bmf
27 January 2000, 00:05
As I look through these replies I see so many young men aspiring to make it through BUD/S. This topic is to shed a little bit of reality to those destined for a stay in Coronado. I do not mean this to be discouraging at all, more like eye opening.
I am not a SEAL (EOD has been my trade for more than a few years) but I feel at least semi-qualified to post due to some of my past assignments.
So you're about to join the Navy to be a SEAL? Let me give you some advice. The Navy uses the SEAL teams in more ways than you think. Step back and think about it. What great recruitment potential! Young men are in general, adventourous and want to be "elite". Hey, let's hire Spike Lee to make a commercial!. The hard facts:
BUD/S or any of the diving communities (or any "special" unit in the military) make for great recruiting posters. I have been all over the world serving this Navy of ours, and have met countless individuals who say "yah I went to BUD/S, but I got hurt".
So, now they are in the fleet chipping paint or cooking sloppy joe's for the crew. This is the harsh reality of life in the Navy. I have yet to screen a BUD/S candidate that swears on his mothers grave he will never quit. Yet, BUD/S has an extremely high drop rate. What does this mean? It means that about 75% of the men joining the Navy to be SEALs find themselves either begging to get out or doing some other "job" they were assigned. This is reality and it happens to people in better shape than you.
I will not pretend to know what it takes to make it through BUD/s.What I willl say is this: I respect your idealogy. It is crucial to our nations defense. Men like you will keep this country safe for years to come. So I ask just one thing...PREPARE. You've read the books, watched the movie's, and heard the stories. Many dog you out and call you wanna-be's. But not me. A very select few of you are gonna be's, and I'm talking to them. Now it's time to bust your ass and get ready. If you have the idea that you're already there, let me be the first to bust your weak-ass bubble. You're never "there". Every Frog, EOD tech, or Force Recon guy I've worked with over the years is always trying to get back into "shape". That means trying to push his body to the ultimate limit of it's endurance and strength. If you think you're there; wake up. You are never there. Not after completion of BUD/S, Dive school, ARS, or anthing else. This is a way of life, PT is as a part of it as eating.(So is common sense, team work, a sense of humor and many other traits!)
Our country needs those few that are ready. Our Navy recruiter's need those that are not prepared. Which one are you?
Be careful in your contracts. Recruiters don't really know a lot about the special communities in the Navy so research well. They do know a lot about filling quotas!
I wish you all the best of luck. But ask yourself, "how much does luck really apply?"
I am not a SEAL (EOD has been my trade for more than a few years) but I feel at least semi-qualified to post due to some of my past assignments.
So you're about to join the Navy to be a SEAL? Let me give you some advice. The Navy uses the SEAL teams in more ways than you think. Step back and think about it. What great recruitment potential! Young men are in general, adventourous and want to be "elite". Hey, let's hire Spike Lee to make a commercial!. The hard facts:
BUD/S or any of the diving communities (or any "special" unit in the military) make for great recruiting posters. I have been all over the world serving this Navy of ours, and have met countless individuals who say "yah I went to BUD/S, but I got hurt".
So, now they are in the fleet chipping paint or cooking sloppy joe's for the crew. This is the harsh reality of life in the Navy. I have yet to screen a BUD/S candidate that swears on his mothers grave he will never quit. Yet, BUD/S has an extremely high drop rate. What does this mean? It means that about 75% of the men joining the Navy to be SEALs find themselves either begging to get out or doing some other "job" they were assigned. This is reality and it happens to people in better shape than you.
I will not pretend to know what it takes to make it through BUD/s.What I willl say is this: I respect your idealogy. It is crucial to our nations defense. Men like you will keep this country safe for years to come. So I ask just one thing...PREPARE. You've read the books, watched the movie's, and heard the stories. Many dog you out and call you wanna-be's. But not me. A very select few of you are gonna be's, and I'm talking to them. Now it's time to bust your ass and get ready. If you have the idea that you're already there, let me be the first to bust your weak-ass bubble. You're never "there". Every Frog, EOD tech, or Force Recon guy I've worked with over the years is always trying to get back into "shape". That means trying to push his body to the ultimate limit of it's endurance and strength. If you think you're there; wake up. You are never there. Not after completion of BUD/S, Dive school, ARS, or anthing else. This is a way of life, PT is as a part of it as eating.(So is common sense, team work, a sense of humor and many other traits!)
Our country needs those few that are ready. Our Navy recruiter's need those that are not prepared. Which one are you?
Be careful in your contracts. Recruiters don't really know a lot about the special communities in the Navy so research well. They do know a lot about filling quotas!
I wish you all the best of luck. But ask yourself, "how much does luck really apply?"