THE NAVY SEALS

By: Lewis Stone

THE NAVY SEALS

To become a SEAL in the Naval Special Warfare/Naval Special Operations (NSW/NSO) community, you must first go through what is widely considered to be the most physically and mentally demanding military training in existence. Then comes the tough part: the job of essentially taking on any situation or foe that the world has to offer. Direct action warfare. Special reconnaissance. Counterterrorism. Foreign internal defense. When theres nowhere else to turn, Navy SEALs are in their element. Achieving the impossible by way of conditioned response, sheer willpower and absolute dedication to their training, their missions and their fellow spec ops team members.

JOB ENVIRONMENT
The job of a Navy SEAL relies heavily on adaptability and teamwork. Members train and work in all manner of environments, including desert and urban areas, mountains and woodlands, and jungle and arctic conditions. Whatever the specific mission and surroundings, youll utilize the specialized skills and the high-tech equipment required. And youll operate not only as a highly capable individual but also as a member of tightly knit SEAL units. These include task units (32-man), platoons (16-man), squads (8-man), teams (4man) and swim buddy (2-man).

SIGNIFICANT POINTS
You could die quickly.

QUALIFICATIONS
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=170 or VE+MK+MC+CS=220 or VE+AR=110 MC=50 Be 28 years of age or younger Pass a physical examination required for divers Be a U.S. citizen and eligible for security clearance The chart below highlights the current minimum Navy Physical Screening Test (PST) requirements for Navy Challenge Programs.

QUALIFICATIONS (COUNT.)
Minimum PST Physical Screening Test Swim 500 yards (450 M) breaststroke or sidestroke [in minutes] REST: 10 MINUTES Push-ups [in 2 minutes] REST: 2 MINUTES Sit-ups [in 2 minutes] REST: 2 MINUTES Pull-ups [in 2 minutes] REST: 10 MINUTES Run 1.5 miles [in minutes] SEAL SWCC EOD Diver AIRR *AIRR may use sidestroke or breaststroke and utilize American crawl/freestyle or a combination of all. 12:00* NOTE: You should consult your physician or other health-care professional before starting any exercise regime or other fitness program to determine if it is right for your needs. This is particularly true if you (or your family) have a history of medical illnesses or ailments that could be made worse by a change in physical activity. Do not start a fitness program if your physician or health-care provider advises against it.

12:30

13:00

12:30

12:30

50

50

50

50

42

50

50

50

50

50

10

10:30

12:00

12:30

12:30

12:00

EMPLOYMENT
The government is the only organization that will hire me while I am in the military. When I get out of the military, private contracts will hire me.

JOB OUTLOOK
This is a very unlikely to even get into, but may or may not be likely in the future.

PAY
In addition to normal military pay and allowances, the Navy offers a $12,000 enlistment bonus for SEALs. You will also earn additional pay that includes special duty assignment pay, parachute jump pay, dive pay and demolition pay. Together, these incentives make SEALs the highest paid enlisted operators in the U.S. military. For complete details on available special pay and enlistment bonuses, contact a recruiter.

SUMMARY
I would love to go into this field of service.

AFTER THE MILITARY

As a Navy SEAL, you will be part of a community that values leadership, selfdetermination and organization. Employers in the military and civilian communities alike will value you as you mature in your field. Completing some of the most demanding training our country has to offer says that you have what it takes to accomplish any task an employer could throw your way. Careers within the Naval Special Warfare/Naval Special Operations (NSW/NSO) forces have comparable civilian counterparts that include anything from high-level security assessment to emergency medicine to Chemical-Biological-Radiological (CBR) protection and response.

RECOURSES

"Navy SEALs." Navy. Navy Recruiting Command. Web. 7 Mar 2014. <http://www.navy.com/careers/special-operations/seals.html>.