Become a Navy SEAL

SEAL REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

Below you’ll find the basic entry requirements for SEAL and SWCC.

Requirement highlights are:

• Physical Screening Test
• ASVAB Test
• CSORT Test
• Age, citizenship and ability to obtain a SECRET clearance

SEAL PHYSICAL SCREENING TEST: ADMINISTERED BY NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE

PHYSICAL SCREENING TEST	MINIMUM	AVERAGE	OPTIMUM
Swim 500 yard breast or side stroke	12:30	10:00	9:30
Push-ups in two-minutes	42	79	100
Sit-ups in two-minutes	50	79	100
Pull-ups no time limit	06	11	25
Run 1.5 miles	11:00	10:20	09:30

To qualify for a contract, a prospective candidate must meet the minimum  requirements. The qualifying PST must be administered by a Naval Special Warfare  coordinator or mentor. Prospective

ASVAB: MEASURING YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN

The ASVAB is used to assess an applicant’s mental sharpness and ability to  learn. The ASVAB is generally administered at a Military Entrance Processing  Station.

The standard ASVAB contains the following subtests:

Word Knowledge ( WK )

Arithmetic Reasoning ( AR )

Mechanical Comprehension ( MC )

Shop Information ( SI )

Automotive Information ( AI )

Electronics Information ( EI )

Mathematics Knowledge ( MK )

General Science ( GS )

Paragraph Comprehension ( PC )

Assembling Objects ( AO )

Verbal Expression ( VE ) – a scaled combination  of WK+PC

An additional subtest, Coding Speed ( CS ), should be requested at MEPS, and  the score can be included in the calculation to determine eligibility for the  SEAL program. If the CS subtest is not taken, only one set of subtest scores can  be used to determine eligibility.

To qualify, an applicant must score one of the following on the  ASVAB:

1. GS+MC+EI = 165 or better

2. VE+MK+MC+CS = 220 or better

AFQT results are returned as percentiles from 1-99. A score of a 50 would  mean you were in the 50th percentile or have an average score. The Navy requires  an AFQT score of at least 35. Men who succeed at BUD/S traditionally have AFQT  scores of 78 or better.

CSORT: TESTING MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND RESILIENCE

The Computerized-Special Operations Resilience Test, or C-SORT, is designed  to assess a prospective SEAL candidate’s mental toughness or resilience. The  test includes multiple sections designed to assess a prospective candidate’s  abilities in three areas:

Performance strategies

Psychological resilience

Personality traits

Performance strategies test for capabilities such as a person’s goal-setting,  self-talk and emotional control. Psychological resilience focuses on assessing  several other areas like an individual’s acceptance of life situations and the  ability to deal with cognitive challenges and threats.

The scores on the sections of this test are combined into a band score on a  scale of one to four. A band score of four indicates that a candidate is most  mentally resilient, and a one indicates the lowest level of mental resilience.  Each prospective SEAL candidate can only take the C-SORT one time.

To determine eligibility for the SEAL program, the C-SORT band score is  combined with the candidate’s run and swim time. People who have low C-SORT and  slow combined run and swim times will not be considered for SEAL contracts. They  will be counseled that they are not ready to pursue a career as a SEAL.

While candidates are not allowed to retake the C-SORT, a candidate can  demonstrate his motivation by improving his PST score – particularly run and  swim times – and re-taking the Delayed Entry Program qualifying PST in order to  move into the qualifying band to become eligible for a SEAL contract.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Age

Applicants must be from 17 to 28 years old. Waivers for men ages 29 and 30  are available for highly qualified candidates. Men with prior enlisted service  as SEALs who are seeking to become SEAL Officers can request waivers to age  33.

Vision

Must be correctable to 20/25. Uncorrected vision must be at least 20/70 in  the worst eye and 20/40 in the best. Color blindness is disqualifying.

Citizenship

Candidates must be U.S. citizens.

Other

In addition to the other requirements listed on this website, applicants must  be able to obtain a secret security clearance, be male and must remain morally,  mentally and physically qualified.

BASIC UNDERWATER DEMOLITION SEAL TRAINING: AKA BUD/S

1ST PHASE

First Phase, the basic conditioning phase, is seven weeks long and develops  the class in physical training, water competency and mental tenacity while  continuing to build teamwork. Each week, the class is expected to do more  running, swimming and calisthenics than the week before, and each man’s  performance is measured by a four-mile timed run, a timed obstacle course, and a  two-mile timed swim. In addition to physical training, the class also learns how  to conduct hydrographic survey operations.

1st Phase Log PT. Misery loves company…..

Because of its particularly challenging requirements, many candidates begin  questioning their decision to come to BUD/S during First Phase, with a  significant number deciding to Drop on Request ( DOR ).

Underwater confidence training with the knot  line.

Historically, candidates who have composite PST scores below 800 are three  times more likely to succeed than the average student. Most importantly,  candidates who have made a full commitment to their goal of becoming a SEAL and  those who decide ahead of time that quitting is not an option, regardless of how  challenging the training becomes, dramatically increase their chances.

The fourth week of training is known as Hell Week. In this grueling  five-and-a-half day stretch, each candidate sleeps only about four total hours  but runs more than 200 miles and does physical training for more than 20 hours  per day. Successful completion of Hell Week truly defines those candidates who  have the commitment and dedication required of a SEAL. Hell Week is the ultimate  test of a man’s will and the class’s teamwork.

2ND PHASE

Second Phase, the combat diving phase, lasts seven weeks.  This phase introduces underwater skills that are unique to Navy SEALs. During  this phase, candidates become basic combat swimmers and learn open and  closed-circuit diving.

BUD/S 2nd Phase SCUBA Training. After this students  learn Closed Circuit on the Drager system.

Successful Second Phase candidates demonstrate a high level of comfort in the  water and the ability to perform in stressful and often uncomfortable  environments. candidates who are not completely comfortable in the water often  struggle to succeed.

3RD PHASE

Third Phase, the land warfare phase, is seven weeks long and teaches the  class basic weapons, demolitions, land navigation, patrolling, rappelling,  marksmanship and small-unit tactics. For the final three and a half weeks of  training, the class goes offshore, about 60 miles from Coronado. On the island,  the class practices the skills they learned in Third Phase. The days become  longer and more work intensive, set to mirror the work hours spent in the  field.

During Third Phase, the class is taught to gather and process information  that will complete the overall mission. There is more classroom work that  teaches map, compass, land navigation and basic weapon skill sets. These skill  sets allow the class to transition from having novice skills to becoming more  comfortable out in the field. Most of this training is new to the class, and the  learning pace becomes faster and faster.

It all comes together in 3rd phase but, the real  training doesn’t begin until SQT.

Third Phase lays the foundation for the rest of Navy SEAL training. These  basic moving and shooting skill sets will be used in SEAL Qualification Training  (SQT) and in the SEAL Teams. Men who make it to Third Phase have demonstrated  extraordinary commitment to becoming SEALs. Few leave BUD/S during this  phase.

SEAL QUALIFICATION TRAINING (SQT)

SEAL Qualification Training ( SQT ) is a  26-week course that will take the student from the basic elementary level of  Naval Special Warfare to a more advanced degree of tactical training. SQT is  designed to provide students with the core tactical knowledge they will need to  join a SEAL platoon.

The class will learn advanced weapons training, small unit tactics, land  navigation, demolitions, cold weather training in Kodiak, Alaska, medical skills  and maritime operations. Before graduating, students also attend Survival,  Evasion, Resistance and Escape training and qualify in both static-line and  freefall parachute operations.

Upon completing these requirements, trainees receive their SEAL Trident,  designating them as Navy SEALs. They are subsequently assigned to a SEAL Team to  begin preparing for their first deployment

SEAL Motivator Contact Information

E: [email protected] T: ( 888 ) USN-SEAL ( 888 ) 876-7325 F: ( 619 ) 437-2873

SEAL + SWCC Scout Team 2000 Trident Way, Building #613 San Diego, CA  92155