Navy SEALs physical requirements

Question

ive always wanted to fulfill my dream of becoming a navy SEAL but right now im going to be in 11th grade ive a pretty strong swimmer and i can do about fifty pushups in a minute but then i get tired but im a pretty week runner but this year im taking cross country and track i also have a workout book but is there anything else i can do to get me better physically

Answer 1

You might be a strong swimmer, I would work on tolerance, Such as how long can you hold your breath under water, Also you will want to do your pull ups, Another thing to consider to make yourself a good runner. Try running a mile then head to a local park and tie a rope and drag something behind you. Start light like 50lbs and work up.

Answer 2

All over body strength, without packing on weight and bulky muscle. Lots of reps, lighter weights and pull ups pull ups pull ups!

It is very important to have excellent flexibility. Flexibility is crucial in preventing stress related injuries. If you aren't flexible, you will get injured and "rolled back" and possibly washed out.

Cardiovascular and muscle endurance is very important! You will be carrying CRC's (Zodiacs), Poles, shipmates and heavy gear. You will be swimming, running, marching and PT until you die!

Overcome any fears you have of the water and heights. The water in San Diego is cold! Look at what "drown proofing" involves...do not attempt it yourself because you will get hurt. You will have to parachute, starting with Basic Airborne School (Static Line) and moving onto Military Freefall School (HALO/HAHO). HALO is automatic with a pressure activated chute that you must trust to open. Most operational jumps are into water, which is harder than land believe it or not.

The entry test just to get into the door is:

500 yds swim - under 9:00

Pushups - 100 in 2:00

Situps - 100 in 2:00

Pullups - 20+

1.5 mile run - under 9:00 in boots and pants

Secret clearance, 20/200 eyesight minimum, no psychiatric history, and no medical issues.

The physical testing happens each week and you have to pass to move on. It gets harder and harder.

The main thing you need though is a never quit attitude. That's what is important. A lion's heart is better than a sniper's aim in battle. You must prepare your mind for pain, cold, hunger, violence, and deprivation and must endure it all.

Things sometime seem impossible and then you do it and think "I can't believe I just did that!". the impossible is possible, it's just what you value. Are you willing to give "everything" for a goal? A surgeon studies for years with intense discipline to be what he is, an elite operator must do the same.

There is no more family, they are your new family. There is no more church, difficulty is your religion. There are no more friends, friends can't be trusted and are a needless luxury. Free time is no more, free time is spent preparing. There is love except that of country. There is no safety, death is likely. It consumes everything.

Let's say you make it? Then what? You can't talk about it, you can't brag or show off. You may have to kill someone, maybe a non combatant, can you live with that? You may be killed and left behind. It is a longer enlistment than normal. You may be eating Power Bars and cold MRE's in a cave/jungle/mountain for weeks and nothing comes of it. Your country may not be grateful for you or what you do.

Despite the training in the world you still may be killed by a 15 year old with a 50 year old rifle within the first few minutes of a fire fight, there are no invincible warriors, only prudent and careful ones.

BUDS should not be taken lightly. You will be stuck in the Navy doing a swab job if you attrite out of the pipeline. Only you know if you have the heart and ability to do it.

Keep in mind that there are other elite careers that are very challenging and nearly as difficult. In the Navy, you have Recon Corpsman, Special Warfare Combat Craft Crewman, Aircrew Rescue Swimmer, and EOD Diver...all very repected, all high speed, all elite and all difficult to earn. I personally was an Aircrew Rescue Swimmer and I earned Jump wings...very challenging things for me.

If you want to blow stuff up and fire guns and are just above average physically consider the Marine Corps or Army infantry....a lot of business these days.

Good Luck Shipmate!

Answer 3

I'm guessing the only one who's "been there and done that" is gugliamo. They don't take those who just pass the tests. That merely qualifies you... and prepares you for more training and further testing and observation. BUD/S is not the only place one can wash out... or quit.

My vote's for "gug." Hooyah, bro.

Answer 4

Pull-ups and sit-ups are also heavily relied on as routine conditioning.  Because you'll be running on sand be prepared to start training until you get sick if you're only running on dirt or clay; I just went on a beach run yesterday and it is at least 3 times harder than normal track running.  

Another thing you'll be doing a lot of in BUDS is uphill running with a lot of gear on your back.  The uphills are shorter than the beach runs but the inclines and uneven ground makes it just as intense.  They run with about 50 pounds of weight added for the shorter more solid grounded runs.  

If you actually manage to get in at around 17 or 18, you probably won't be as massive as the rest of the guys there, but just make sure you do have some muscle and keep up the PT.

I know this isn't physical, but they also give Corpsmen a few extra chances in Training because they are so much more valuable  than the average recruit.  Go green side corpsmen if you want the best chances outside of sheer self ingrained will power and determination.

Answer 5

The last tree posts above me are absolutely correct.

Mostly it is upper body strength, I know the killer is the pull ups. If you miss one, you're done! Well it's just more like they are tough on you and want a lot more than your body wants to give!

If you want more information head over to http://www.navy.com/findarecruiter and ask a recruiter. They will give you information and even now, you can take your ASVAB and go under DEP. You will be able to train at the YMCA for free, with your parents' consent it is possible and you'll be fit to go to be a SEAL.

GO NAVY!

Also if you want more information on the ASVAB, on how to go about doing it, boot camp, etc. head on over to http://www.mynavyonline.com Im KJC88 group of retired, active sailors with a lot of information.

Good luck!

Answer 6

you must be able to at least jog 10 miles a day,plus have extreme upper body strength...think about it...

Answer 7

Well the basic requirements to be admitted to BUD/S is the following.

    * 500-yard (457 m) swim using breast or side stroke in under 12:30

    * At least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes

    * At least 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes

    * At least 6 pull-ups from a dead hang (no time limit)

    * Run 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in boots and trousers 11:30

    * Members’ vision must be no worse than 20/200 in both eyes. Vision must be correctable to 20/20. SEAL candidates may qualify for PRK surgery to correct their vision

Those are just the basic requirements, to be a competitive you should exceed those requirements like this.

    * 500-yard swim using breast or combat side stroke in 10:00 minutes

    * 79 push-ups in 2 minutes

    * 79 sit-ups in 2 minutes

    * 11 pull-ups from a dead hang (no time limit)

    * Run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in 10:20

To make it through BUD/S you've got to be in the BEST shape.  Most guys who get to BUD/S are in good shape, but the guys in the BEST shape are the ones who don't DOR.  It's all about endurance.

For your runs, alternate between short high speed sprinting, and long distance endurance runs.  Push yourself.  Do pullups and situps to failure every day.

Answer 8

SEALs requires quick thinking, incredible dexterity and physical strength. You might be able to get into it but the training is incredible and not everyone makes it.

Your first step would be speak to Navy recruit and talk about what you can do to get into that program. If i remember correctly you must be int he navy to begin with.

I'd start building endurance running and lifting. Perhaps rock climbing walls would be of good use to you as well.  

Answer 9

I believe you'll find that SEALs requires more than just physical strength. A lot of triahtletes can't cut it. It takes strength, yes; but it also takes endurance. You have to force yourself to keep going when ever fiber of your being is screaming, "STOP! YOU IDIOT! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF!" You'll be shivering on some swim out in the ocean, and some kindly guy in a zodiac will approach with a hot cup of coffee. He'll say, "Come on, kid. Why are you doing this to yourself? Climb in here and have a hot cup of coffee." Or you'll be shivering on the beach, and there will be a big, warm fire over there. Nobody's going to stop you from warming up or just a few seconds. That's what it's there for. But the minute you take climb into the zodiac, the instant you take that coffee, the moment you feel the heat from the fire... you're out.

You're going to have sand in places you don't even know you had places... and there's nothing you can do about it. Saltwater makes you kind of sticky. Sand adheres to it.

You'll be raw. You'll be sore. You'll be exhausted. You won't be able to go another step or another stroke. Used to be you ring the bell. Now all you have to do is put your helmet on the ground. It's so easy to do. But, if you want to fulfill that dream, you'll keep going. Some have the dream. Some have the guts. Some of those wear the Budwiser... but not many.

I don't think anything can prepare you for that. I don't think there's any way outside of the experience itself that can let you know what it's like for you. You have it, or you don't. You might try mini-BUD/S. It's a 1-month introduction to what you'll be letting yourself in for. Talk to a recruiter about it.

You can throw those "minimum requirements" out the window. They just get you to Coronado. I'm talking about becoming a SEAL. The physical stuff is the easy part. But the teams want people who can give 150% for five days at a time and still have enough left to give 200% for a couple days at the of the week.