The ‘picked men’ of Naval Special Warfare

Outsiders often view SEALs as supermen. Perhaps they are in the sense of infused commitment to both achieving the objective and never quitting. But ordinary, according to insiders, in the sense that they are just highly trained men doing extraordinary things.

“Definitely not Supermen, my classmates particularly,” says Worthington. “One guy, however, could hold his breath five minutes. Another was a two-pack-a-day smoker who still survived BUDS.

“BUDS, incidentally, is between your ears. Sure, you have to make times on the O-Course [obstacle course], the four-mile run, etc., but the kid who sticks in there, survives. It’s a mindset of not quitting. So, ordinary in the sense they have all the limbs, but extra-ordinary when it comes to determination, tenacity, perseverance, and, OK, courage.”

I went thru SERE school back in '68. We went thru Coronado then on to North Island. The Seal trainees, those poor SOB's, never stopped jogging. They were required to always be on the move even when more or less "at rest."

My course lasted three hellish weeks but was just a spit in the wind compared to what these folks were subjecting themselves to. I have extreme admiration for SEALS.

I THINK the following is a true story: Three Spec. Forces guys, AF, Army and Seal, are in a bar. The AF guy chugs his beer and slams the glass on the floor. The Army guy chugs his beer and breaks the glass on his forehead. The SEAL takes his time, enjoys his beer then eats the glass. The AF and Army guys leave.

I just went and fished out my Information Sheet for Counterinsurgency Students from the Special Operations Department, Naval Amphibious School, Coronado, dated 6 March 1969.

I'm glad I attended the school and weapons at Pendleton because this YNSN thought he was going to be typing in Saigon when in fact he found his sweet young 19-year-old ass down on the river, aboard the Battlegearboat, two weeks after arriving in country.

I guess the bright side of all of that history was that there was not all that much typing to do.

***when it comes to determination, tenacity, perseverance***

Not that this compares in any way, shape or form to SEAL school, but:

My first military training was ROTC basic at Fort Knox. I didn't find it particularly difficult. I suppose it was a bit more intense than regular basic in that you couldn't just hide in the back and hope that the drills didn't see you. You had to rotate through different leadership positions in your squad/platoon/company and be evaluated on your leadership potential.

Anyway, after the first week our company went from 4 platoons to three platoons. It seems that a full 1/4 of our cadets quit. Just walked in and said "I miss my mommy and want to go home." They were put on a plane that day and sent you home.

I guess as Soldiers/Sailors/Marines/Airmen work their way through the maze of different military schools, eventually you whittle down to those who become SEALS, Rangers, SF, PJs, etc...

True story. I went through the Combat Casualty Care Course. Summer time in San Antonio. It was darn hot. Anyway, the cadre for my squad of 12 was a Ranger Medic. He was taking us somewhere cross country, up and down those hills just northwest of San Antonio. I was dying. It was hot, but I just focused on his back and decided I would not let him beat me. (OK, the testosterone was flowing) Anyway, just when I thought I was going to pass out, after going up a particularly difficult hill he stopped, turned around and looked past me. "Hey sir" he gasped, I think we should wait on everyone else." His face was beet red and he was breathing as hard as I was. I turned around and saw my squad mates way off in the distance. I looked back at him and gasped, "Yeah, I think your right Sergeant." He didn't mess with me the rest of the week."

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