is an off topic question but i wanted to ask since you seem to know a lot. When you finish SQT you go off to the teams. Then you have an 18 month workup before your deployment. I remember reading somwhere (cant exactly remember) but it stated due to the war on terror and shortage of SEALS that workups were sometimes only 12 months even for new SEALS before being deployed to their area of operation. Do you know if that is true? |
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New Member |
can anyone answer my question?
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New Member |
Shabib,
To be honest I dont know the answer. I have heard something similar to that. I would assume that if it were shortened to 12 months, then that would be a hellacious schedule for that period, leaving only 4 months a cycle instead of 6 to get all of the training in. Guess we shall see soon enough. |
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New Member |
If you do the SEAL contract and you fail to complete BUD/S/SQT/etc what happens to you?
can you just go over to another service? b/c if i did not make it i would not want to be stuck in the navy rather be with the army |
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New Member |
Before you can qualify for BUD/S you must sign up for another rate thru MEP/S, pass the SEAL PST, be accepted by NSWC for BUD/S, and then go to BUD/S. If you fail out you will be put back in the rate you originally signed up for before getting your SEAL Challenge contract. You will be a Navy Sailor, and switching over from Blue to Green will be at the discretion of the US Navy. If you dont want to be a Blue Water Navy guy dont join...or better yet, use it as ammo for BUD/S, one more reason not to quit.
 . Whatever you decide to do, good luck to you. |
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New Member |
Gentlemen, pardon the intrusion. I do believe that USAF Special Tactics (PJ/CCT) have the longest - not necessarily the hardest or toughest - pipeline training in SOCOM. If I am wrong, my sincere apologies. |
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New Member |
this might be a little off topic but if this is the case is the Navy Recruit Training that the prospective BUD/S trainees receive harder/more challenging than normal navy recruit training? I would assume this would be the case because to weed out the unqualified candidates at recruit training they would need to make it more difficult for them where as they would be able to graduate recruit training otherwise and proceed to BUD/S |
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New Member |
Maybe a little off topic, maybe not... but what about people who enter at 18 to become an officer who wish to do SEAL? I've looked and looked for an answer, but I have been unable to find one. Do they send you through basic, then off to OCS (or college, since an 18 year old would not have a B.A.), and then send you to BUD/S, or what? Can you even get a SEAL Contract going in as an officer?
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Member |
i may not be the best qualified to answer this last question, but in Marcus Luttrell's book, Lone Survivor, he talks that an officer going through BUD/s only gets either 1 or 2 chances at it, i think he said one, but not 100% on that...if it were me, I would go through BUD/s first, then pursue the officer status second...but I will let the Pro's answer with the Full Facts.
MA3 |
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New Member |
Men in BUD/S that are O's only get 1 shot at it. If you are enlisted and you have the hunger instructor's are looking for you normally can have 3 runs at it. Medical roles are taken on a case to case basis.
S-leep E-at A-nd L-ive it up! |
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New Member |
The requires a bump.
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New Member |
Once you have experienced BUD/S and working with and be trained there you will HATE blue water... If you have been blue water and fail/drop from BUD/S you WILL HATE going back to the fleet... As the OP said...use it for ammo to make it through... Also as a suggestion...leave your wives and girl friends in another state...stay focused.. |
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Military.com Forums Navy Discussions SEAL/SWCC and EOD SEAL Information-Future BUD/S Hopefuls
