How to Be a Navy SEAL

The SEAL's (Sea, Air, Land) are the commando force of the United States Navy. They have the reputation of being able to get in hostile territory, do the virtually impossible and get out before the enemy even knew what hit them. Think you have what it takes to be a Navy SEAL? Here's how to join that elite force.

Instructions

1. Tell your recruiter that not only do you wish to join the Navy, but that you wish to become a SEAL.

2. Start preparing yourself for the demanding fitness standard expected of a SEAL. You should be able to swim 500 yards in 12 minutes and 30 seconds, do at least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes, complete 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes, perform six pull-ups and run 1.5 miles in 11 minutes.

3. Take your Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL's (BUD/S) physical fitness test while in boot camp.

4. Report to Coronado, California for 8 weeks of basic conditioning to whip you into even better shape than you thought possible. The highlight, if it can be called that, is "Hell Week." This is the fourth week, where you will complete five and a half days of continuous, demanding physical tasks on only four hours of sleep.

5. Complete training in combat SCUBA and land warfare techniques. You will become an expert in swimming, diving, the use of weapons and small unit tactics. This training will last about 4 months.

6. Go to Ft. Benning, Georgia to master parachute jumping techniques. This phase of your training will last about a month.

7. Wrap up your advanced sea, air and land training in Coronado for another five months. Graduate, and earn the right to call yourself a Navy SEAL.

Tips & Warnings

• Only men are allowed to join this elite force. There are no plans to admit women at this time.

• Only U.S. male citizens who are 28 years of age or younger may apply. You should also meet specific eyesight standards, be able to pass a diving physical and meet the minimum acceptable Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score.

• Keep in mind that the physical screening test requirements listed above are bare minimums. To be competitive in the selection process, you should aim to do much better than the scores listed.

• There will be an additional 18 months of training after you complete this first phase. You will receive instruction in Individual Specialty Training, Unit Level Training and Task Group Level Training, but you are officially a SEAL after the seven steps listed above.