If you want to become a SEAL, the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Community has a challenge for you. The SEAL program consists of more than 12 months of initial training — followed by an additional 18 months of pre-deployment training — and intensive specialized training designed to push you to your physical and mental limits — again and again. If you succeed, you’ll be part of a SEAL Team and conduct missions and operations that most people can only dream about.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

By law, only men are eligible to apply for the SEAL program. After joining the Navy, you must:

• Meet specific eyesight requirements.
• Meet minimum Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score.
• Be 28 years old or younger.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Pass a diving physical examination.
• Complete the Physical Screening Test Requirements. The program is as follows:
  • Swim 500 Yards within 12:30
  • Rest 10:00
  • 42 push-ups within 2:00
  • Rest 2:00
  • 50 sit-ups within 2:00
  • Rest 2:00
  • 6 pull-ups (no time limit)
  • Rest 10:00
  • 1.5 mile run within 11:00
• Pass a Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALS (BUD/S) physical fitness screening test in Boot Camp and in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in order to qualify for a SEAL contract.
• If you want to join the Navy and take the SEAL Challenge, Locate a Recruiter.

STEP 1: CHOOSE THE SEAL RATING (SO)

STEP 2: TRAINING

• SEAL Prep Course (8 weeks – Chicago, IL)
• BUD/S Phase I: Physical Conditioning (7 weeks – Coronado, CA)
• BUD/S Phase II: Diving (7 weeks – Coronado, CA)
• BUD/S Phase III: Land Warfare (7 weeks – Coronado, CA)
• Parachute Jump School (3 weeks – San Diego, CA)
• SEAL Qualification Training (SQT): Advanced Sea, Air and Land Training (26 weeks – Coronado, CA)
• Graduation and Naval Special Warfare SEAL Classification – Opportunities for Advanced Training

STEP 3: ADVANCED TRAINING/PLACEMENT

• Report to First SEAL Team or SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Team (Virginia Beach, VA; Pearl Harbor, HI; or Coronado, CA) – Those enlisted SEALs with a medical rating will first attend Advanced Medical Training Course 18D to become a SEAL Medic (6 months – Ft. Bragg, NC)
• Individual Specialty Training (6 months) while assigned to a SEAL Platoon or SDV Task Unit
• Unit Level Training while assigned to a SEAL Platoon or SDV Task Unit (6 months)
• Task Group Level Training (6 months) while assigned to a SEAL Platoon or SDV Task Unit

STEP 4: DEPLOYMENT AND COMBAT OPERATIONS

A typical SEAL mission could involve insertion into an objective by parachute, submarine, helicopter, high-speed boat, foot patrol or by a combat swimmer insertion. SEALs are also capable of operating a variety of high-tech, specialized equipment. Most deployments last 6 to 8 months.