Pre Enlistment Questions

[Renshai]

I've been floating around for a while, and I had a couple of questions relating to Pre-BUD/S training and enlistment qualifications. I searched throughout the forums, but couldn't find anything answering some of these. For others, I had already asked a recruiter, but he didn't know. I figured I could save some time, because the Chief Petty Officer hasn't called me back:

1. What is the timeline (prospectively) from shipping off to the 8/9 weeks of basic to the completion of BUD/S? Assuming no injuries, etc. How many weeks total?

2. What is the PT like in Naval basic training? More specifically, if you ship off in great shape, will you be able to maintain that level of physical fitness throughout basic? (I ask this because I knew a guy who went through the Army with a Ranger contract who said he was out of shape at the end of basic as compared to when he went in, and [not incinuating that it was easy] consequently RIP and Ranger School were much tougher for him.)

3. After graduation from Naval basic training, is there typically a gap between BUD/S? If so, for how long? I asked a recruiter, but he didn't know.

4. What is the minimum enlistment period to enlist under the SEAL Challenge? I thought I read six years, but wasn't sure. Also, is there another X years in the reserve, making you accountable for a possible eight years in both active/reserve? Again, the recruiter didn't know.

5. What kind of training injuries in BUD/S disqualify you from being rolled back to another BUD/S class? E.G. sprained ankle vs. torn ACL.

6. If you fail BUD/S, are you required to serve your original contract term in a position at the discretion of the Navy?

7. After SQT, what options for secondary schooling are available to enlisted personnel? And how much does each individual's wishes play into that? (E.G., IF one were to complete SQT and be shipped off to a team and desired to go to Ranger school, what would the likelihood of that happening be?)

8. Were I to enlist, I would be what the recruiter called "a full waiver," meaning that there was a bunch of waivers, etc. that I would have to push through. Would the teams frown upon this, assuming I arrived there? Or at that point would they look past it and accept me?

Thank you for your time. Sorry if these were posted elsewhere; I didn't see them.

[NavyHavoc]

Are you sure that you fully used the search? I found answers to some of these questions on the official SEAL/Navy website, then found the rest of the answers simply by searching "BUD/S" on this forum. Do your homework, these questions have been asked a lot on SOCNET.

[Renshai]

I searched "Seal enlistment" and dug through all the posts on the "SEALs" and Navy forum. Sorry. I'll keep digging.

[Red Barron]

Renshai - it looks to me as though you are setting up yourself for failure. Never been to buds myself, but if you have to ask these many questions as to the required service to your country by enlisting, your better off staying home and playing the playstation version.

Enough said.

[SunWho]

Sorry if these were posted elsewhere; I didn't see them.

http://www.sealchallenge.navy.mil/seal/

[SDC]

8. Were I to enlist, I would be what the recruiter called "a full waiver," meaning that there was a bunch of waivers, etc. that I would have to push through. Would the teams frown upon this, assuming I arrived there? Or at that point would they look past it and accept me?

I would heed the advice given to you by those within this thread for the bulk of your answers, but the above post doesn't look that promising as far as you being a qualified candidate. Granted I'm a mere civilian, but I do know about EKGs and the particulars of a dive physical, and it is a very detailed process in which almost any problem you have -however minute you and your personal doctor may feel it is- (benign heart murmurs, palpitations, etc.) will be found and there exists the high likelihood of you being disqualified. I don't know what waivers in particular you have to attain, but it's a different ballgame when it comes dive and flight physicals.

The first hurdle to not only getting into SpecOps but to get into the military and/or other government/state jobs is passing the medical screening. That makes the guys who make up the ranks of these elite units even more rare and elite, that being having the good fortune of not being born with or developing disqualifying health conditions early in life.

[Cass]

I've been floating around for a while, and I had a couple of questions relating to Pre-BUD/S training and enlistment qualifications. I searched throughout the forums, but couldn't find anything answering some of these.

8. Were I to enlist, I would be what the recruiter called "a full waiver," meaning that there was a bunch of waivers, etc. that I would have to push through.


Stay home.