Is it really that hard to become a Navy SEAL?
Table of Contents
Other than being as tough as nails, Navy SEALS have to meet quite a few other requirements when it comes to the rigorous Navy SEAL training program. While mental and physical strength, endurance, and grit all matter to become a SEAL, so does your age. If you’re older than age 28, you’ll need a special waiver.
To become a Navy SEAL, you must be an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy and a U.S. citizen who can read, write and speak English fluently. You must also usually be under the age of 28, although waivers are sometimes allowed for candidates who are 29 to 30 years old.
Don Shipley
Don Shipley (Navy SEAL)
| Don Shipley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 (age 59–60) Pennsylvania |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1978–2003 |
How many pull ups for Navy SEALs?
The minimum is eight pull-ups with no time limit, but you cannot touch the ground or let go of the bar. You should be able to do 15 to 20 to be competitive….Navy SEAL PST Standards.
| PST Event | Minimum Standards | Competitive Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-ups | 10 | 15-20 |
| 1.5-mile timed run | 10:30 | 9-10 minutes |
What is it like to be a Navy SEAL?
U.S. Navy SEALs are one of the most recognizable special forces in not only the country but the entire world. Navy SEALs command a high degree of respect for their intense levels of training and capabilities. All in all, U.S. Navy SEALs are one of the nearest things the country has to a “super soldier”.
Navy SEAL training will be the hardest thing you will ever do. BUD/S Training, the Toughest Military Training in the World, has a 75-80\% attrition rate. The seven or eight out of ten men who fail or quit SEAL Training in the Navy are not just average guys walking the streets today, they’re the best the Navy has.
Thus, existing SEALs shouldn’t have a problem landing civilian work after retiring from the Navy (especially if you don’t mind starting a new career). Navy SEALs often work in private security or law enforcement because some of their training is applicable to the civilian world.
SEAL teams act as a component of the Naval Special Warfare Command and therefore receive better pay compared to enlisted sailors. Navy SEALs deserve improved pay because of the many hazards and conflicts they encounter while serving the country.