Navy & BUD/S Preparation - Prepare for all of it!

[oldswabbie]

In a number of post I've talked to some incredibly motivated individuals. I have no doubt many of these young men WILL make it through bud/s if they keep their head in the game. I've also talked to a number of individuals who dont seem to think Navy Boot camp is a big deal. Any number of us who have actually BEEN to Navy boot camp would beg to differ. While searching around on the site I happen to find (by accident) some very interesting statistics. These concern percentages of Individuals and the sucess rates through the different phases of training. Please note the danger areas and prepare for them gentlemen! Dont be caught off guard! If you look at the statistics you'll see the danger areas. Think about it guys - a big chunk of you will disappear in boot camp (42%) DOR, the rest in Phase I. Here are the "hidden Stepping Stepping Stones"


1. Recruit Training 58% Complete
2. Bud/s Phase1 (including Hell Week) 33 % Complete



Of those men who contacted a Navy recruiter with the intent to become a SEAL candidate, those who:

* Signed an enlisted contract: 79 percent.
* Graduated recruit training: 58 percent.
* Completed SEAL pre-indoctrination program: 90 percent.
* Completed SEAL indoctrination: 85 percent.
* Completed BUD/S phase 1 (includes "Hell Week"): 33 percent.
* Completed BUD/S phase 2: 87 percent.
* Completed BUD/S phase 3: 96 percent.
* Graduated from Airborne School: 100 percent.
* Completed SEAL Qualification Training: 99 percent.
Source: Naval Special Warfare Command

To be Forewarned is FOREARMED!

Good Luck!

OldSwabbie

[oldswabbie]

Come on Guys, Im curious. Anyone have any ideas? No doubt you guys on here are much MORE motivated to complete Navy Boot, Bud/s than Joe Schmo off the street. But the statistics are interesting. Why would someone so hyped about becoming a SEAL (these statistics are about SEAL candidates) drop out of Navy Boot Camp at a rate of 42%?

Many of you have taken Frogman80 up on his advice to seize every opportunity and make it a personal challenge to improve yourselves... I commend you. But what would be the cause for such a DOR rate out of Boot? Thats only a 24% difference - and there is definately more than a 24% difference between Navy Boot and Bud/s!


OldSwabbie

my 2cents and ill stow my gear (and math)

[scskowron]

If those statistics don't strike you, look at it this way:

Let's say 100 men talk to a recruiter about becoming a SEAL.

Of those 100 men, 79% will sign a contract. That leaves us with 79 men.
Of those 79 men, 58% will complete Basic. That leaves 45.82 men.
Of those 45.82 men, 90% will complete Pre-Indoc. That leaves 41.24 men.
Of those 41.24 men, 85% will complete Indoc. That leave 35.05 men.
Of those 35.05 men, 33% will complete Phase 1. That leaves us 11.57 men.
Of those 11.57 men, 87% will complete Phase 2. That leaves us 10.07 men.
Of those 10.07 men, 96% will complete Phase 3. That leaves us 9.66 men.
Of those 9.66 men, all will complete Airborne. That leaves us 9.66 men.
Of those 9.66 men, 99% will complete SQT. That leaves us 9.57 men.

So aside from officer candidates, your chances of becoming a SEAL from the time you talk to a recruiter are about 9.57%.

[oldswabbie]

Yea, not good odds. I'm wondering what the REASONS for the high rate of DOR for SEAL candidates in BOOT are. We know why they DOR in bud/s - the instructors are trying to kill you, simple as that (LOL). Kidding guys..

How about this for starters...I know you guys can come up with more...

1. Food Sucks in Boot
2. Its NOT what they imagined it to be
3. They think its a waste of THEIR time
4. They think THEY are TOO good for Boot?
5. The Navy Sucks
6. All of the Above?

[jhawkins]

Great Posts! I think what this says, to quote a Ranger on the military channel, "It separates the groupies from the Rockstars".

I am older and trying to go the OCS to SEAL route which I am aware that my chances of becoming a SEAL are even lower. I think the reasons for such attrition may be :young guys who think being a SEAL would be "cool" or those who may feel family pressure to go into the military their attitude may be that if I am going, might as well go all out, and they don't truly understand how difficult it will be.

I think this site is a great resource and it enlightens us wannabes on the pitfalls and roadblocks that we will face. If it were easy, then everyone would do it. Just a thought.

J

[pipelinesurfer]

i think its probably a combination, but overall just the change in lifestyle. i know ive read several threads on NSC and talked to a few friends and relatives who've gone, but i still have no real idea what to expect.
you get used to college life(partying, goofing off) then all of a sudden, its midnight watches, and HARD WORK!?!(OH NO! lol). Just gotta man the **** up and do it

[king henry viii]

If those statistics don't strike you, look at it this way:

Let's say 100 men talk to a recruiter about becoming a SEAL.

Of those 100 men, 79% will sign a contract. That leaves us with 79 men.
Of those 79 men, 58% will complete Basic. That leaves 45.82 men.
Of those 45.82 men, 90% will complete Pre-Indoc. That leaves 41.24 men.
Of those 41.24 men, 85% will complete Indoc. That leave 35.05 men.
Of those 35.05 men, 33% will complete Phase 1. That leaves us 11.57 men.
Of those 11.57 men, 87% will complete Phase 2. That leaves us 10.07 men.
Of those 10.07 men, 96% will complete Phase 3. That leaves us 9.66 men.
Of those 9.66 men, all will complete Airborne. That leaves us 9.66 men.
Of those 9.66 men, 99% will complete SQT. That leaves us 9.57 men.

So aside from officer candidates, your chances of becoming a SEAL from the time you talk to a recruiter are about 9.57%.

Well that's just making it look harder than it actually is SCS.

[pipelinesurfer]

If those statistics don't strike you, look at it this way:

Let's say 100 men talk to a recruiter about becoming a SEAL.

Of those 100 men, 79% will sign a contract. That leaves us with 79 men.
Of those 79 men, 58% will complete Basic. That leaves 45.82 men.
Of those 45.82 men, 90% will complete Pre-Indoc. That leaves 41.24 men.
Of those 41.24 men, 85% will complete Indoc. That leave 35.05 men.
Of those 35.05 men, 33% will complete Phase 1. That leaves us 11.57 men.
Of those 11.57 men, 87% will complete Phase 2. That leaves us 10.07 men.
Of those 10.07 men, 96% will complete Phase 3. That leaves us 9.66 men.
Of those 9.66 men, all will complete Airborne. That leaves us 9.66 men.
Of those 9.66 men, 99% will complete SQT. That leaves us 9.57 men.

So aside from officer candidates, your chances of becoming a SEAL from the time you talk to a recruiter are about 9.57%.

o yea, I failed statistics in high school!

haha, just kidding but that sounds like a dumba** movie line doesnt it?

[oldswabbie]

When I read the stats, it perplexed me. I knew there were alot of dropouts but I am really trying to grasp what would take a motivated individual and slap them down in Boot ...of all places? They've read the books, seen the movies, watched TV about SEAL training and know what Hell week is in bud/s. What the H*** happens to them? Maybe its like Pipelinesurfer says, reality hits and they are standing watches and doing REAL Military S***. Could it be a combination of things? I WISH I could find some information on the reason for the drop outs.

[oldswabbie]

I think this site is a great resource and it enlightens us wannabes on the pitfalls and roadblocks that we will face. If it were easy, then everyone would do it. Just a thought.

J

Thats EXACTLY why I am doing with this. Somewhere, somehow 42% of guys who get SEAL contracts DOR in Boot, then 66% DOR in bud/s... as I said, we know why they DOR in Bud/s. What can we do to help these guys beat THESE odds and percentages? What help can we give them to prepare? I dont know, thats what I'm trying to find out :)

You see, it may not be YOU guys from here. But - someone in your company in boot camp who has a SEAL contract that may be one of those statistics. YOU may be the one who helps him stay the course and remember what he enlisted for. Who knows? In the Navy You are a TEAM. In bud/s you have your Swim Buddy. Always be willing to reach out and help, always be willing to encourage even when YOU need encouraging. Funny, that has a way of lifting you up when you do it.

[determined91]

Im no expert, but i am guessing that those SEAL candidates who drop from recruit training are more than likely SOCOM and charlie sheen fans, and have NO real clue how hard it it.
Thats just my .2 cents though

[TAMU_2008]

9.57% huh?

and I thought it would be hard! ;)

I think its the whole reality check you get when you get to boot..the guys who can watch the movies..ect..are not ready to put up with the basic "fleet" stuff...so they jet..which is ok with me..cause they never would have made it through BUDs in the first place...just saving a bunch a people a lot of time

Gig'em

[fy0834]

Hey TAMU2008;

One of your former classmates just got his Trident and I know of at least two of your former classmates in class "271". I anticipate they will both earn their Tridents in time.

GigEm "77"

FY0834

[TAMU_2008]

awesome!

my good friend Will who graduated from A&M as well Garduated from 268 I think he has just finished Jump School..so hes off to SQT

Gig'em

[od]

Just some thoughts, nothing scientific. . . .

SEAL canidates should be gearing up for training prior to boot. I immagine them doing so, hard charging, doing well, and feeling on top of the world.

They get to boot and they are at the bottom of the feeding chain, an E-nothing, with shipmates who are E-nothings. They look around, with not too much dificulty during a "mashing", noticing how much all the other E-nothings are struggling to get in their 20th eight count body builder or whatever, and recognize they are equals, and there is nothing that can be done about it.

They may give an air of superiority, because they got a buds slot, "going to be" a SEAL, this isn't crap, whatever. Company Commanders pick up on this, put them through a bit more scrutiny than the others.

I don't have advice for SEAL canidates specifically. Haven't BTDT. I have, however, BTDT at boot. My advice for boot: do what your told, do it to the best of your ability (whether on the grinder or at work week), keep your mouth shut unless asked to speak, and take whatever punishment comes whether you feel like you deserve it or not. Shoot the bull with your shipmates during down time, but don't brag. Be a team player all the time, and look out for your shipmates.

By the end of boot, I came to realize I actually enjoyed it. Really, I got three hots, a cot, and paid to boot. What was I giving in return? Sure there was the commitment thing, but at boot all I really did work wise was clean the barracks and go to work week. Beyond that all there was was school, free pt sessions, marching around, eating, sleeping, and writing home to Suzy Rottencrotch.

[coldone]

Come on Guys, Im curious. Anyone have any ideas? No doubt you guys on here are much MORE motivated to complete Navy Boot, Bud/s than Joe Schmo off the street. But the statistics are interesting. Why would someone so hyped about becoming a SEAL (these statistics are about SEAL candidates) drop out of Navy Boot Camp at a rate of 42%?

Many of you have taken Frogman80 up on his advice to seize every opportunity and make it a personal challenge to improve yourselves... I commend you. But what would be the cause for such a DOR rate out of Boot? Thats only a 24% difference - and there is definately more than a 24% difference between Navy Boot and Bud/s!


OldSwabbie

my 2cents and ill stow my gear (and math)


Can a recruit at boot just say "I quit" and go home? I had assumed there was an obligation and you couldn't just drop out of boot.

[oldswabbie]

OD may have something there, who knows.

Coldone, yea, you can get out of boot pretty easy the first couple of weeks then it gets harder. They dont have "Mother Moy's Bell" but you can go to the CC and you can get out.

Whatever the case, its a shame if you put all the work into getting ready for bud/s and then fizzle out at RTC. But, then again, it may be a good thing everybody find out then and not later.

Oldswabbie

[crusader]

If those statistics don't strike you, look at it this way:

Let's say 100 men talk to a recruiter about becoming a SEAL.

Of those 100 men, 79% will sign a contract. That leaves us with 79 men.
Of those 79 men, 58% will complete Basic. That leaves 45.82 men.
Of those 45.82 men, 90% will complete Pre-Indoc. That leaves 41.24 men.
Of those 41.24 men, 85% will complete Indoc. That leave 35.05 men.
Of those 35.05 men, 33% will complete Phase 1. That leaves us 11.57 men.
Of those 11.57 men, 87% will complete Phase 2. That leaves us 10.07 men.
Of those 10.07 men, 96% will complete Phase 3. That leaves us 9.66 men.
Of those 9.66 men, all will complete Airborne. That leaves us 9.66 men.
Of those 9.66 men, 99% will complete SQT. That leaves us 9.57 men.

So aside from officer candidates, your chances of becoming a SEAL from the time you talk to a recruiter are about 9.57%.

These numbers might seem grim, but there IS an upside!

If you actually sign the contract (lol) and DON'T drop out of Basic, then out of 100 men that start BUDS...

Of those 100 men, 90% will complete Pre-Indoc. That leaves 90 men.
Of those 90 men, 85% will complete Indoc. That leaves 76.5 men.
Of those 76.5 men, 33% will complete Phase 1. That leaves us 25.25 men. (ouch)
Of those 25.25 men, 87% will complete Phase 2. That leaves us 22 men.
Of those 22 men, 96% will complete Phase 3. That leaves us 21.12 men.
Of those 21.12 men, all will complete Airborne. That leaves us 21.12 men.
Of those 21.12 men, 99% will complete SQT. That leaves us 21 men.

Add in the medical rollbacks (not sure what kind of success rates they have when they get back in. High I would imagine) and your outlook is much brighter than 9.6%!

I would imagine the reason why so many drop out of Boot is that reality hits. People realize that it's not all fun and games, and that there is a lot of long, tough, miserable days of waking up at 3:30-4am and going to bed at 10p-12a.

Everybody wants to be a SEAL, but nobody wants to be a SEAL... know what I mean?

[austinnadz]

Something that a friend and I discuss often is that training, bootcamp, and schools aren't necessarily, "the fleet." maybe some guys think that life in the military is like bootcamp all the time.

my girlfriend tells me she could never make it in the military because of all the yelling. some people don't grasp the fact that that isn't the military per se, it's just the conditioning for the military.