BUD/S is a 24-week training course that develops the SEAL candidates' mental and physical stamina and leadership skills. Each BUD/S phase includes timed physical condition tests, with the time requirements becoming more demanding each week.
BUD/S is a 6-month SEAL training course held at the Naval Special Warfare Training Center in Coronado, CA. You'll start with five weeks Indoctrination and Pre-Training as part of a Navy SEAL Class, then go through the Three Phases of BUD/S. First Phase is the toughest.
First Phase (Basic Conditioning)
First Phase is nine weeks in length. Continued physical conditioning in the areas of running, swimming and calisthenics grow increasingly harder as the weeks progress.
Training consists of: 12+ months of initial training that includes Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL BUD/S School, Parachute Jump School and SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) 18 months of pre-deployment training and intensive specialized training.
Second Phase, the combat diving phase, lasts seven weeks. This phase introduces underwater skills that will separate the class from other special operations forces when they become SEALs. During this phase, the students will become basic combat swimmers and will learn open and closed-circuit diving.
Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training is notoriously difficult, with an attrition rate hovering at between 70 percent and 85 percent for enlisted and over 90 percent for officers, thus making it one of the most selective special operations pipelines in the U.S. military.
To qualify for BUD/S training, candidates must complete: A 1000-meter swim, with fins, in 22 minutes or less. At least 70 push-ups in two minutes.
The divorce rate among U.S. Navy Seals is over 90 percent.
Salary Ranges for Navy Seals
The salaries of Navy Seals in the US range from $15,929 to $424,998 , with a median salary of $76,394 .
You only get three chances with most events. If you fail three of anything, you will be back in the fleet. Related Navy Special Operations articles: Navy SEAL Fitness Preparation.
' You get 4 hours of sleep. You're not allowed to have any caffeine. Throughout the entire week, you're hungry, you're cold, you're sandy, you're wet, just the lack of sleep. Constantly getting pushed harder and harder.”
Minimum standards: Swim 500 yards -- 12:30, push-ups -- 42, sit-ups -- 50, pull-ups -- 6, 1.5-mile run -- 11:00. I am not sure why those scores are publicized, as these only will allow you to join the delayed entry program (DEP) but not get selected to go to BUD/S. But yes, these are the minimum standards.
A debilitating arm injury from rodeo competition almost cut his hopes of becoming a Navy SEAL, but in true Kyle fashion, he persevered and graduated BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL) with Class 233.
The Navy SEALs fitness test requires you to run 15 miles in 10.5 minutes; swim 500 yards in 12.5 minutes; complete 50 pushups in two minutes; 50 curl-ups in two minutes; and 10 pull-ups in two minutes.
30 years of active duty: SEALs can remain active for 30 years of service and receive a higher monthly benefit amount. Each year after retirement, the percentage is increased annually by 2.5%, resulting in 75% of their average base pay.
AVERAGE STATISTICS
Height: 5 ft. 10 in.
The Commander of all Navy SEAL forces (Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command) is a two-star Admiral (O-8). The highest-ranking SEAL in the U.S. Navy is a four-star Admiral (O-10) Eric T. Olson who recently assumed duties as Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
Navy SEALs are free to tell family and friends their occupation. The Navy even offers "engagements" in which SEALs talk to high school athletic teams about physical fitness and mental toughness.
This chart breaks down the ages of navy seal employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of navy seals is 30-40 years old, which represents 44% of the population.
Members of the Air Force and Marine Corps had the highest divorce rate, while members of the Navy had the lowest.
Students get a taste of marksmanship, demolitions, patrolling, and small unit tactics, which they all have to put together during a final exercise. Graduating BUD/S doesn't make someone a SEAL, however. The follow-on SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) course still claims candidates.
While living with Itzler and his family, the SEAL taught him the 40% rule. “He would say that when your mind is telling you you're done, you're really only 40 percent done. And he had a motto: If it doesn't suck we don't do it.
Over time, your strength will improve and you will feel stronger. The difference from the 1000 pushups challenge, is that you complete 100 pushups a day for 30 days, so you build muscle daily and improve your strength.