Why should I join SEALs over Rangers/Green Berets

[Specialk0783]

I have wanted to be a SEAL all my life...So much information was contradicting, but finally I have figured out the basis for each Special Forces Group.

I will be enlisting in a little less than 5 months, my problem is that I cannot decide between SEALs or Ranger/Green Berets. (I understand they are seperate, but I would most likely do both if I joined the Army.)

One thing I don't typically like is the near 100% waterborne operational environments. Is it really true that mostly all missions occur in or around the water? I hear you like to keep one foot in the water, but, does that mean as a SEAL thats where I will spend most my time, or will I be subject to different environments?

Also, I wanted to ask about the show Combat Operations on USA...it seems that all of the Special Forces groups that participate really don't do all that well on the missions? Do you have an opinion on that particular show, or their particular performance?

I have read that nearly 80% of SEAL Team members have no combat or "trigger pulling" experience...what can I expect to do during life in the Teams? What if I want to be in the thick of it, or atleast be subject to one combat experience?

Is there a culmination excercise after the completion or nearing the completion of buds training. For example, Green Berets have the Robin Sage excercise?

Thank you for all your help,
any information you can give me would be awesome.
Kevin G.

[Pecos]

Is it really true that mostly all missions occur in or around the water? I hear you like to keep one foot in the water, but, does that mean as a SEAL thats where I will spend most my time, or will I be subject to different environments?


Much of the time, I believe their missions occur within or near a waterborne environment. That doesn't necessarily mean all the time. Look at Afghanistan for a prime example. No waterborne combat going on, but SEALs are very much in the thick of it. In fact, if you didn't know, ABM1 Neil Roberts was recently killed, and yesterday another SEAL(I don't know his name yet) was killed in a land mine explosion. So, it is definitely possible for missions to have nothing to do with water.



Is there a culmination excercise after the completion or nearing the completion of buds training. For example, Green Berets have the Robin Sage excercise?

In Phase 3 of BUD/S training, prospective SEALs spend their final 4 weeks on San Clemente Island doing Land Warfare exercises. There they hone their skills, and incorporate everything they have thus far learned in BUD/S to completing the exercises. One final single exercise I am not sure of tho. The final phase is just as, if not more, tough as/than the other phases. I know a Sailor who was dropped 2 weeks before graduation for a weapons violation. The Operators here will know pretty much what that entailed.

Also, if you will search this entire site(boy doesn't that sound familiar...) and read everything there is available regarding SEALs, many of your questions should be answered. If, after reading everything, you still have unanswered questions, come back and ask away, someone will be able to asist you.

BTW, Welcome aboard the new Shack!

Pecos out-

[futurefrogman2969]

I am not a Navy SEAL, but I will be shipping off to the Navy sometime in mid-November in the SEAL Challenge Contract, and this is what I do know and can tell you. First of all, SEALs should love the water...you will learn to either love or hate it in BUD/S becuase you will constantly be cold, wet and sandy. If you are a bad swimmer, then I would not suggest going through BUD/S. Also...Combat Missions is a very poorly made show. If you want more discussion on it, you might want to check out www.socnetcentral.com , and search in the SEAL forums and you will see how badly of ratings it got becuase of it's inaccuracy. Also, I am unsure of the statement that 80% have never had any combat experience, but I would think that the number of SEALs would be higher than the number of Green Beret's with combat experience. Maybe that's becuase you hear more about Navy SEALs on the news than you do about Green Berets, but I would not be suprised. What is your current PFT scores?

[Engvalt]

First I just want to let it be known that I am NOT a SEAL. I'm a huge fan and HOPEFULLY gonna be one. OK now to answer your questions:


I will be enlisting in a little less than 5 months, my problem is that I cannot decide between SEALs or Ranger/Green Berets. (I understand they are seperate, but I would most likely do both if I joined the Army.)


Now for this question I would have to say....just join which ever one you like the best. But remember BUD/S, SF, and Ranger traing is VERY VERY VERY difficult, so you should think "What if I don't make it hrough training?". If you fail the training courses you will have to serve the rest of your enlistment doing regular Navy(most likley fleet duty), or Army jobs. So choose wisely.


One thing I don't typically like is the near 100% waterborne operational environments. Is it really true that mostly all missions occur in or around the water? I hear you like to keep one foot in the water, but, does that mean as a SEAL thats where I will spend most my time, or will I be subject to different environments?


From what I know SEALs do spend a good 90-95% of time in the water. If your not particulary happy with this then join the Army.


I have read that nearly 80% of SEAL Team members have no combat or "trigger pulling" experience...what can I expect to do during life in the Teams? What if I want to be in the thick of it, or atleast be subject to one combat experience?


Trust me you will get PLENTY of "trigger-pulling" experience during training. Plus most likley TONS and TONS more during covert operations that nobody knows about EXCEPT the president,vice-president, and the Teams.

[Pollard]

I havent been in the SEALs or the Rangers and the Green Berets so I couldnt help ya out on this one.

[cru]

Kevin:
I wouldn't join the Teams if you don't like water. As I'm sure you already know SEAL stands for SEa, Air, and Land. Sometimes missions will take place over land, and have no part in a water setting. But the water is a SEALs bread and butter. And for the 'culmination excerise' if you get out to BUD/S you will have something like that. As it is shown already, during the third phase, you will per-take in a final mission to show what you have learned over the last 6 months. Even after BUD/S and jump-school, you will go to a Team for a 'trail period' it can last for 6 months to almost a year. In this period you will be asked to work with the other guys to see if you can work as a team, be tested oraly etc. You can get all the way through BUD/S, jump school and still not be a SEAL. If you are still contaplating in choosing a branch and the Spec Ops, there is a great book out there. It is called 'Warriors Elite, the forging of BUD/S cl *** 228' By **** Couch. It is a great book to pick up, it's about cl *** 228 from the begging of Indoc to graduation day at BUD/S, it gets you right on the thick of things. The cl *** went through BUD/S I believe it was 2000, or 2001. I'm sure this book will help you with your decision. I keep reading it over and over again to make sure I didn't miss anything. I'm in college right now, and when I finish off to see if I can become a frogman! I have been 'training' for the last few years, and read almost everything out there that I can. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask, I'll try the best I can to help out. There are a lot of good guys here with a lot of info on this stuff. And one more thing. If you are still thinking about what Spec Ops you want to join, and you only have 5 more months left, you might want to hurry up and make a decision, going to BUD/S with any type of uncernitiny might end up working against you. Take it easy.

cru

[Specialk0783]

Hey, thanks for the info. I have read the book you are talking about, it's a very good look into bud/s training. It is exactly that book which is making my decision harder. But as for now, I have decided that it doesn't really matter which one I go to or which is the best, I just want to make sure it's the type of missions I want to do. Since I am really into land warfare and stuff, I have decided Rangers/SF...maybe even Delta after that if possible. What have you been doing to train...I've been training for a whie as well. What specifically do you do, and how often???

Write back soon, or email me at mdkgeary@attbi.com
If you don't get a reply, its cause ill be out of town till thurs, but I will reply ASAP.

Thanks,
KMG

[Strikex411]

and yesterday another SEAL(I don't know his name yet) was killed in a land mine explosion.



I am sure you already know this by now (first time on this site), but in case not:

Chief Petty Officer Matthew J. Bourgeois, 35, of Tallah *** ee, Fla., was killed in the 8:30 a.m. accident while his unit was conducting small-unit training at the remote site near Kandahar, according to a Department of Defense statement

Strikex411

[Pollard]

God rest his soul.