I had the chance to work with a bunch of SEALS onboard the GW back in the 1990 and for the most part they were some of the coolest Sailors, I had the chance to come in contact with. The Officers seems to be more on the enlisted side of the house than the professional Officers, they never threw their rank around and treated us ship’s company crew members with major respect. It was hard to tell who was enlisted and who was officer among them since it was a team effort from Day One.
PFL
It would be nice if each branch of the military would train their officers and enlisted to the point that it would be difficult to do the same.
You’re absolutely right. They don’t throw their rank around. They want you to be humble. They officers and instructors don’t ask any of the Sailors going through training to do anything they wouldn’t do. They had the seniors from the U of Michigan’s football team there two days before I was there. Rob had them split up into different teams on the obstacle course. One team did something well and started to celebrate. Well that’s a BIG no-no with the SEALs. Rob started yelling at them asking them if they celebrate after a 1st down then said “That’s it, everyone in the water” had them all take off to the ocean that they thought was warm and submerge themselves in the cold water. Then they had to roll around in the sand, which they call doing the “Sugar Cookie.”
Although when I was there....It was Sunday morning and it was their day off, well one sailor who was trying to become a SEAL who was going through BUD/S training got into a barroom brawl the Friday night before on Coronado Island. Well I would say 75% of the people on the island are either Navy or SEALs. So this guy had to come in on his day off along with two of his instructors who I guess weren’t too happy....and they ran him ragged for about 30 minutes that I saw, who knows how long he had been there. I wouldn’t have lasted 10 minutes. And finally he got up went over and rang the bell three times. And Chief Stella looks over and says, “Well, he’s done” and I said he’s done with his punishment? And Rob said, “No he’s done with trying to become a SEAL, he tapped out.” I was shocked. I guess everyone who walks through the doors are told when you want to quit all you have to do is go over to the bell and ring it three times. And they’ll give you a donut and a cup of coffee and you’re done.