Personality Differences and other Q's?

[eddie10]

Flipped a coin to see which forum I would put this in...

Ok, so I'm interested in both SEAL and SWCC communities. My main question is: are there major personality differences between the two? Was anyone else ever conflicted as to which they were more interested in? If so, how did you choose? Operationally speaking (you probably can't answer this due to OPSEC...) how different is "the amount of action" seen by SEALs and SWCCs? I'm interested in EOD too, so if anyone can frame answers in regards to that community also, that would be great (even though this is a SPECWAR site...).

From a childish standpoint, I'm interested in SWCC because driving the fast boats with guns blazing looks cool. As far as SEAL is concerned, the diving and demolitions seem most interesting (EOD for similar reasons). I understand that there is a lot more to these communities, and that it requires lot of commitment, and that needs of the service always come first, but I guess I'm just trying to learn more.

Thanks.

[Kinnikinik]

OK, here goes:

Essentially, both communities are similar. They are avid athletes, they prize hard work, dedication, and emphasis improving the individual so that the group may improve. Special Tactics for the best of the best.

Personalities are only slightly different between the SWCC and the SEALs. I would say that due to the difference in recognition between the two there is a slight difference in how they react to attention. SEALs are used to everyone knowing what a SEAL does and expects them to ask them questions and look at them with awe, none of which is not deserved. It gives them a certain "superstar quality" with all the good and bad associated with that.

SWCC guys... well they don't get that recognition. Most of the time they are mistaken for SEALs, or have to explain their job having to preface it with the phrase "Well, we are sort of like SEALs" or, "The training is similar to SEALs, but..." It is a rough position to be in, especially when you consider yourself an elite special warfare unit. As a result, the community itself is a little more low-key. In fact, I would compare the attitudes of the SDV Teams and the SWCC guys to be fairly similar. They both have extremely dynamic people who do some amazing things, but they are tired of explaining how they are a SEAL, but are a little different from the "other SEALs."

Now don't get me wrong and distill this to say that SEALs are media whores and SWCC guys are quiet professionals. We are all quiet professionals and all of us have those Alpha type personalities... its pretty interesting having that many leaders around... ahh thats something you have to experience. God, Naval Special Warfare has some amazing people!

Action. Straight up, SEALs will probably see more firefights and direct action missions that SWCC. That goes with the territory, SEALs are demolitionists who become infantry if they become detected. Simply by job title you will be closer to the enemy and therefore where the proverbial " **** " is.

SWCC on the other hand, generally stick to the littoral combat areas... the shallow water and rivers of the countries. This means that they will be conducting patrols, inserting and extracting high value packages (SEALs, Marine Recon, Foreign Special Warfare Units), or providing rapid response for maritime targets. Riverine SWCC down at SBT-22 do get off the boat, create hides and ambushes during their missions in South America and in whatever riverine environment they go into. You will probably do more missions than the SEALs do, but your trigger time will be less simply because of the difference in missions.

EOD do all sorts of cool stuff, they are generally in the front lines, in fact they are imbedded with the Marines and Army in Iraq now, but their actual combat missions are limited. Usually they are called out to destroy munitions or investigate IEDs. If you are lucky (or not depending on who you talk to) they have trained Sea Lions and Dolphins they use for missions. They dive, and I went to jump school with a bunch of them, so they jump too. They can go to most of the schools Special Warfare guys go to. They also have women in their ranks. Those are some hardcore women also. I am fully impressed with every single one of them.

So, it is not wrong to be conflicted. I would say weigh out your options, talk to people here and get your opinions. Hopefully I gave you an unbiased overview, but of course as a SWCC my perspectives may be skewed a little bit. Besides, where else can you drive a $10 million boat, shoot automatic grenade launchers off the back af a high speed boat, or even push boats out of the backs of planes and then jump out of them at 19 years old. Hell, I'm way older than that and it still sounds cool has hell.

HooYah my friend. Good luck on your decision.

K

[SIGdude989]

K, I enjoyed reading your above post. I must say your doing a great job on this forum, keep up the good work. It's nice having someone answer all these questions people have about SWCC.

-SIGdude

By the way I never knew SWCC guys went to jump school, thats pretty cool.

[Kinnikinik]

Oh yeah, we have jump dets that only do jumping. It is actually part of the pipeline now. The program is called MCADs. They drop 11 meter rhibs out of the back of C-130s.

[eddie10]

Thanks so much for your time!

[Kinnikinik]

Thanks for you interest. I'm instituting a new program, its called bring a friend to SWCC. If you and a friend enroll in the Navy under the SWCC program I will send you a cookie... what a deal! You get to shoot guns and have a cookie. You can't beat that!

Seriously though, Thank you for taking the time to post in here. I am really appreciative of the level of maturity of all the people who have come by and posted. We are a long way from where we were a few months ago.

[skeletor1987]

it seems i have read that only some SWCC get to attend jump shcool, is that true or does everyone in SWCC get a chace to go?

[jmrwhiskey]

wait so are you serious about the cookie?!?!?! what kind???? im pumped now, i was before about the job but the cookie just put me over the top. seriously though thanks for your help!

[Blenk11]

I will agree with the above posts... K you have done an outstanding job. Like the original post I was confused on which SpecWar program I wanted to join. SEALs is what I wanted to do prior to joining the Navy. Now that I have been in awhile, SWCC seems like the route to go. From my experience bud I was torn between the two. I have been a Submariner for 3 1/2 years and wanted something more high speed. I am 23 and happily married but I knew there was something out there that I was missing out on. After the LONG road to getting my package started, I felt SWCC was the right fit for me. I class up on the 28th of April and I owe a lot thanks to K because of the great information he has posted. Just like anyone on this forum that does well in the Navy will tell you... anything is possible if you want it bad enough. You may decide that you want to go to Bud/s or EOD. Get all the information and make a educated decision. Good luck. Hooyah!

STS2/SS

[NavyMA1221]

K, how long do you have to be SWCC to get into a jump det, or is that something that you kind of have to fall into (no pun intended)?

[matty86]

yes, i would like to know that also.
my ultimate goal is to make it to MCADS.