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11 Navy Seal Motivational Speakers to See in 2023

by  Sa rah Kristens o n

There is nothing worse than sitting through a speech by a “ motivational” speaker  and feeling absolutely  bored stiff  and totally disinterested. Sadly, there are often individuals who simply  don’t know how to connect  with your own  internal warzone,  much less offer you any hope of making it out alive… except for  Navy SEAL motivational speakers.

Navy SEALs are the elite of the US military, and they have  literally lived in warzones  and come out the other side triumphant, despite tragedy and trauma.  They have survived  some of the world’s worst hellholes by showing  mental resilience and focus .

Here are the best  Navy SEAL motivational speakers  to see this year and everything you’d like to know before booking your seat.

Why Navy SEALs Are Great Motivational Speakers

Before you look up  retired Navy SEALs  in the yellow pages, it’s worth knowing just why you may want to book a Navy SEAL as a  guest speaker  for your next work or social function. Navy SEALs:

• Command respect
• Have gained lived  wisdom
• Know how to read an audience (a hugely underrated  skill for a public speaker )
• Draw comparisons to war and battle from real life, because we all feel like we are fighting for what we want (right?)

11 Navy SEAL Motivational Speakers to See in 2023

When booking a Navy SEAL motivational speaker, it’s a good idea to look for  specific qualities  before making your reservation. Here are the top  11 Navy SEAL motivational speakers  to consider for 2023.

1. David Goggins

“You are in danger of living a life so comfortable and soft, that you will die without ever realizing your true potential.”  ~  David Goggins

David Goggins was born February 17, 1975 in Buffalo, New York. He is perhaps one of the best known  retired Navy SEALs  turned motivational speakers and draws huge crowds to each engagement where he spreads his  message of never giving up  and changing your mindset.

Goggins is an author, speaker, retired Navy SEAL, and former Guinness World Record holder for 4,030 pull-ups in 17 hours. He participates in  numerous ultra-distance marathons  and continues to challenge himself daily.

The start of Goggins’ journey to  becoming a Navy SEAL  included losing 106 pounds in three months before he could qualify for the elite SEAL teams.

• Empowerment for executives
• Mental strength
• Self-improvement
• Goal setting and accomplishment

Goggins has  published several books , including his successful latest publication called  Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within . Many of his speeches, like  I Am Unbreakable , focus on how  never giving up  when the going gets tough has motivated and inspired thousands.

2. Jocko Willink

“The more you practice, the better you get, the more freedom you have to create.”  ~  Jocko Willink

Born on September 8, 1971, John Gretton “Jocko” Willink hails from Torrington, Connecticut. As the leader of  task unit Bruiser , Willink saw some of the most harrowing parts of the Iraq war in Ramadi. Willink is a highly decorated  retired Navy SEAL  officer and received both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.

After retirement, he started a private  consultancy firm  known as  Echelon Front . Willink’s company offers  leadership skills training  for corporate entities, using the same principles that he employed on the battlefield.

• The importance of accountability in business and in life

Willink has a hugely  successful podcast , and he is a New York Times number one bestselling author. Some of his book titles include  Extreme Ownership  (co-written with Leif Babin) and  Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual.  His  podcast  that he often shares with David Goggins has over a million subscribers, and one of his best known podcast speeches is  Why Discipline Must Come from Within .

3. William McRaven

“Hope is the most powerful force in the universe.”  ~  William H. McRaven

Admiral  William H. McRaven  was born on November 6, 1955 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. During his military career, he  advised two presidents  and was deployed during the war in Iraq and also the war in Afghanistan.

He is an exclusive  Washington Speakers Bureau  guest speaker and has been involved in 14 different  educational institutions  that have been responsible for the education of 220,000 students.

• Responsibility
• Foreign policy

McRaven is a  New York Times bestselling author  and his iconic speech,  making your bed , delivered to the University of Texas went viral. His bestselling book  Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life and Maybe the World  uses battlefield analogies to help leadership and personal responsibility develop so the reader can excel in life.

4. Mike Hayes

“The entire mission belongs to all of us.”  ~  Mike Hayes

Mike Hayes commanded SEAL Team Two in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Hayes was credited for the  START treaty negotiations  between the Bush administration and Russia.

He received the  Bronze Star  in Iraq and Afghanistan, and after  retiring from the SEALs , he became the chief operating officer at VMWare, a software company.

Hayes wrote the bestselling book,  Never Enough:   A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning , and all proceeds from the book sales are  donated to Gold Star Families  to help families of fallen military heroes.

• Corporate excellence
• Strategic thinking and the hiring, firing, and discipline process
• Mission focus and creating dedication

Hayes’ speeches are mostly for  private corporate events , but you can view a podcast discussion of his book,  Never Enough , online.

5. Rorke Denver

“Whatever might happen, I always knew my brother had my back.”  ~   Rorke Denver

Born on October 26, 1973 in Saratoga, California, Rorke Denver is a retired Navy SEALs commander, turned  actor,   author , and  motivational speaker.  Denver was the star of the hit film  Act of Valor , and he also starred in the FOX TV series  American Grit .

While he was an  active SEAL , he saw action in the Middle East, Africa, and numerous international hotspots. Denver established the brand  Ever Onward  under the banner of which he delivers  motivational speeches  and  leadership workshops  to corporates and marketing organizations.

• Taking responsibility
• Life lessons from the battlefield

His  two books ,  Worth Dying For: A Navy Seal’s Call to a Nation  and  Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior , are both  bestsellers . He has several  online  motivational speeches  delivered across America.

6. Chad Williams

“Freedom isn’t free.”   ~  Chad Williams

Chad Williams  retired from active duty  with the SEALS in 2010, and he and his wife Aubrey live in Huntington Beach, California. Having completed the grueling BUD/S training, Williams was  one of 13 graduates  from a class of 173 candidates, and he continued to serve on SEAL  Teams One and Seven .

Williams has become  a public figure  due to appearances on CNN and FOX news as  military correspondent  on conflicts involving American troops. He is a  full-time minister , and he also delivers  keynote speeches  on a range of topics.

Williams authored the  best-selling book  SEAL of God .

• Spirituality

Williams is  a talented motivational speaker , with one of his  iconic speeches  on “turning out to be a loser” inspiring teens to  never quit  again.

7. Mark Divine

“My purpose is to master myself so I can serve humanity as a warrior, leader and teacher.”  ~  Mark Divine

Born on July 14, 1963, Mark Divine is a  retired SEAL commander  with over 20 years of military service. After retiring, Divine created  two businesses , SEALfit and Unbeatable Mind, and he  hosts a successful podcast  titled  Unbeatable Mind .

Divine also created a  nationwide training program  for SEAL trainees at the government’s request, which saw attrition drop by five percent.

• Business training
• Mental and physical toughness
• Motivation in the face of adversity
• Living with excellence

Divine has  written  several books , many of them best sellers, including the books  Unbeatable Mind  and  Way of the Seal . Divine has  various  podcasts  and motivational speeches  online.

8. Brent Gleeson

“If you stumble, find the root cause and move on. Don’t let yourself get wrapped up in guilt, anger, or frustration, because these emotions will only drag you further down and impede future progress. Learn from your missteps and forgive yourself. Then get your head back in the game and violently execute.”   ~  Brent Gleeson

Brent Gleeson is a  retired Navy SEAL , best-selling author,  award-winning entrepreneur , keynote speaker, and a columnist at Forbes. When Gleeson left SEAL Team Five, he used what he learned during his time on active duty in  the business world .

He founded  TakingPoint Leadership , a  management and leadership company  that specializes in  transforming businesses  for the better and creating high-performance company cultures.

• Self-discipline
• Team building
• Mental fortitude

Gleeson is the  author of two books :  TakingPoint: A Navy SEAL’s 10 Fail Safe Principles for Leading Through Change  and  Embracing  the Suck : The Navy SEAL Way to an Extraordinary Life . Some of Gleeson’s  motivational speeches are available  online, and one of his most watched is  Navy SEAL’s 10 Fail Safe Principles .

9. Marcus Luttrell

“Don’t let your thoughts run away with you, don’t start planning to bail out because you’re worried about the future and how much you can take. Don’t look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day.”  ~  Marcus Luttrell

Born November 7, 1975, Marcus Luttrell is a  highly decorated Navy SEAL  who was the  sole survivor  of Operation Red Wings in 2005.

Luttrell received the  Purple Heart for valor , and his story  inspired the 2013 movie  Lone Survivor,  based on his best-selling book  Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Red Wings and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.

His  foundation —the Lone Survivor Foundation— assists wounded soldiers  and their families.

• Inspires people through the events of Operation Red Wings
• Never give up
• Military training and survival

Luttrell hosts his own  podcast  called the  Team Never Quit Podcast , and he also  travels the US  delivering motivational speeches about his experiences and views on life. Marcus Luttrell has delivered  several  speeches  and interviews online .

10. Brandon Webb

“Choose one thing, focus on that one thing, and execute it to the absolute limit of your abilities. Focus on your career, invest in yourself, and learn how to say no to everything else.”   ~  Brandon Webb

Born June 12, 1974, Brandon Webb  headed the SEAL sniper course , and he was deployed to Afghanistan and also to the Persian Gulf. After he retired, he founded his  own company , Force 12 Media, and he is a  successful  entrepreneur .

Webb has also founded a  non-profit company , the Red Circle Foundation, which supports the families of Special Forces members. He is a  best-selling author , with titles like  Among Heroes  and  The Red Circle .

• Entrepreneurship

Various interviews and motivational speeches by Brandon Webb are  available online , and  How to Improve Self-Talk  is one about how you can  change habits , like internal and external self-talk,  for the better . Webb has also expanded into  fiction  with his newest book,  Cold Fear: A Thriller .

11. Mark Owen

“There is no honor in sending men to die for something you won’t even fight for yourself.”  ~  Mark Owen

Mark Owen’s real name is  Matt Bissonette . He was born in the Alaskan town of Wrangell in 1976. Bissonette, who published a book  under the name Mark Owen , was a member of  Navy SEAL Team Six  and served in the US military for  14 years .

He  rose to fame  after he was chosen to  carry out a top-secret mission  on Osama bin Laden’s Abbottabad compound.

When Bissonette left active duty, he  became a motivational speaker  and  co-authored   No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden  with Kevin Maurer, a journalist. This former Navy SEAL also wrote  No Hero: The Evolution of a Navy SEAL .

Bissonette is also an  executive producer  on  SEAL Team , a TV series that follows an elite Navy SEAL team as they go on various dangerous missions around the world. He was also  consulted  for the making of the  video game  called  Medal of Honor: Warfighter .

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Vietnam – The Men With Green Faces

Platoons from SEAL Team ONE and SEAL Team TWO were assigned to a specific operating area in Vietnam, and for the most part operated autonomously. Each SEAL platoon had a mobile support team (MST) boat element assigned. The MSTs were small groups of men specially trained to support SEAL operations. MSTs operated a variety of boats that included the light, medium, and heavy SEAL support craft (LSSC, MSSC, and HSSC, respectively).

By mid-1968 the SEAL Teams were fielding 12-man platoons, each comprising two squads of six men each, and most missions Vietnam were squad-sized operations. Generally four or five platoons at any given time were deployed to South Vietnam. SEAL platoons were never assigned permanently to Vietnam, but were sent on temporary duty assignments; generally for period of about six months time. Many of the men made several tours.

While the majority of SEAL operations were conducted after inserting from boats, it was in Vietnam that SEALs first began developing hit-and-run air-assault tactics using Army and Navy helicopters. Operations involved helicopters in “slick” or passenger configurations, but were also lightly armed with door guns.

The last SEAL platoon departed Vietnam on 7 December 1971. The last SEAL advisors left Vietnam in March 1973. Between 1965 and 1972 there were 46 SEALs killed in Vietnam. They are forever remembered on the Navy SEAL Memorial at the Museum.

Note: Three U.S. Navy SEALs were recipients of the Medal of Honor during Vietnam. They were: Lieutenant Bob Kerrey, Lieutenant Tom Norris, and EM2 Mike Thornton. Mike Thornton was awarded the Medal of Honor for the rescue and exfiltration of Lieutenant Norris under withering fire on the night of 31 October 1972. There is no other recorded instance where two Medal of Honor recipients are known to have been involved in the same combat operation.

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A Conversation with Former Seal Team Six Leader Robert O’Neill, the Man Who Fired the Shots That Killed Osama Bin Laden.

Robert O’Neill is one of the most highly-decorated combat veterans of our time and the author of T he New York Times  best-selling memoir,  The Operator: Firing the Shots That Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior . A former SEAL Team Six leader with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group , he deployed more than a dozen times and held combat leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions in four different theatres of war. A highly trained Navy SEAL , he led the military’s most elite and was involved in our nation’s most important campaigns. With most of his career shrouded in a classified cloak, O’Neill was the man on the ground we have never heard of but know exists. He was one of the quiet professionals performing the most difficult tasks in the most difficult circumstances, serving his remarkable career in the shadows and keeping America safe in the process.

In this exclusive interview, I spoke to Robert O’Neill about the mission to kill Osama bin Laden , what it takes to be a Navy SEAL and what we can all learn from the SEAL mindset.

Q: Why did you decide to talk about your story of killing Osama Bin Laden?

[Robert J. O’Neill]: When we were given the mission, we had the opportunity to either go or not go. For me, it was one of those situations where I realised that this is what I’m here for, this is why I joined the military . There were people from 84 countries who were lost at the twin-towers, and people from all over the world who fought Al-Qaeda on United flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania, and many people who died at the attack on the Pentagon . This wasn’t just an attack on America, it was an attack on the world. On our values. That’s why I wanted to go. If I left this mission, and didn’t go, I would be on my deathbed wishing I’d had that opportunity back.

The gravity of what we did wasn’t in our minds till later… we killed the #1 terrorist in the world! When we got back to the USA, my name was already out in our circle. We have SEAL teams in Virginia, San Diego, Washington and New York and the first question that any of them asked about the mission was, ‘ who got him… ’ and that’s how my name came out. I wasn’t comfortable with it at first, but it’s a secret you can’t keep! I donated my shirt to the 9/11 memorial museum in New York City. When I went up there, I wanted to be anonymous… it wasn’t just me on that mission, it was the team. I just happened to turn a corner because someone braver than me went left when I went right. I donated the shirt so that people could see it and say, ‘ this shirt was there when we took down Osama Bin Laden… ’ On the day , there was a group of 35 family members in a room. They had all lost loved ones on 9/11, and they put me on stage impromptu and asked me to tell the story. That was the first time I ever told the story about Bin Laden. The reaction from the families was powerful, there were people crying, with their heads down and people told me that while they could never truly have closure, that seeing a person who was there on that mission helped healing.  That moment was an insight for me… if I could help 35 people, I could help 100,000 people, just by telling them the story.  I’ve assumed the risk before, and if I can help people with that horrible day, I’ll continue to do it.

Q: What is the SEAL mindset?

[Robert J. O’Neill]: The SEAL mindset is to never quit. You also realise that it doesn’t matter what you look like or where you’re from, you can do anything that you want – as long as you have a positive attitude and realise that long term goals are achieved by short term goals. To succeed as a SEAL, you also need humility and a sense of humour- if morale is high, the team will work harder… if you can have fun, wherever you are, your team will function better… if you can keep morale high, you will lead a great team.

You can’t do anything by yourself. When we went after Bin Laden, there was a team that found him before we got there… a team of pilots that flew us in… the air crew that were guiding the aircraft… and all the teams who support them. Being a SEAL is a bit like being a salesman… there’s people who make the product, and the salesmen who go and deliver. In our case however, the customers are always wrong < laughs !>

Q: What is the role of goals and mastery in SEAL training?

[Robert J. O’Neill]: You need to master the basics and do the little things right. It’s about short-term goals. On a mission we’re not thinking. ‘ right, we’re going to take this entire house down… ’ we’re thinking, ‘ right, I’m going to put my right foot forward as I turn left, and the guy behind me is going to cover my back …’ it’s keeping everything simple… like that acronym, K.I.S.S ( Keep it Simple, Stupid! ).

I’ve had people ask me before, ‘I’m not good at pull ups, how do I get better at pull ups ?’ and the answer is pretty simple… do pull-ups! Keep it simple, master the basics. If you want to do something well you do it 1,000 times, if you want to do something great you do it 10,000 times.

There’s an old warrior saying, the more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle.”

Q:  How do you operate when you are experiencing fear ?

[Robert J. O’Neill]: People like to say, ‘no fear! ’ and I’ve never bought into that. Fear is healthy, fear is natural, and if anyone’s ever told you they’ve been to combat and were never afraid… they’re either lying or a sociopath. Fear is a very good reaction; it makes you think more clearly. If you watch a scary movie by yourself, you can hear everything in your house. That’s fear working… it’s good.

The fine line is panic. Panic is contagious- if one person panics, everyone panics. During the pandemic, one person thought they needed to buy all the toilet paper in Walmart, someone saw him do it and bought all the toilet paper someone else, and panic spread. You even see this boarding a plane- when someone from the wrong-zone tries to board, everybody runs, they all panic because that feeling is contagious. When one person panics, we all panic.

Fear is healthy, but panic is contagious. As a leader, you also realise that calm is contagious. It doesn’t matter how you feel inside, if you can portray calm- your people will be calm.

Q: How do you cope with the emotional weight of missions?

[Robert J. O’Neill]: I got lucky, I got to work every single day with people who I thought were better than me, and who made our work seem normal . I would have friends that would make worldwide headlines conducting operations against Al-Shabab in East Africa or missions like the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips on board the Maersk Alabama . I would see some of these dudes that just did these things and would be like, ‘ wow! You just did the most incredible thing in the history of the SEAL team… ’ and they would be like, ‘ yeah, cool… can we go work-out now? ’ There was this kind of nonchalant attitude because everyone was doing something great and so surrounding ourselves with greatness seemed normal

When we went after Osama Bin Laden, we knew it was a big mission, he was the number one target in the world. I remember being in Bin Laden’s house and we all knew that the house could blow-up at any moment. I was looking around at the other guys on the team- nobody paused- everybody was just doing their job. It was inspiring.

I don’t know if it’s humility or arrogance, but you play at the level of your competition. Watching people perform at such a high level brings you up. It’s the rising tide that makes the boats float, right? When you’re on a mission, you are just focussing on the next thing you have to do- the gravity of the situation only kicks-in much later.

Q: What has your work as a SEAL taught you about death?

[Robert J. O’Neill]: The dangerous part of our work is complacency . I got out of the Navy because I stopped getting adrenaline in gunfights. That’s when it gets dangerous. You don’t want to get killed because you get bored. A bullet only needs to be right once.

Reflecting on combat, you do think about the people you were in gun fights against. You thought of them as the bad guys but were you just shooting at each other simply because you were born in different parts of the world? Could things have gone differently? If I had met those people I shot in a different situation, maybe we could have had a cup of tea or a beer together, maybe we would have gotten along…

Life is so fragile, and war is loud, fast, scary and permanent.

Q: How can you humanise the enemy?  

[Robert J. O’Neill]: When you first go to war as a young guy, it’s almost like you want to get into combat. You want to be the first kid on the block with a confirmed kill. Quickly though, you realise that these are real people!

In theatre, we have ‘ cultural sensitivity teams .’ At first, we were just dumb guys with sledgehammers and guns going through houses – but the training teaches you that you can’t just go into someone’s house, put your hands-on females or grab the Quran. You don’t want to be that jerk, and you need to know the right way to approach things. I remember going into a house in Iraq, and looking down, noticing I’d stomped mud from my boot into their carpet. I remember thinking to myself, ‘ I can see why they hate us… I’d be mad too if someone did this in my house… ’

You have to bring the human element to the fore. At first it was let’s go to war… then it was let’s do the right thing … and then it was why are we even doing this?

Nowadays we also have drones which change everything. I’ve never flown a drone, but I know people that fly them out of air force bases and drop bombs via remote control. When they reflect on what they’ve done, it really bothers them. Remote control war takes the human element away, and that can be dangerous. We’re getting into an era of magnetic and cyber-warfare and it removes the fact that it takes people getting up close and personal to realise the human consequences of conflict. Most of the gunfights I’ve been in were in the size of a room and it’s very personal…

Q:  How do you adapt to life again after war?

[Robert J. O’Neill]: The key to getting over war is to talk about it. This is something a lot of veterans have issues with. A lot of veterans don’t want to admit there’s some sort of issue they should talk about; they don’t want to seem like they’re the weak link. This isn’t just a veteran’s issue… anyone with any kind of psychological issue can receive sympathy or empathy from people if they just talk. Nobody will think of you as the weak link- they’ll either help you, point you to help, or perhaps even tell you they’re going through the same. We all need to be more open; we’re all going through something and communication is important.

Q:  What do you hope your legacy will be?

[Robert J. O’Neill]: I was a semi-chubby white kid from Montana who couldn’t swim. I became a Navy SEAL who ended-up in Osama bin Laden’s bedroom on a Tier 1 Mission to take down the #1 terrorist in the world. My life is proof that if you put your mind to it, you can do anything you want.

As long as you keep your mind in the game, your body will follow. You convince your body through your mind. I’ve never heard anyone say, ‘ well, I was going to quit, but my body pulled me through… ’ it’s your mind that pulls you through, and your body follows.

There will always be those exceptional talents like LeBron James and Michael Jordan , but most of us will get better at pull-ups, push-ups and anything else we want to if we keep our heads in the game and keep going.

You need to rid your life of negative energy, stay positive, surround yourself with positive people and get into a routine that means you do something positive every day. Wake up in the morning, do some exercise, make your bed, whatever it takes…

About the Author

Vikas Shah MBE DL is an entrepreneur, investor & philanthropist. He is CEO of Swiscot Group alongside being a venture-investor in a number of businesses internationally. He is a Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and a Non-Executive Director of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Vikas was awarded an MBE for Services to Business and the Economy in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours List and in 2021 became a Deputy Lieutenant of the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy. He is an Honorary Professor of Business at The Alliance Business School, University of Manchester and Visiting Professors at the MIT Sloan Lisbon MBA.

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An Enduring Legacy: SEAL Team THREE Celebrates 40 Years

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Chelsea Meiller | San Diego (Aug. 5, 2023) - Retired Adm. William McRaven, former SEAL Team THREE... ... read more read more

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Chelsea Meiller | San Diego (Aug. 5, 2023) - Retired Adm. William McRaven, former SEAL Team THREE commanding officer and the ninth commander of United States Special Operations Command, speaks during SEAL Team THREE’s 40th anniversary commemoration ceremony onboard Silver Strand Training Complex. Naval Special Warfare is the nation’s elite maritime special operations force, uniquely positioned to extend the Fleet’s reach and gain and maintain access for the Joint Force in competition and conflict. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chelsea D. Meiller)   see less | View Image Page

CA, UNITED STATES

Story by petty officer 1st class chelsea meiller  , naval special warfare group one.

It’s a bright, cloudless day. A gentle ocean breeze flows over the terrace as the crowd begins to take their seats. Officers, enlisted personnel, Gold Star family members and friends fill the seats on the Silver Strand Training Complex, the new home of West-Coast based Naval special warfare operators. Today, they gathered together to celebrate a very special occasion – the 40th anniversary of SEAL Team THREE. SEAL Team THREE’s 20th commanding officer gave the opening remarks and gave the plankowners – the founding members of the team – his thanks. “We are all here today because of your bold leadership and spirit of innovation. We stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said. “I am happy to report that the culture you established all those years ago is thriving in the troops behind you and the halls of Team THREE.” Though SEAL Team THREE was formally established in 1983, the history of the SEAL teams predates Team THREE by more than 20 years. In his inaugural address in 1961, President John F. Kennedy quelled the fears of the nation facing a new-era of strife and conflict. "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty," Kennedy said. "This much we pledge--and more." In January 1962, President Kennedy established the first SEAL Teams at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia. The teams were comprised of warfighters from the Amphibious Scouts and Raiders (Joint) and Special Mission Naval Demolition Units, lending to the name “SEALs”, which stands for “sea, air and land.” The establishment of the first SEAL teams paved the way for Team THREE’s commissioning in October 1983. Though a path had been laid before them, the Team’s impressive record speaks for itself. Retired Adm. William McRaven, former commanding officer of SEAL Team THREE and the ninth commander of United States Special Operations Command, spoke to Team THREE’s immense legacy and commitment to the country’s safety and security in the post-9/11 landscape. “Some of the first units into Afghanistan were SEAL Team THREE,” said McRaven. “Between 2002 and 2005, the teams deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the new hotspot – the Philippines. From the oil fields of the Al Faw peninsula to Fallujah, to Habbaniyah. From Zamboanga to the Horn of Africa, the operators of SEAL Team THREE were everywhere, contributing to ever single aspect of the war effort.” The Team wasn’t just given those missions, though. From the onset, they had to work tirelessly to gather the resources and manpower needed to commission a team built for success. Retired Capt. Joe Quincannon, SEAL Team THREE’s first commanding officer, touched on the challenges he faced while putting together a combat-ready team. “When the Navy gave me the opportunity to commission the command, my first priority was getting the right senior enlisted on board,” he said. “I was focused on people who had proven themselves fighting in Vietnam. A giant step forward in attaining this goal was when Master Chief Gallagher agreed to become the command master chief. His combat experience, reputation and common-sense approach to problem solving were instrumental in helping me attain the goal I had for the command – which was to fight and win if called upon by the country.” People were not the only resource needed though. Funding allocated to outfit the command was imbalanced. The warfighters needed weapons, personal protective equipment, night vision gear and more. “The main problem was the imbalance between the operations and procurement funds” Quincannon said. “Simply put, I couldn’t use the operations funds to buy the equipment we needed.” Eventually, Quincannon was able to procure exactly what the command needed to be successful. And it paid off – he volunteered his new team for deployment based on their outstanding training record, and they got to go. Though it’s been decades since that first deployment, the fabric of SEAL Team THREE remains the same. Woven into the command is an enduring legacy of selflessness, bravery and camaraderie. “Our fallen brothers, those we will see on the other side, the never forgotten stewards will forever remind us - the duty bound - that we are the owners of our legacy,” said SEAL Team THREE’s current Command Master Chief. “It is our charge to honor them by passing down our lessons learned from conflict to conflict. To honor their sacrifice by our deeds and ensure that their names will forever echo.” Whether it is routine training or large celebratory ceremonies, SEAL Team THREE’s permanent residents (fallen members) are woven into everything the team does. Each one has a command space dedicated to them, and each is spoken about and remembered. One of SEAL Team THREE’s current special warfare operators spoke about the sense of duty and honor that comes with being a part of a command so steeped in Frogman history. “One of the first things we do as a ‘new guy’ on the team is give a presentation to our platoon about one of our fallen,” the operator said. “It really helps us all remember the immense legacy we are upholding. We’re just renters here. Our permanent residents – those are the owners. That brotherhood and sense of duty and connectedness is so deeply rooted here, and it’s a huge part of why we do what we do.” As the current Frogmen of SEAL Team THREE go forward into a new era of ever-evolving uncertainty, one thing has remained unchanged for the past four decades – the heart and tenacity of the men who choose to become United States Naval Special Warfare Operators. “A part of me hopes you never have to experience the harsh ugliness and realities of war, but a more familiar part of me understands, that if called, you will gladly welcome it,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jonny Kim, a NASA astronaut and SEAL Team THREE alumni. “And if that call comes, be swift, violent and lethal to our enemies. But never lose your way. You are the 1% of the 1% not because you do the hard things no one else can, but because you do the hard things no one else can while holding yourself and your teammates to a higher standard of judgment and accountability than our enemies.” Since 1962, Naval Special Warfare has been the nation's premier maritime special operations force – a highly reliable and lethal force –ready to conduct full-spectrum operations, unilaterally or with partners, in support of national objectives, and uniquely positioned to extend the Fleet's reach, delivering all-domain options for naval and joint force commanders. For more news from Naval Special Warfare Command, visit https://www.facebook.com/NavalSpecialWarfare or https://www.nsw.navy.mil/ .

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During his career, Jocko was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards. In 2010, Jocko retired from the Navy and launched Echelon Front with Leif Babin where he teaches the leadership principles he learned on the battlefield to help others lead and win. Clients include individuals, teams, companies, and organizations across a wide-range of industries and fields.

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MEET DON MANN

TV Host of: The Mission , Surviving Mann and Surviving Mann All Stars , Motivational Speaker , New York Times Best Selling Author , World–Class Adventure Competitor and retired Navy SEAL Team SIX presents a compelling and extremely motivating presentation that has inspired business leaders, military and government personnel, professional athletes and people from all walks of life.

Don Mann’s unique story and the lessons he shares during his highly accredited and very popular presentations come from his colorful and action-packed life as a Navy SEAL, of his experiences competing in some of the world’s most grueling competitions, his experience in the business world and as a New York Times Best Selling Author.

Mann’s impressive military biography includes being a decorated combat veteran; Corpsman; SEAL Special Operations Technician; jungle survival, desert survival, and arctic survival instructor; small arms weapons instructor, foreign weapons instructor, armed and unarmed defense tactics, advanced hand-to-hand combat instructor; and Survival, Evade, Resistance and Escape Instructor; in addition to other credentials.

Mann is the author of 22 books including the New York Times Best Selling autobiography  Inside SEAL Team SIX: My Life and Missions with America’s Elite Warriors .

When Osama bin Laden was assassinated, the entire world was fascinated by the men who had completed the seemingly impossible mission that had dogged the U.S. government for over a decade. SEAL Team SIX became synonymous with heroism, duty, and justice. Only a handful of the elite men who make up the SEALs, the U.S. Navy’s best and bravest, survive the legendary and grueling selection process that leads to SEAL Team SIX, a group so classified it technically does not even exist. There are no better warriors on earth.

Mann knows what it takes to be a brother of these ultra-selective fraternities. As a member of SEAL Team SIX he worked in countless covert operations, operating from land, sea, and air, and facing shootings, decapitations, and stabbings. He was captured by the enemy and lived to tell the tale, and he participated in highly classified missions all over the globe, including Somalia, Panama, El Salvador, Colombia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

As a training coordinator for several civilian SEAL training programs, and as a former Training Officer of SEAL Team SIX, he was directly responsible for shaping the bodies and minds of SEALs who carried out the assassination of Osama bin Laden as well as many other classified missions.

But to become a SEAL, Mann had to overcome his own troubled childhood and push his body to its breaking point–and beyond. At the podium and in  Inside SEAL Team SIX , he shares a high-octane narrative of physical and mental toughness, giving unprecedented insight to the inner workings of the training and secret missions of the world’s most respected and feared combat unit.

Don Mann has over 40 years (1,000+ races) worth of competitive racing experience, completed 2 Ironman triathlons in a day and was once ranked 38th in the world as a triathlete.

Mann received a Master’s in Management from Troy State University, in Troy, AL, a B.S. in International Relations & Criminal Justice, from Florida State University, in Tallahassee, FL, and a B.S. in Liberal Science, from State University of New York. He lives in Cape Charles, VA.

IN THE MEDIA

History Channel, the Discovery Channel, CBS, CNN, Fox News, NBC, Outdoor Life Network - The Brigade Series.

Radio, Podcasts & Blogs

NPR, SEALFit Podcast with Mark Divine, National Press Club Radio, Radio Pennsylvania, Yahoo Sports Radio.

Print & Web

Forbes, Fortune, Investors Business Daily, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Journal, National Geographic Adventure, Sports Illustrated, Time.

Don Mann is known for producing and directing more multi-day, multi-sport, adventure races, triathlons and SEAL training events than any other person in the world.

 DON MANN’S BIOGRAPHY

Motivational Speaker

Host and Executive Producer of Surviving Mann Seasons One, Two and Three

Host and Executive Producer of Surviving Mann All Stars Seasons One and Two

Host and Executive Producer of The Mission

Movie Consultant for "American Smuggler"

Movie Consultant for “Navy SEALs”

Participant for the Inaugural Brigade , Outdoor Channel Reality TV - 750 mile paddle/trek Trans- Canada Expedition

Virginia Representative for the PBS Show The Highlanders , climbed Mount Rogers

Odyssey Adventure Racing, Inc. Founder and CEO

Frogman Charities, Founder and CEO

BattleFrog Obstacle Race Series, CEO

Director of Primal Quest Expedition Adventure Race – “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition”, CEO

Producer and Director of Expedition BVI

Vancouver Canucks, Inspirational Trainer

Designed the world’s longest adventure race(s) for Warner Brothers and IMAX – Ecuador to the North Pole and Ecuador to the South Pole

Selected as Richard Branson’s North American Medical Coordinator for his Trans-Global Circumnavigation Balloon voyage.

Named Virginia Beach Ambassador Extraordinaire

Security Consultant Contractor for numerous USG agencies

Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Wilderness medicine Instructor for USG

Bank Leadership Training (Texas, Minnesota, Indiana)

Executive Board Member United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA)

Product tester/developer for New Balance footwear, Lava Gear, Master Foods, Mile High Muscle, SEDA kayaks, Survival Slingshots

Masters, Management, Troy State University, Troy, AL

B.S., International Relations & Criminal Justice, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

B.S., Liberal Science, State University of New York

Military Biography

Navy SEAL/Chief Warrant Officer Retired

SEAL Team One, CA

SEAL Team Six, VA

SEAL Team Two, VASBU-26, Republic of Panama

Navy Special Warfare Development Group, VA

Advisor and Primary Trainer for the USN Sea Cadet – SEAL Corps, SEAL Adventure Challenge and SEAL Training Academy, Icelandic SEAL Adventure Challenge

Decorated Combat Veteran, Navy SEAL Warrant Officer; Corpsman, EMT, paramedic; SEAL Special Operations Technician; Special Forces Medical Laboratory graduate; static line, high altitude free-fall and advance free-fall parachutist; open circuit, closed circuit oxygen and air scuba diver, diving supervisor; jungle survival, desert survival and arctic survival instructor; Military Operations in Urban Terrain instructor; small boat operator for craft up to 65 feet; technical rock climbing, mountaineering; small arms weapons instructor, foreign weapons instructor, armed and unarmed defense tactics; photo intelligence; Survival, Evade, Resistance and Escape Instructor.

Author of New York Times Best Seller,  Inside SEAL Team SIX, My Life and Missions with America’s Elite Warriors , Little, Brown and Company (publish date 2012)

Author of  Navy Seals, The Combat History of the Deadliest Warriors on the Planet , Skyhorse Publishing (publish date 2019)

Author of  How to Become a Navy SEAL: Everything You Need to Know to Become a Member of the US Navy’s Elite Force ,  Skyhorse Publishing (publish date 2014)

Author of Black Sun Rising (publish date 2023)

Author of Crimson Waters - Piracy Through the Ages (publish date 2023)

Author of History’s Assassins: Motives for Murder (publish date 2023)

Author of  The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook , Skyhorse Publishing (publish date 2012)

Author of  The Modern Day Gunslinger , Skyhorse Publishing (publish date 2010)

Author of  The Complete Guide to Adventure Racing , Hatherleigh Press (publish date 2001)

Co - author of  Overcoming Obstacles , Skyhorse Publishing (publish date 2019)

Co - author of  Choosing Your Battles , Skyhorse Publishing (publish date 2019)

Co - author of  Facing Your Fears , Skyhorse Publishing (publish date 2019)

Co - author of  Reaching Beyond Boundarie s , Skyhorse Publishing (publish date 2019)

Co-author of  Hunt the Leopard , Little, Brown and Company. (publish date 2019)

Co-author of  Hunt the Viper , Little, Brown and Company. (publish date 2018)

Co-author of  Hunt the Dragon ,  Little, Brown and Company. (publish date 2016)

Co-author of  Hunt the Fox ,   Little, Brown and Company. (publish date 2015)

Co-author of  Hunt the Jackal , Little, Brown and Company. (publish date 2014)

Co-author of  Hunt the Falcon , Little, Brown and Company. (publish date 2013)

Co-author of  Hunt the Scorpion , Little, Brown and Company. (publish date 2012)

Co-author of  Hunt the Wolf , Little, Brown and Company. (publish date 2011)

Contributing author for  The Ultimate Prepper’s Guide

Story in  Books for Heroes Anthology , Dogwood Publishing

Wrote Forward for Lifemap for Teens - Dr Mathew Jensen

Wrote Forward for Fire Proof, Your Grand Strategy - David Hollenbach

Wrote Forward for  Nuclear War Survival Skills

Wrote Forward for Sun Tzu’s  Art of War , Skyhorse Publishing

Wrote Forward for  Pashtun , a Military Thriller , Skyhorse Publishing

Wrote Forward for  The US Navy SEAL Fitness Guide ,  Skyhorse Publishing

Wrote Forward to  The US Navy SEAL Nutrition Guide ,  Skyhorse Publishing

Wrote Forward for  Against the Odds: The Adventures of a Man in His Sixties Competing in Six Ironman Triathlons Across Six Continents  by John Pendergrass, Hatherleigh Press

Wrote Forward to  Courageously Broken   by Donna Hude

Wrote review for Tip of the Spear by Martha LaGuardia KOTITE

Wrote review for  Anatomy of Fitness Elite Training Navy SEALs Workout  by Steve Erle

Wrote Review for  Be Nimble  by Marty Strong

Wrote Review for  Staring Down the Wolf    by Mark Divine

Wrote review for  The Terrorist  by John Carl Roat

Wrote review for Shots Fired by Joseph Loughlin

Wrote review for When That Day Comes by Christopher Hoyer

Wrote cover endorsement for  Hacking Isis: The War to Kill the Cyber Jihad  by Malcolm Nance and Chris Sampson

Wrote cover endorsement for   Beijing Red  by Alex Ryan

Wrote cover endorsement for  Rebuilding Sergeant Peck  by Sergeant Peck

Wrote cover endorsement for  The Last Punisher  by Kevin Lacz

Wrote cover endorsement for  Left of Boom  by Ralph Pezzullo

Wrote cover endorsement for  The Sixth Man  by Ron Lealos

Wrote cover endorsement for  What Doesn’t Kill Us  by Scott Carney

Wrote cover endorsement for  Zero Footprint  by Simon Chase and Ralph Pezzullo

Wrote cover endorsement for  Be a Hero  by John Geddes and Alun Rees

Wrote cover endorsement for  Cold War Navy SEAL  by Jim Hawes’

Wrote cover endorsement for  Foxtrot in Kandahar  by Duane Evan’s

Wrote cover endorsement for  SAS URBAN SURVIVAL HANDBOOK  by John “Lofty” Wiseman

Wrote cover endorsement for  Second Strike  by Peter Kirsanow

Wrote cover endorsement for  Shibboleth  by DJ Mallmann

Wrote cover endorsement for  Shots Fired: The Misunderstandings, Misconceptions, and Myths about Police Shootings  by Joseph K. Loughlin and Kate Clark Flora

Wrote cover endorsement for  The Terrorism Survival Guide: 201 Travel Tips on How Not to Become a Victim, Updated and Revised  by Andy Lightbody

Wrote cover endorsement for  Unbreakable  – Thom Shea

Wrote cover endorsement for  Rogue  – Robert Cameron

Wrote cover endorsement for  Don’t Mean Nuthin’   – Ron Lealos

Wrote cover endorsement for  Angel Baby  – Richard Lange

Wrote cover endorsement for  The Way of the SEAL  –  Mark Divine

Wrote cover endorsement for  Pinnacle Event  – Richard Clark

Wrote cover endorsement for  Blind Descent  – Brian Dickinson

Wrote cover endorsement for Pack of Lies by Brad West

Wrote review for Knife-Only Survival, Worst-Case Scenario Skills for the Wilds – Tony Nester

Consultant for and review for Dark Cure by Brad West

Consultant for Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen

Consultant for Hard Road by Brad West

Consultant for  End of Lies  - Brad West

Consultant, character based on Don Mann,  Glass Mountain , R.M Koster

Consultant for the  Adventure Racing Handbook , Ian Adamson

Consultant for  Adventure Racing   – Jacques Marais and Lisa de Speville

Consultant for  The Thrill of Victory: The Agony of My Feet  –  Neal Jamison

Consultant for  Fixing Your Feet  – Jon Vonhof

Consultant for  Adventure Coaching  – Doug Gray

Consultant for   Tales from the World of Adventure Racing

Contributor for  Extreme Adventures  – Martin Paquette

Contributor for  Anatomy of Fitness Elite Training Navy SEALs Workout  – Steve Erle

Sports Training writer for Navy, Army, and Air Force Times

“How to stay in shipshape when you ship out”  Lifelines , special to  The Times  – by Don Mann

“Flex your workout, not just your muscles”  Lifelines , special to  The Times  – by Don Mann

Product Endorsements

Mini Striker Crossbow

Richetti Tactical Solutions- Trigger Shield

SAR9 CX 9ml pistol

Garaysar 12 gauge shotgun

Cobalt Kinetics 5.56 AR

Peter Erdei Gun Cabinet Designs

Compliant Technologies Tactical Gloves

Advanced Medical Integration

Tara TM-9 Pistol

Bridge the Blue

Neptune Athletics Outdoor Apparel

Purified Hand Sanitizer

Quantum Care Patches

Health Gains Programs and Products

ER to Go Emergency Medical/Survival Packs

SEDA Kayaks

New Balance Footwear

Lava Gear athletic clothing

RailRiders athletic clothing

Master Foods

Survival Slingshots

Shaklee Nutritional Products

Mile High Muscle

Testomax supplements

Annuities.com

Iraqi Dinar  

Motivational Speaking, Team Building, and Leadership Programs

Don Mann, an accomplished motivational speaker and trainer, brings over 25 years of experience and expertise in orchestrating adventure-based team building and leadership courses and seminars. His portfolio includes a diverse range of activities designed to foster teamwork and enhance leadership skills.

Mann has successfully directed and coordinated events such as; salmon fishing in British Columbia with the Vancouver Canucks; orienteering, memorization training, and collaborative sessions with professional sports and college lacrosse teams to include the Washington Stealth and the Vancouver Stealth and Texas State University.

His expertise extends to canyoneering, mountaineering, land and maritime navigation, white-water rafting, kayaking, rappelling, knot tying, wilderness medicine, mountain biking, trail hiking and running, snorkeling and diving in the Bahamas, catering to a wide array of clientele to include the USG.

Mann is well-versed in scenario-based training encompassing as well. His corporate clients span across the United States, benefitting from his dynamic and impactful approach to team development.

Don Mann consistently delivers his compelling " Reaching Beyond Boundaries " message, complemented by meticulously tailored adventure-based activities. Each activity is custom-designed to meet the unique needs and objectives of his clients.

For those interested in experiencing Don Mann's expertise in crafting transformative adventure team building and leadership programs, inquiries and consultations can be initiated by clicking here . Don Mann welcomes the opportunity to collaborate and create a bespoke experience that aligns seamlessly with your organizational goals.

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Don mann, retired us navy seal, author, and speaker.

I. Introduction:

We, as supporters and followers of Don Mann, retired US Navy SEAL, author, and speaker, affirm our commitment to the principles and values he embodies. This doctrinal statement serves as a summary of the core beliefs and principles that guide his life and work.

 II. Faith and Integrity:

 Don Mann upholds unwavering faith and integrity as foundational principles. He embraces honesty, trustworthiness, and the highest moral standards in all aspects of life. His commitment to integrity sets an example for others to follow, emphasizing the importance of maintaining one's character and values, even in challenging situations.

 III. Excellence and Resilience:

 Don Mann strives for excellence in every endeavor, pushing beyond perceived limits to achieve greatness. He encourages individuals to embrace challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and to persevere in the face of adversity. His relentless pursuit of excellence serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of constantly improving oneself.

 IV. Leadership and Teamwork:

  Don Mann recognizes the significance of effective leadership and teamwork in achieving success. He promotes the values of humility, collaboration, and mutual respect, fostering an environment where individuals can thrive as part of a cohesive team. He emphasizes the importance of strong leadership in guiding others towards a common goal, inspiring them to reach their full potential.

 V. Physical and Mental Toughness:

 Don Mann embodies the ethos of physical and mental toughness, honed through his experience as a Navy SEAL. He encourages individuals to push their physical limits, maintain optimal fitness, and cultivate mental fortitude. He believes that a strong body and mind are essential for overcoming challenges and achieving personal and professional success.

 VI. Service and Sacrifice:

  Don Mann exemplifies the spirit of service and sacrifice. He advocates for giving back to the community and making a positive impact on the lives of others. His commitment to service extends beyond self-interest, as he believes in the importance of serving a greater cause and making a difference in the world.

 VII. Lifelong Learning and Adaptability:

 Don Mann embodies the mindset of lifelong learning and adaptability. He emphasizes the significance of continuous personal and professional growth, remaining open to new ideas and experiences. He encourages individuals to embrace change, adapt to evolving circumstances, and seek knowledge and understanding in all aspects of life.

 VIII. Stewardship and Environmental Responsibility:

  Don Mann recognizes the importance of stewardship and environmental responsibility. He advocates for the preservation and protection of the natural world, emphasizing the need to act as responsible stewards of the environment. He encourages individuals to make conscious choices that contribute to the sustainability of our planet.

 IX. Patriotism and Love of Country:

 Don Mann holds deep patriotism and love for his country. He honors and respects the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military and law enforcement. He advocates for upholding the principles and values upon which the United States was founded, promoting unity, freedom, and justice for all.

 X. Empowerment and Inspiration:

 Don Mann seeks to empower and inspire others to reach their full potential. He encourages individuals to embrace their unique strengths, overcome obstacles, and pursue their dreams with passion and determination. Through his words and actions, he instills a sense of hope and possibility in the hearts of those who hear his message.

 In conclusion, this doctrinal statement outlines the fundamental principles and values that Don Mann, retired US Navy SEAL author and speaker, embraces. It serves as a guiding light for those who seek to follow his example and incorporate these principles into their own lives.

SEALKIDS, an organization that is very close to Don's heart, supports the children of Naval Special Warfare—everyday kids living in extraordinary circumstances. This encompassing approach of academic testing, tutoring, therapy, advocacy, and enrichment fosters the success and well-being of the child, critically reducing family stresses and ultimately keeping today’s Navy SEAL in the fight.

Don as a father and former SEAL TEAM SIX Member can attest that every dollar counts! Your donation of any size helps make an immediate and positive impact on the life of a child in the Naval Special Warfare Community. Learn more here .

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The life of a SEAL is full of pain, fear and exhaustion.

The U.S. Navy would love to solve the mystery of what drives those who actually make it to a mission.

It was a sunny Thursday in March when Tim Jones ( Editor’s note: name changed to preserve requested anonymity ) jumped into a rubber boat with six other SEAL candidates for what should have been a relatively simple task: paddling eight miles along the southern California coast to Navy SEAL training headquarters in San Diego. The trip quickly turned into a nightmare.

The current seemed to be pushing against them, making it feel like they were barely moving, and they were trailing the other boats in a race that guaranteed extra exercises for the losers. But those were the least of Jones’ problems. He had already been awake almost continuously for four days, pounding out endless rounds of push-ups, timed runs, cold ocean plunges, heavy lifting and a battery of mind games. Occasionally, during the chill of the previous three nights, he had been allowed to stand still by a fire. But he was usually cold, wet and forced to remain just outside its tantalizing ring of warmth. Ninety-minute naps were always shattered by chaotic wake-up calls filled with shouting, gun blasts and flashing lights. Those disorienting jolts out of deep sleep would haunt his dreams and yank him awake for years afterwards – even as he would eventually go on to the next level as a member of the most elite subset of SEALs: the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group, or DEVGRU, also known as SEAL Team Six.

Now battling the mid-day current on his fourth day without any real sleep, Jones was the coxswain and officer in charge of his boat. After just three months in the Navy, he was responsible for the team and for steering. But every time he rested his paddle in the water to rudder, he fell asleep. His crew screamed at him. He dozed off. They screamed louder. The boat veered out toward sea. Amidst it all, he simply could not stay awake.

An inner voice gnawed at him. “I’m not succeeding here,” it said. “This isn’t working.” He continued to struggle even as he took action, switching places with a teammate so he could paddle instead of steer for the remainder of the nearly four-hour trip. When they finally made it back to Coronado – the base for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training (BUD/S) – he collapsed on his bunk in tears, he says, “just sobbing from the stress of letting myself and my boat crew down.”

This was just one particularly low moment during Hell Week, a five-day assault on physical and mental limits that spits out more than 75 percent of those who try to make it through. And it was a moment of truth for Jones, who joined the Navy to fulfill a scholarship requirement after graduating from a university in California, and then applied to become a SEAL, eventually persevering through another grueling – and far more technical and intense – round of training to qualify for Team Six. Quitting would have been the easiest choice. Instead, he finished crying. Then, he got up and returned to the beach, where he jumped in the ocean, rolled in the sand, and surged to the front of the pack in another timed run.

It wasn’t the only time that doubts would push Jones to the edge, and he says, his mental struggles were always worst during relatively quiet times – like his barely conscious paddle, when the weather was calm and the boat teams got a rare break from the yelling of instructors, who stayed on shore. One of his lowest lows struck during a 2 a.m. plunge into an outdoor swimming pool, where he was ordered to huddle with his teammates for half an hour without moving. In those moments of stillness, his mind would wander. “I’m as miserable as I’ve ever been,” he would think. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“That’s when everything stops, you get inside your head and realize how miserable you are,” he says. “That’s when people quit.”

So why didn’t Jones quit?

It’s a question the Navy would love to answer. Most candidates who try to become SEALs (members of the U.S. Navy’s elite Sea, Air, and Land Teams) fail to make it through – adding up to a lot of time and taxpayer dollars to identify who will persevere through a year of brutal training, followed by years of commitment to extreme and often dangerous military missions.

That commitment takes on another level of intensity for SEALs like Jones who enter Green Team, the training program for Team Six. Unlike BUD/S, Green Team targets a more advanced skill set that includes jumping out of stationary airplanes at altitudes as high as 30,000 feet; complex group SCUBA diving mission at night that test the limits of air tanks; surgical shooting while storming into buildings in the darkness; and training with live fire instead of simulated ammunition. A high level of performance is expected from the start. Half of SEALs who try to make Team Six fail – even after they’ve excelled for years on regular SEAL teams.

And while the Navy has collected tons of data on what successful SEALs share in common and which psychological factors are most likely to cause failure in the early stages, success in BUD/S has been harder to predict, says Eric Potterat, a retired Navy Commander and former head psychologist for SEALs, who now works with professional sports teams. His work led to the implementation, in 2009, of the first “neck up” assessment of prospective SEALs in the form of a computer survey that was 98 percent accurate at predicting who, among those with the slowest run and swim times, would not get past Hell Week.

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But research has yet to hit on a psychological profile, personality type or family background that can identify those who will persist to become one of the toughest warriors on the planet. Even SEALs themselves can’t always explain what drives them to pursue a path that seems impossible to most and remains out of reach for the majority of people who try to get in. Most won’t even talk. The SEAL community is tight-knit and often secretive, particularly when it comes to Team Six.

It is in their moments of truth, like Jones’s battle in the boat, when SEALs offer a glimpse into what makes them keep going through the kind of pain, fear, chaos and despair that would crush most of us. Their motivations often defy stereotypes. It’s not love of country, Jones says, that makes a man choose to shiver uncontrollably in the middle of the night or pursue a career that repeatedly puts his life at risk.

What kept him going from BUD/S through Green Team and beyond, he says, were the guys depending on him and the job that needed to get done. He had heard stories of boat teams that fell like dominoes during Hell Week: when one guy quit, the rest followed. Whenever his own doubts surged, he fought back. “I can’t quit now,” he forced himself to think. “I’ll quit later.”

That kind of determination is universal among SEALs, Potterat says. Over a decade of working with SEALs, he says, he marveled at three unique qualities: their resilience to adversity, their desire to exceed limits, no matter what, and their relentless search for an edge.

“The SEAL mindset is unlike one I’ve ever seen in any other community,” he says. “They’re constantly thirsty for getting better. They’re never satisfied. It’s not like they hit the ceiling of their potential and are like, ‘I’m good to go.’ That’s a rare attribute, and every SEAL I’ve seen has it.”

Nobody knows if they have what it takes to be a SEAL until they try, and only when they’re in the middle of unpredictable challenges do they reckon with their reasons for being there. Before Don Mann entered BUD/S in 1982, he spent more than four years training for it. He ran 30 marathons in 36 months, and competed in Ironman triathlons and multi-day adventure races. With no patience to keep studying after a year of college, his mind became set on becoming a SEAL. He wanted to serve his country, escape his New England childhood, and see the world. He didn’t have a backup plan.

“Going around the world, supporting our country on missions, being with the toughest guys in the world — I was positive there was nothing else I wanted to do,” says Mann, 59, a former Navy SEAL Team Six Operator and author. “I never wanted anything so much in my life.”

In the early weeks of BUD/S, he found himself in the pool with his feet tied together and his hands bound behind his back. With each struggle to the surface for air, he heard the sounds of his classmates gasping and coughing. When one recruit tried to cheat by resting his head on a rope, the instructors whacked his forehead with an aluminum pole. Mann watched as the cheater then sunk to the bottom of the pool, seemingly lifeless. “I remember thinking, ‘This is so hard-core,’” he says. “They just killed him, and we’re still in here.’”

As the guy was rescued, resuscitated and kicked out of BUD/S for cheating, Mann became more determined. Then came his own closest brush with failure, when he was told to flip off the deck into the deep end and then swim underwater for two lengths of a 25-meter pool without coming up for air. On his way back after the turn, he says, he felt like an ice pick was stabbing him in the head. As the pain intensified, he lost control of his mind. “I can’t do it, I can’t do it, I can’t do it,” he thought before shooting to the surface. He couldn’t believe it. “I wanted nothing more than to be a SEAL. As soon as I shot up, I realized I just blew my chances.”

But he got another chance, and this time, he thought only about how badly he wanted it. He had already emerged from a restless adolescence, full of motorcycle racing and trouble making. Inspired by his dad, a World War II vet, and with a background in extreme adventure sports, he was drawn to the pure physicality of SEALs. And he was driven to succeed at what he saw as the toughest challenge he could take on.

When the ice pick began to stab yet again, he welcomed the pain, eventually passing out and getting dragged to the surface, foaming at the mouth. His willingness to ignore the need to breathe, he says, came not from big picture goals but from thinking only about the task in front of him. “During those times, I don’t think of the patriotic feeling or of being a SEAL,” says Mann, who would eventually hone a non-conformist and norm-rejecting attitude that, he says, defines the guys who end up on Team Six. “It’s just ‘I can’t wait for this thing to be over. But no matter how miserable it is, other people are doing it, so I can do it.’”

Gaining acceptance into an exclusive community can be a powerful motivator, adds Kirk Parsley, who left home in rural south Texas at age 18 after becoming obsessed with a video about Navy SEALs in 1987. In his past were an abusive stepfather, failing grades and a teacher who told him he was the dumbest kid she’d ever taught. In his future was the potential to show everyone he was worth more than they thought.

“I wanted to make it through and prove I was one of the toughest, most resilient guys in the world,” says Parsley, 46, who did not screen for Team Six, but went on to graduate at the top of his class from medical school. “There was definitely an aspect of being a SEAL to be like, ‘Here, take that.’ Like, ‘I’ve achieved more than you ever have now even though you say all these horrible things about me.’”

BUD/S turned out to be mostly fun for Parsley, whose athletic background included football, wrestling, track, martial arts and boxing. But he had his share of scary moments as a SEAL, including a multinational training exercise in South Korea during his second platoon, when his team took off in a small propeller plane from an aircraft carrier and flew into a mountainous region in the middle of the night.

With each SEAL candidate wearing more than 100 pounds of equipment, their task was to jump out of the plane from 12,500 feet into a drop zone they had never scouted before with no one below to mark the landing. Mountains surrounded them on all sides, peaking as high as 10,000 feet. And snow covered the ground, making the landing uncertain. It was a clandestine training mission, so in pitch darkness, they would jump without light markings.

Parsley hadn’t tested his equipment, and there was plenty of potential for disaster. At 240 pounds, he was big for a SEAL, and with the added weight of his gear, he was close to the parachute canopy’s 400-pound limit. Because the landing was at altitude, the parachute’s elevation-dependent emergency release mechanism was unlikely to work if he passed out or spun out of control. His pack was so heavy and awkward that he couldn’t even stand up in it. Instead, he slid to the open door of the plane and rolled out. His parachute worked but as the men drifted close to the ground, they realized it was littered with old airplane hulls under the snow, making the landing perilous.

In times of extreme fear , Parsley says, he knew he had a clear choice between opening doors and closing them. He could try or to fail without trying. By the time he was serving as a SEAL, all of his self-worth was tied up in the teams. Choosing not to do his job would mean betraying his identity, abandoning his newfound family and giving up his entire support system. During BUD/S training, he and his best friend were so close, he says, he was sure that quitting would have crushed his friend’s dreams, too.

“It was like ‘I’m a SEAL. This is my job. I fought hard to be here and even though I’m really scared by this situation, to not do it would be tantamount to giving up on who you are as a person and everything you’ve accomplished,’” he says. “If you were to quit a mission because it was too scary, it would be so humiliating, you would probably prefer to die. It’s a one-chance community.”

The fear of losing everything never goes away, adds Mitchell Hall, who entered BUD/S in 1991 at age 18 and served as a SEAL for 21 years, including five years at DEVGRU. In 2007, he was awarded a Silver Star after a firefight in Iraq that began with an ambush just as he was about to lie down for a nap. Suddenly, the guy next to him took a round in the face. With a mental flash of his 3-year old daughter and wife at the time, he returned fire and moved to pull a wounded teammate to safety through enemy fire.

“When you get into these critical moments of strategic importance, when the stakes are high for your country or you’re about to capture someone big, what it really boils down to is the training you’ve done and the culture you’ve created and the bond you have with these guys,” Hall says. “This culture drives you to do anything that’s necessary. It’s unforgiving and harsh, but when you’re in it, you know you’re part of something special.”

When it comes to Team Six, timing also plays a role. After about five years in regular teams, SEALs have to be willing to start over and move to the East Coast to screen for a job that entails continuous travel. Having a family or another opportunity can make logistics too complicated.

The SEALs who do push on to Team Six are the ones who can’t shake their determination to become the best of the best. Once there, it’s like being part of the most exclusive varsity team. A SEAL’s personal reputation depends on devotion to that team, says Jones, even if teammates have nothing in common besides their service. “If your reputation is somebody they can’t count on, that’s anathema,” he says. “You don’t want to be seen as that guy who had a chance to step up for the team and chose not to.”

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Navy Seal Military News

• Inside Look: The Rigors of Navy SEALs Training Revealed
• Navyseal.com

Navy SEALs , elite units within the United States Navy, are renowned for their exceptional skill set and versatility in fulfilling various missions. Their operations encompass direct action warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, and foreign internal defense. Despite their roots in naval expertise, they are not limited to maritime environments alone; they operate across all terrains, including urban areas, mountains, jungles, and deserts.

These operatives undergo one of the most rigorous training programs known— Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training —followed by Parachute Training and then SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), which altogether shapes them into highly skilled warriors capable of handling extreme physical and mental challenges.

The essence of what Navy SEALs do transcends mere combat roles; they often engage in clandestine operations that require a blend of stealthiness, tactical understanding, and diplomatic finesse when working with allied forces or local populations. They're tasked with capturing or eliminating high-value targets under challenging conditions while also gathering intelligence through surveillance activities.

Navy SEALs Table Of Contents:

Origins and formation, overview of the training process, the infamous hell week, skills acquired during training, the importance of teamwork among seals, diverse weaponry for various missions, specialized vehicles for stealth and speed, rescue mission of captain richard phillips, the raid on osama bin laden's compound.

The Navy SEALs, a name that resonates with unmatched skill and secrecy, were born out of necessity during the early stages of the Cold War. This elite unit was established in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, who recognized the need for unconventional warfare capabilities.

Initially consisting of small teams focused on direct action and reconnaissance missions, they quickly evolved into a multifaceted force capable of executing highly complex operations worldwide. The lineage of these elite fighters is anchored in the daring exploits of World War II's Naval Combat Demolition Units and Underwater Demolition Teams, celebrated for their crucial contributions to beachhead assaults.

Starting as small, specialized squads for direct action and scouting tasks, they became a versatile force adept at navigating challenges on any front—whether terrestrial, aquatic, or aerial. Inheriting the mantle from their forebears, today's SEALs epitomize resilience, precision, and unmatched skill across every theater of operation.

Grueling Training Regimen of Navy SEALs

The path to becoming a Navy SEAL is not for the faint-hearted. It starts with Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL ( BUD/S ) training, which challenges candidates physically and mentally over six months. Enduring this rigorous phase, individuals are subjected to trials that stretch their physical and mental capabilities to the brink, employing a variety of grueling exercises aimed at breaching the boundaries of human capacity.

Beyond BUD/S, candidates face Advanced Training where they sharpen their combat diving skills, land warfare abilities, and parachute techniques. Only those who can adapt quickly and think under pressure continue forward.

Hell Week is the ultimate test within BUD/S training—a five-and-a-half-day crucible that breaks down most candidates. Sleep deprivation and continuous physical tasks ensure only the toughest survive this phase.

This relentless segment demands teamwork above all else; it's here future SEALs learn that success hinges on mutual trust and cooperation under extreme conditions.

Graduates emerge as experts in unconventional warfare tactics capable of operating in any environment. Their skill set includes advanced reconnaissance methods, expert marksmanship, demolitions expertise, and mastery in hand-to-hand combat—preparing them for specialized missions worldwide.

Collaboration forms the core of every mission Navy SEALs undertake, akin to a skeleton giving structure and strength. Each mission relies on a seamless blend of skills, trust, and mutual support among team members. Imagine solving a complex puzzle in complete darkness, akin to operating without solid teamwork in the field.

This essential collaboration begins with rigorous training where candidates are pushed beyond their limits, not just physically but mentally, too. They learn quickly that success isn't about individual glory but how effectively they can work as a unit. Dive deeper into the heart of this transformative training by visiting the Navy Special Warfare's dedicated webpage.

In the thick of it, predicting your comrades' actions and offering steadfast backing becomes essential to making it through and achieving the objective at hand. This bond forged under pressure sets SEAL teams apart from conventional units.

Arsenal and Vehicles at the Disposal of Navy SEALs

The Navy SEALs' toolkit is brimming with gear ranging from silent blades to formidable sniper guns, ensuring they're equipped for any scenario. Whether a covert operation in enemy territory or a direct assault, these elite warriors can access cutting-edge firearms like the MK18 CQBR, designed for close-quarters combat, and the M4A1 carbine, versatile enough for various mission types. Precision is critical; hence, sniper systems such as the .300 Winchester Magnum provide long-range capabilities essential in modern warfare.

Navy SEALs Support From SWCC

The terrain doesn't stand a chance against SEALs' vehicles engineered for stealth and speed. High-speed boats like the Combatant Craft Assault (CCA) let them approach undetected by radar or sound over water. On land, modified all-terrain vehicles ensure rapid deployment across harsh environments without sacrificing concealment—vital when every second counts during insertion or extraction missions.

Specialized Gear for Every Environment

The training process for Navy SEALs is designed to prepare them for any situation, anywhere. This includes equipping them with gear that can withstand extreme conditions. From desert heat to Arctic cold, their clothing and equipment must be as tough and adaptable as they are.

The Multi-Environment Camouflage Uniform, essential for their arsenal, ingeniously enables them to merge with diverse landscapes without a trace. Additionally, lightweight but durable boots give them agility while providing necessary foot protection.

For underwater missions, specialized diving gear allows SEALs to operate efficiently without being detected. Their rebreathers eliminate bubbles – a dead giveaway in covert operations.

High-Profile Operations Involving Navy SEALs

The rescue mission of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in 2009 is a testament to the precision and bravery of Navy SEALs. This operation, executed under high stress and against a ticking clock, showcased their ability to adapt swiftly. In the tumultuous waves, SEAL marksmen coordinated their fire and struck with astounding precision, a testament to their skill.

This event highlighted the risks involved and how critical teamwork is among SEAL members. This episode vividly illustrated the depth of their preparation, equipping them to navigate even the most unforeseeable circumstances.

Navy SEALs High Priority Raids

In 2011, Navy SEAL Team Six carried out one of the most significant missions in modern military history—the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. This covert operation ended a decade-long manhunt and demonstrated unparalleled tactical planning and execution by the SEALs.

Months of diligent groundwork and gathering intelligence they paved the way for this mission's triumph, showcasing the SEALs' unmatched precision in strategy and execution. It illustrated the strategic importance of Navy SEAL operations on global security dynamics.

Exploring the realm of Navy SEALs training reveals its challenging and life-altering nature. You've been introduced to the intense training schedule of Navy SEALs, which includes enduring Hell Week , becoming proficient with various weapons, and learning how to operate unique vehicles.

Remember this: teamwork is at the heart of every mission. Remember too that adaptability defines them - across environments, missions, and high-stakes operations. And remember always that becoming a SEAL means pushing past limits you never thought possible.

Navy SEALs training isn't just about physical strength; it's also a mental game. Transforming into a SEAL molds you into a fighter prepared for any challenge that may come your way. So take these lessons in resilience, strategy, and camaraderie with you – they're helpful beyond the battlefield.

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NAVY SEAL Books

Unafraid by Eddie Penney

The story of Eddie Penney, a Navy SEAL who faced challenges with bravery and dedication, is remarkable. His first lethal encounter was a turning point in his military career, and it stirred up intense emotions within him. As time passed, Eddie embraced more challenging methods to keep his missions engaging. However, a brush with pure evil forever altered his view  Continue Reading

Fearless by Eric Bleim

Fearless takes you deep into SEAL Team SIX, straight to the heart of one of its most legendary operators. When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didn’t know he would die that night in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan—but he was ready. In a letter to his children, not meant to be seen unless  Continue Reading

Service by Marcus Luttrell

Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell returned from his star-crossed mission in Afghanistan with his bones shattered and his heart broken. So many had given their lives to save him-and he would have readily done the same for them. As he recuperated, he wondered why he and others, from America's founding to today, had been willing to sacrifice everything-including themselves-for the sake  Continue Reading

American Sniper by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen & Jim DeFelice

The #1 New York Times bestselling memoir of U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle, and the source for Clint Eastwood’s blockbuster movie which was nominated for six academy awards, including best picture. From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. His fellow American warriors, whom he protected with deadly  Continue Reading

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Navy Orders High-Level Outside Investigation of SEAL Course

The punishing selection course for the Navy’s most elite force has come under new scrutiny after a sailor’s death exposed illicit drug use and other problems.

By Dave Philipps

The Navy has started an independent investigation of the brutal selection course for its elite SEALs after a sailor’s death this year revealed a tangle of physical abuse, poor medical oversight and use of performance-enhancing drugs in the course.

The order for the new investigation came from the highest levels of the Navy — the outgoing vice chief of naval operations, Adm. William K. Lescher. It was given to a rear admiral from outside the SEALs, signaling that the Navy had given it high priority and wanted it to be independent.

Admiral Lescher issued the order in a letter obtained by The New York Times. The letter is dated the day after The New York Times reported that the sailor’s death had exposed a number of problems at the harrowing selection course, known as Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs, or BUD/S for short.

Among the problems were a damaging ethos of forced suffering that often dismissed serious injuries and illnesses as weakness and a growing subculture of students who saw illicit performance-enhancing drugs as the only way to get through the course.

Admiral Lescher’s letter ordered investigators to focus on a broad swath of issues in the course, including its safety measures, the qualifications of instructors and medical personnel and its drug testing policies for students. It also asked what, if anything, had changed at the course since February, when a 24-year-old former elite college athlete, Kyle Mullen, died hours after completing its most punishing phase. The vice chief gave investigators 30 days to report their findings.

The Naval Special Warfare Command, which includes the SEALs, had been looking into Seaman Mullen’s death and the surrounding issues on its own, and its findings were supposed to have been released in August. But they were held back after top Navy leaders indicated that they thought the report placed too much blame on the sailor and not enough on failures in the SEALs, according to a Navy official who is familiar with discussions about the report. The official asked not to be identified by name because he was not authorized to comment on an unreleased report.

The vice chief’s letter now directs the Special Warfare Command to stick to a very narrow inquiry into whether Seaman Mullen’s death occurred in the line of duty and to leave the larger questions to the outside investigators.

Asked about the admiral’s decision to start the new investigation, a Navy spokesman issued a statement saying that “the Navy remains committed to transparency and ensuring the final reports are thorough, accurate, impartial, and that confidence and credibility are maintained throughout the entire process.”

The BUD/S course takes place on the gritty beach sand and in the cold ocean waters of Naval Amphibious Base Coronado near San Diego. It has a reputation as the most physically grueling selection course in the military. Candidates endure weeks of carrying heavy logs and inflatable boats, lengthy sessions of situps and pull-ups in frigid surf, “drown-proofing” exercises underwater with bound hands, and days and nights spent cold, wet, sandy and exhausted.

The SEALs say they need that kind of unforgiving rite of passage to select the rare individuals who can perform some of the military’s most challenging missions.

Few sailors who attempt the course complete it — over the past 20 years, an average of just one in four — and the proportion has been shrinking.

According to Navy data, the average passing rate plunged suddenly in February 2021 to about half of what it typically had been in prior years. Since then, in some classes, only 7 percent of sailors have made it through.

Several SEALs and BUD/S candidates said that the course had recently become even harder and that warnings to commanders about dangerous changes had largely gone unheeded.

The drop roughly coincided with the arrival of a new command team led by Capt. Bradley Geary , a decorated officer who served for a time in the SEALs’ most elite and secretive counterterrorism unit, known to the public as SEAL Team Six but referred to by SEALs as DevGru.

In December, the Navy gave Captain Geary an award for outstanding leadership in a previous command assignment. His acceptance speech included a quotation from Francis Bacon: “Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.”

While Captain Geary was in charge, several changes were made at BUD/S, according to four current and former Navy personnel with knowledge of operations there. They asked not to be named because they feared retaliation from the tight-knit SEAL community.

A key change, they said, was removing a number of senior civilian advisers — all of them retired SEALs — whose job had been to watch over training, guide young instructors and step in if they saw unnecessary abuse or alarming medical problems.

The instructor staff was packed with men recently moved from DevGru, and instructors were given greater leeway to run classes as they saw fit, three of the Navy personnel said. With few civilian advisers around, they said, the leash was effectively off.

Captain Geary, who SEALs say is respected in their community, was transferred from command of BUD/S to his next assignment on schedule in June. He did not respond to several requests for comment.

Five sailors who were BUD/S students in 2021 or 2022 described a savage intensity that few SEALs before them had seen. The sailors asked not to be identified because they feared retaliation. They said instructors had hit, kicked and otherwise abused students and had often devised ways to try to drive them to quit.

Each BUD/S class is assigned a proctor — a SEAL instructor whose job is to be an ally and mentor for the students. But several of the sailors said their proctor would use his nightly mentoring sessions to inflict more punishment, having students run for miles in the dark and plunge repeatedly into the ocean.

Injured BUD/S students were called weaklings and quitters, and at times they were punished for seeking help. Medical personnel often stood by silently, or in some cases participated in the abuse, the sailors said.

Students were often allowed only two or three hours of sleep a night in the first weeks of the course, they said, even though their days were jammed with extreme physical toil. Exhausted immune systems broke down. Diarrhea, vomiting and pneumonia became common, but the sailors said students had tried to hide symptoms from instructors who seemed to target the injured.

One man who entered BUD/S in 2021 said he had gone to instructors at 5 a.m. one day with a painfully swollen leg, telling them that he believed it was broken and that he needed to see the medical staff. He said instructors had responded that the medical clinic did not open until 7 a.m. and had then ordered him to wait the two hours in the cold Pacific surf while the rest of the class was ordered to chant his name and tell him to quit. Medical personnel stood watching for an hour before pulling him from the water with hypothermia, he said.

Medical documents show that he ended up in the hospital, where he had to have surgery to remove a flesh-eating infection.

SEALs who went through BUD/S years ago said they had never experienced that kind of abuse.

A retired SEAL whose son recently tried to complete BUD/S said in an interview that when he had seen his son two weeks into the course, the young sailor was so swollen and covered with abrasions that he looked as if he had been in a motorcycle wreck. The father secretly got his son to a civilian doctor to get help without attracting the ire of instructors, he said. The son dropped out in the third week from exhaustion and injuries.

The retired SEAL said when he had qualified in the 1990s, BUD/S was hard, but the focus had been largely about learning teamwork and mental toughness. What his son experienced, he said, was more like “Lord of the Flies.”

The parent asked to be anonymous to protect his son, who is still in the Navy.

Four of the recent BUD/S candidates said that sailors had been using drugs to get through the course and that when instructors had briefed their classes on drug use, the emphasis was on not getting caught.

Parents, former SEALs and other Navy employees said in interviews that they had reached out to the SEAL chain of command, warning about dangerous conditions. The Navy official with knowledge of the investigative report said some changes had been made at BUD/S in response to those warnings, allowing students more sleep and dialing back the hardest parts of the course.

It was not enough to prevent a death.

The pace at BUD/S did not relent even after Seaman Mullen died in February. The next class passed even fewer students, and a number of sailors dropped out because of infections or broken bones.

The Navy official said that a number of instructors had been moved out of BUD/S training since February but that none had received any official punishment. Many are still instructors in later stages of SEAL training, he said.

Dave Philipps is a national correspondent covering the military and has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize twice, most recently in 2022. His latest book is “Alpha, Eddie Gallagher and the War for the Soul of the Navy SEALs.” More about Dave Philipps