Posted on 02/09/2006 5:48:46 PM PST by SuzyQ2
The problem is, transforming a good man into a Navy SEAL is not cheap - about $350,000 a copy - nor is it easy. Sure, there are lots of schoolyard scrappers, gym rats, competitive swimmers, and adrenaline junkies who believe they have what it takes to become SEALs. But few pack the gear to endure-to-completion BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training. Some are injured. Many fail to measure up during various training evolutions. Most simply quit, concluding that the wet, miserably cold life of a frogman is not for them.
None of this, however, changes the U.S. Defense Department's requirement for more special operators, including SEALs.
(Excerpt) Read more at worlddefensereview.com ...
That's not limited to Special Operations. My brother in law is a Chief Petty Officer naval aircrewman and with flight pay, etc, makes more than most junior officers.
The military already does this with aviators. I'll be promoted to Major in March and because I'm a UH-60 pilot I make $10,200 a-year more than any other branch major (except doctors). It's justified, and it would be justified for Spec Ops too. I have to do everything any officer in any other branch does (I'm currently the Battalion S4 deployed for OIF 05-06) yet also be an expert at flying a very complex aircraft. I'm also a maintenance test pilot. Aviators catch never-ending shit because we make more money. I just laugh and say you should have studies harder/got better evaluations/done better at Advanced Camp or West point and you could have branched aviation. Have fun crawling in the mud, and I'll catch you at the O'Club later.
One of my best friends is a SEAL. Before that he was a scout sniper in the USMC. He's the tallest guy (6'5") to ever make it through sniper school. And he's a friggin' animal. He can't tell me specifically what he's done while deployed to the middle east, suffice to say he's sent many a Hadji to their virgins. By the way, he completed BUDS at the age of 30. All the way through, no recycles for injuries or other reasons. A man you want in your corner...
A guy I grew up with was just awarded his Green Beret at age 43. He was a Ranger back in the early eighties, got out and went to college, got married and went to work. Joined a National Guard SF unit shortly after 9-11. What with waiting between the different schools (he's a SF medic, which takes a lot longer than other MOS's) it took him about three years to get qualified. He's in Afghanistan right now. Completely gray hair, but he can run you into the ground. He had the second highest PT score in his SFAS class.
im just glad they are on our side!
....i always remember the story of one of the guys who was on the wall of that big prison break in afghanistan. he said the afghans and a few army guys were on the wall pouring fire into the place for hours , everything was called in...and then it stopped...
he said suddenly the atmosphere changed as you hear 2 and 3 round taps as spec ops guys appeared at dusk...they basically went over the wall and started at one end and went to the other. i will never forget how this guy described it..it went from wild fire to this cold brutally efficient controlled fire. i always remember thinking at the time...jezze you would need balls of steel to do that...to drop into a walled enclosure with 100's of nutty taliban and foerign fighters...and to calmly and cool as ice...'fix it'...
the other thing is ebay someone was selling a tshirt i always regret not buying a few years back
it was 3 or 4 of these guys assaulting a room...with the title
you want freedom, we are here to ensure you get it
bugger, i should have bought it....
350 grand per person to train...jeeze sounds like we get the better bargain and whatever they are paid...it aint enough..
It does take a special breed. I tell you though, some of them also have what you might call psychological issues...ie they're addicted to combat, or that combat adrenaline high. Not saying this is always a bad thing. But I worry about my friend, especially his marriage. He has 2 kids now and has about the most dangerous job in the world, but he loves it. He wants to go into combat and kill dudes, with extreme prejudice...that's a great quality for a warrior and I respect him and applaud him. I just worry about his kids and wife. I have an 18-month old and one more on the way. Everytime I'm flying a mission over Iraq, pucker factor high...it's intense. But when I get back I still count the days until I can get back to my family. I will not willingly deploy again. I will do my duty if ordered of course, but my family will suffer again.
These guys get deployed all the time, and their wives should know what they're getting into. However, the divorce rates in the Spec Ops community are very, very high...the price of freedom I guess.
good post...u are a better man then i dude...
respect...
i am sure u will see your little one in no time...and not that it is worth much but...thanks for what you are doing...
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