Coolest Career In The World: Navy SEAL
This week’s cool career is Navy Seal. The United States Navy SEa, Air and Land (SEAL) Teams are the United State’s Navy principal special operations force and is a part of Navy Special Warfare Command.
HISTORY
The Navy SEALs originated during WWII when the United States Navy needed amphibious reconnaissance for beach landings and guide in the landing forces. The Amphibious Scout and Raider School was established in 1942 jointly by the Army and Navy. The school began in Fort Pierce, FL as the Naval Combat Demolition Unit expanding in 1943 for naval demolitions. In John F. Kennedy’s famous speech to Congress in 1961 to put a man on the moon, he also petitioned Congress for $100M to strengthen US Special Forces, and in March 1961 the Chief of Naval Operations established guerrilla and counter-guerrilla which was the beginning of the Navy SEALS.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
TRAINING
Navy SEAL training is possibly the toughest training program in the world. The drop out rate for SEAL classes is regularly 80%. The average Navy SEAL spends over a year in a series of formal training before earning the Special Warfare Operator Naval Rating and enlisted 5326 Combatant Swimmer (SEAL) or SEAL Officer depending on if the trainee is enlisted or an officer in the US Navy. It all culminates into the 24-week BUD/S training - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL school and then the 28-week SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) program. SEALS train in combat swimming, communications, close quarters combat, land warfare, and staticline and free fall parachute operations. All SEAL trainees enter with a Navy hospital corpsman rating or must attend a 26 week special operations combat medicine course. It can take 30 months to completely train a Navy SEAL for their first deployment.
QUALIFICATIONS
This career is not for the weak. The training is tough. The missions are tougher. We may never know their names, but we honor them nevertheless. We Americans sleep better knowing these men are out there protecting freedom.
(from the US Navy’s site) By law, only men are eligible to apply for the SEAL program. Upon joining the Navy, you must:
- Meet specific eyesight requirements: 20/40 best eye; 20/70 worst eye; correctable to 20/25 with no color blindness
- Meet the minimum Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score: GS+MC+EI=165 or VE+MK+MC+CS=220
- Be 28 years old or younger
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Pass a physical examination required for divers
You must also complete the Physical Screening Test Requirements:
- Swim 500 yards within 12 minutes 30 seconds
- Rest 10 minutes
- 42 push-ups within 2 minutes
- Rest 2 minutes
- 50 sit-ups within 2 minutes
- Rest 2 minutes
- 6 pull-ups (no time limit)
- Rest 10 minutes
- 1.5 mile run within 11 minutes
- Pass a Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL BUD/S physical fitness screening test in Boot Camp and in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in order to qualify for a SEAL contract
PAY
SEAL’s don’t do it for the pay. They do it for the service of country, duty, and honor (and yes…probably the adrenaline rush!); but SEALs the highest paid enlisted operators in the U.S. military. The base is normal military pay. SEALS receive a $20,000 enlistment bonus. They also earn additional pay that includes special duty assignment pay, parachute jump pay, dive pay and demolition pay.
ORGANIZATION
SEAL Teams are organized into two groups: Naval Special Warfare Group One (West Coast), and Naval Special Warfare Group Two (East Coast), which come under the command of Naval Special Warfare Command stationed in Coronado, California. As of 2006, there are eight confirmed Navy SEAL Teams. The current SEAL Team deployments include Teams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10.
SEAL TEAM 6
Navy SEAL Team 6 is a testament to that amazing training, patriotism, and determination. America and the world is happier, safer, and brighter because of these men. As Americans we say THANK YOU! Your actions in Abottabad, Pakistan has renewed our patriotism and unified our country. We may not be able to give you a personal high-five for taking out that radical demon, but America is raising its collective hand to give you the biggest high-five possible! Well Done! Thank you! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
