SEAL Challenge Contract Question

[Ibliftin8592]

If for some reason at MEPS the recruiters stste that the SEAL Challenge Contract is not available is it true that at basic training they ask if anyone wants to try the SEAL PFT and if you pass it you will be assigned to BUD/s after A school?

[clearpawn]

Here's what I did at MEPs, I told them that I wasn't joining the Navy with the SEAL challenge. I was about to leave when a spot "magically" opened up for something that she said was closed. But during boot camp they'll ask who wants to volunteer for SEALS, SWCC, Diver, EOD, and you just let them know, and you can take the screen test, and after you pass it and get everything else done that you need to they'll add it to your contract, i have a couple of buddies who did that during boot. Hope I helped you out.

[McCloud]

Did you get into BUD/s? You don't have to join under the SEAL Challange, and are still pretty much garrented the chance to tryout?

[platinumike]

tell them your not joinining unless you get the contract. SEALs is the reason you are joining the Navy, if your recruiter tells you that they ran out, or w/e its because he knows he can push ur *** around, so another recruiter can use it for a stingy mofo who really wants it. Just my 2 pesos, if you really think you dont need it, then go for it.

[nospin29]

funny enough, my recruiter pushed being a SEAL on me. its worked out ebcause thats what i was going to see him about and from day 1 he said that i should try to be a SEAL. and when i went to MEPS last July, i went to the one in Portland Maine. if you are in the area, try to go to that one because the guy who handles the jobs is awesome. i had no problem with getting my contract at all. i went in, he asked what i wanted, i told him i wanted to be a SEAL, he looked at his files on his comp and said welcome aboard. it was really easy

[ZeroAll]

Sounds like my experience. I just told the job guy what I wanted and he said no problem and just said if I wanted IT like I asked, I'd have to wait 9 months, but if I wanted to leave in a month, I could take a nice shiny MM. I took IT.

[tingkka]

what happens if you get the contract, the SEAL challenge, the whole nine yard...but fail the PST?

and what happens if you pass every test really well (running, pull ups, **** ups, push ups, etc.) but who poorly in swimming (as in...didn't make the 12:30 time by 10-15 seconds.)?

[ZeroAll]

If you dont pass the PFT in 3 tries, then you better hope you like the ocean.

[Gedicks]

what happens if you get the contract, the SEAL challenge, the whole nine yard...but fail the PST?

and what happens if you pass every test really well (running, pull ups, **** ups, push ups, etc.) but who poorly in swimming (as in...didn't make the 12:30 time by 10-15 seconds.)?



Then you don't go to BUD/S. The SCC doesn't arbitrarily guarantee you a spot in BUD/S. It guarantees you the opportunity to take the PST and it guarantees that if you pass EVERY aspect of the PST then you will be slotted for a BUD/S class. But believe me get the SCC. I didn't think I needed it and I breezed through the PST at boot but for some reason could not get a contract so I now I am stuck being a VLS tech which means I have an NEC which means it will be awhile before I am able to go to BUD/S.

[Courtenay]

I breezed through the PST at boot but for some reason could not get a contract so I now I am stuck being a VLS tech which means I have an NEC which means it will be awhile before I am able to go to BUD/S.


Something there doesn't sound right to me. Did you pick a non-SEAL rate? Is that what the problem was? (I don't know what VLS is). If you have a SEAL source rate, and you pass the PST you go to BUD/s. It really is that simple. I know this to be true. My son did it. As did a family friend of ours who is currently in BUD/s (his dad is a SEAL). Neither had the challenge contract.

[Gedicks]

Did you pick a non-SEAL rate? Is that what the problem was? (I don't know what VLS is).


I am a Gunner's Mate, which is definitely a SEAL source rate. VLS is Vertical Launch Systems. I will be working on the systems that we use to fire all of our Tomahawks, SM-2's and ASROC's (I am in VLS school right now). The **** ty thing is that when I was at GM school the Dive Motivator's over there told me that I should have gotten a contract and they don't know why I didn't. I couldn't get one at GM school because the Dive Motivators said that I did not have a long enough school to be able to get all the special medical checks done before I left. There's nothing I can do now except send in requests to get transferred to BUD/S and if that doesn't work then I have to try and negotiate for it when the time for my re-enlistment comes up.

[sandfrog]

Not a long enough A school? Isn't GM school about 6 months?

Should have been be plenty of time, it only takes a couple hours to get "special medical checks" done.

There's nothing special about the med checks, they're the same one's every one else gets in MEPS and boot. But I do agree, get the SEAL Challenge Contract if you can, it'll at least give you a little peace of mind.

[Gedicks]

Not a long enough A school? Isn't GM school about 6 months?


It used to be back when human instructors taught everything in a classroom format and you learned everything in the Gunner's Mate manual. Now half of the school is self-paced learning on computers. You read the lessons online and take notes and then take a computerized test when you're ready. The actual time where we were in a classroom learning about the weapons, field-stripping, shooting, and doing sprinkler system training was only about a month. So, yes, if you were slow enough you could be there six months, I was only there a month and a half.



Should have been be plenty of time, it only takes a couple hours to get "special medical checks" done.


According the medical center it takes a good month. There's all sorts of special X-rays and blood tests that they have to send the results out to get tested and then wait for them to come back. By the time I was actually able to talk to one of the Dive Motivators I only had about a month left and he said it would be cutting it too close for him to be able to switch my orders.

[sandfrog]

Special x-rays and blood tests? Do you have some medical condition that would necessitate extra medical screening? Everyone else who goes to BUD/S just has the normal med check.

[Courtenay]

Hmmm, well, my son did Corps school. Which can also be done AP. He finished in about 2 months. He screened for BUD/s 2nd or 3rd week of boot. The Dive Motivator's office took it from there. There was never a question after he passed the screen test about his going to BUD/s. In fact, I remember his saying that after he passed the screen test that the Dive Motivators office immediately put in for the change of his orders to include BUD/s after A school. And then he did the extra PT with the Dive Motivator's Office during Boot, then during A school.

What isn't making sense to me, and I always try to make sense out of what people are saying. Is that the Navy is in the process of a draw-down. Meaning that the fleet is being reduced by 30, 000. Since we know the needs of the Navy come first, and there is not a major shortage or need for more Gunner's Mates, why would you not be automatically scheduled for BUD/s, like everyone else who passes the Screen test? After-all, while they are trying to reduce the fleet, they are trying to INCREASE SpecWar. Something just isn't adding up here.

While I agree, that having a SEAL challenge contract is the best way to go. I don't want guys who for some reason cannot get the contract to think that they cannot screen in boot, and go to BUD/s. Because they can.

[Gedicks]

Special x-rays and blood tests? Do you have some medical condition that would necessitate extra medical screening? Everyone else who goes to BUD/S just has the normal med check.


I don't have any special medical conditions. The medical office at boot said that people going Spec-War or submarines had to have special chest X-rays, dental X-rays, blood tests, etc. etc. It doesn't make sense to me either. But I know that the guys I went to boot with that actually did get contracted were spending a lot of time getting their "special physical". I am just posting what I was told by the medical staff at boot and the DM's at GM school.

[Gedicks]

What isn't making sense to me, and I always try to make sense out of what people are saying. Is that the Navy is in the process of a draw-down. Meaning that the fleet is being reduced by 30, 000. Since we know the needs of the Navy come first, and there is not a major shortage or need for more Gunner's Mates, why would you not be automatically scheduled for BUD/s, like everyone else who passes the Screen test? After-all, while they are trying to reduce the fleet, they are trying to INCREASE SpecWar. Something just isn't adding up here.


That's exactly what I said. When I couldn't get contracted at boot I figured no big deal, I'll do it at "A" school. After I was told that I didn't have enough time at GM school left to get a contract I talked to the GM school LPO about my orders. I asked if I could refuse the "C" school and just go to the fleet as an NEC 0000, which means I would have been just another GM. If I had been a quad zero I could've very easily gotten orders to BUD/S after submitting my transfer request. The LPO told me that the detailer said no because the Navy needs people to get trained on VLS. I told him that that didn't make sense because the fleet was downsizing while Spec-War was becoming more agressive in its recruiting because they needed more people. He told me that that wasn't true and that I probably had no shot at getting orders to BUD/S and that even if I did I wouldn't make it anyway. I realize that it doesn't add up but that's what happened. So to all the other wannabes out here that haven't even gone to boot yet GET THE SCC. By the way sandfrog and Courtenay I really appreciate you taking your time to talk with me about this.

[sandfrog]

Quote: "By the way sandfrog and Courtenay I really appreciate you taking your time to talk with me about this."

No problem, I hate hearing about guys getting screwed out of a shot at BUD/S.

[Courtenay]

So you screened at boot.........then nothing? Something isn't right at all.

And the Dive Motivator's office hasn't helped you at all?

That is really scary.....seriously. Because that is not what is supposed to happen.

[Gedicks]

No problem, I hate hearing about guys getting screwed out of a shot at BUD/S.


Yeah it sucks but I am gonna do everything I can to get there. Worst case scenario is that I'll just have to wait until my contract is up and then try and re-up with a BUD/S guarantee.

[Gedicks]

So you screened at boot.........then nothing? Something isn't right at all.

And the Dive Motivator's office hasn't helped you at all?

That is really scary.....seriously. Because that is not what is supposed to happen.


That's exactly what happened. I am in Virginia now and that's where my ship is so I'll be here for awhile but the Dive Motivators can't do anything here because I am in a "C" school. I e-mailed Kory Knowles about possibly being able to still PT with the guys here that are waiting to class up but he said that's not possible. All I can do is keep working out by myself. The desire isn't gonna go away, I'll get there. I only need one shot, that's all I want. It sucks but getting mad isn't gonna help. I just gotta do what I gotta do to get there. It's been a dream for two years now so I'm not gonna just give up. But I'll stop getting all sentimental on you guys.

[nospin29]

wow dude, your getting the shaft. you said that GM school for you only took a month anf a half? i was told it took 6 months because thats what my rate will be after boot. from what you're saying, i might be going to BUD/S a lot sooner than i thought

[carl695]

Ok this is how it is. I just got out of boot camp last week and if you are planning on trying to go to bud/s u better be in pretty good shape because when u get to bootcamp u will sit and sit for 3-4 weeks and do no real PT and no swimming and when u get to do your Swim Qual they ask who is contracted and who isn't contracted. Either way u can take the screening test. Contracts don't mean crap besides u get a bonus and if u don't pass the screening test u get a Page 13 in your records. I start Dive motivators tuesday at 0330 can't wait. i hear theres over 100 guys in it. For SWCC EOD divers SEAL. By the way i'm in great great lakes. So Far from my understanding i won't class up for bud/s till the winter. good thing the hot water in my room doesn't work soo i can't become acustom to the cold. And another thing my RATE is IT and just like everyother job its over manned.

[Courtenay]

I called my son about something else actually tonight, but while we were talking, I asked about this particular situation. He said pretty much EXACTLY what you said Carl. One heads up though, do NOT miss any of those morning PTs. Show up no matter what........apparently they will drop you from the program if you don't go.
And, they can, contracted or not apparently.

[Gedicks]

wow dude, your getting the shaft. you said that GM school for you only took a month anf a half? i was told it took 6 months because thats what my rate will be after boot. from what you're saying, i might be going to BUD/S a lot sooner than i thought


Yeah GM school is 75% self-paced now so you will finish as fast as you want to. The part where you are actually in a class going at a set pace is only about a month. The other part is up to you. The average is about 3 months so I finished way ahead of schedule. Don't expect to do the computer stuff in two weeks like I did. I'm not trying to be ****y or anything I'm just saying that most people don't finish as fast as I did.

[Gedicks]

One heads up though, do NOT miss any of those morning PTs. Show up no matter what........apparently they will drop you from the program if you don't go.
And, they can, contracted or not apparently.


Happened more than once while I was in Great Lakes. Also do not try and use Dive Motivator PT as an excuse for anything at "A" school. You better show up to class on time and not be falling asleep or they can drop you from your "A" school and just make you go to Seaman Apprenticeship training. I had two guys that were a class behind me in gun school and they almost lost the school because they showed up late to class ONE day. And for all of you waiting to go to boot listen up. The Dive Motivator PT at boot camp is not a guarantee. While you are at boot camp is up to your RDC's discretion if you go or not. 99% of them don't care but there are those couple that for whatever reason have it in for the Spec-War guys and will tell you you can't go PT in the mornings. At boot camp that is their decision and you can't do **** about it. One guy in my division that was going SEAL had like two weeks where the RDC's wouldn't let him go because he failed an inspection. So keep your **** squared away. They will expect more out of you because of what you are volunteering for.