The number 1 question we are asked at NavySEALs.com is “How do I become a Navy SEAL”. Simple answer is. If you have to ask…
Over the next few weeks we are going to bring you a first hand account of a potential BUD/S candidate who is interning at SEALFIT, the number 1 BUD/S prep program in the country.
SEALFIT interns will live on site at HQ in Encinitas California. They are up at 6 AM every day, are required to keep the facility clean, assist with camps and academies, and somehow find time to get an OPWOD (Operator Workout of the Day) in with a soft sand run or swim. Expectations are extremely high and failure to meet them will result in immediate dismissal from the program.
Entry 1:
The journey for prospective candidates looking to become part of the extremely selective U.S. Navy SEAL Teams is one of immense physical challenge and mental fortitude. Therefore, anyway one can gain first-hand experience of the necessary knowledge and intense training for gaining admittance into BUD/S and then thriving in this rigorous selection process is beyond invaluable. In my personal opinion, one crucial piece of delving deeper is speaking with current and former SEALs and seeing what their given paths were like leading up to their decision to enter the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) program and then what factors helped them achieve the highly regarded SEAL Trident.
While my own life journey has taken me all over the world and throughout the United States, I have been fortunate enough to eventually end up in the intern position at the SEALFit training center in Encinitas, California. Having only been working and training on the site of HQ for just one week, I have already gained once-in-a-lifetime experiences and met individuals with unparalleled experience within the SEALs. I could not imagine many other places in the world where a prospective candidate could intermingle with and train alongside those with 20+ years in the SEALs or even current instructors at NSW in Coronado. Having open access to the beach, which is only two blocks away, for conducting combat sidestroke ocean swims and soft-sand beach runs has been critical to developing the endurance and experience with those evolutions. To go along with the physical side of the training, the ability to incorporate mental toughness practices and putting them into practice has been instrumental as well.
“Intern 1” tasked with cleaning out the SEALFIT storage area.
Many times what seems as primarily physical capacity is more associated with indomitable will and extreme mental fortitude. The ability to be surrounded by information and practices (warrior yoga, breath empowerment) cultivated to target and improve ones personal empowerment ability has been extremely rewarding. With SEALFit’s amazing track record for producing candidates whom gain entrance into the SEALs and then succeed within this training one can see the true effectiveness of these integrated practices. Furthermore, from the outside perspective completing the training required to become a Team member may seem primarily individual in nature while this could not be further from the truth. One of the main principles taught by the SEALs here has been the “We” over the “I”.
Within this community, one learns to see how the collective effort and whole unit is the primary goal over the extreme capacity of the individual themselves. Those who seek recognition for outstanding personal achievement at the expense of their peers seem to miss the point on what is truly important to those communities such as the SEALs. Having been in a number of sports teams during the course of my life I have learned some of these principles but within the confines of SEALFIT training these notions are taking to an entirely new level. As time moves forward, I am filled with great excitement about the new things I will learn and the personal growth that will ensue because of these teachings. Having to go through SEALFIT’s version of Hell Week (called “Kokoro Camp”) in a few short weeks, these skills and my personal desire will be tested in the highest regard. I look forward to this challenge and discussing more of my journey here on the coast of California.
How do you become a SEALFIT Intern?
SEALFIT interns go through a pretty rigorous selection process. Their applications are first screened by SEALFIT Certified coaches, then passed onto Director of Training, a retired SEAL with 30 years in the teams and a Master Training Specialist classification among other accomplishments to numerous to list. Finally, the application is passed onto Ret. CDR Mark Divine, the founder of SEALFIT and owner of NS.com.
For more information out the SEALFIT Program email them at: [email protected]
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