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.
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.