Career Path
How Long Does It Take To Become a Navy Seal?
The most skilled sailors in the American Navy are known as Sea, Air, and Land Teams (SEALs). Only a few people possess the physical and mental fortitude required by the Navy’s SEAL certification standards.
In this post, we go over what may be expected of those interested in becoming Navy SEALs, including typical employment qualifications, average salaries, and responses to frequently asked questions.
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What is a Navy Seal?
In the U.S. Navy, a Navy SEAL, also known as a SEAL in full Sea, Air, and Land, is a member of a special operations force trained to conduct direct raids or assaults on enemy targets, conduct reconnaissance missions to report on enemy activity (particularly before beach landings), and engage in combat against terrorist organizations.
Between the ages of 17 and 28, members of the U.S. Navy are eligible to apply for SEAL training, though age 33 is also an option with a special waiver.
(The navy declared in 2015 that it would allow women to join the SEAL program; no deadline was specified.)
Candidates who successfully complete two months of preliminary training, which includes a battery of strenuous physical and mental screening exams, are admitted to the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training program, renowned as one of the most difficult in the U.S. military.
There, soldiers receive ongoing training in various skills, including basic swimming and water proficiency, underwater fighting, weapons and demolitions, and dry land navigation.
Is Attending a Navy Seal School Worth It?
Yes, it is worth it. Special operators from the US Navy SEALs are highly skilled and effective.
Some of the world’s most complex and hazardous operations are carried out by Navy SEALs.
The prestige and satisfaction of playing such a significant role in the country’s defense are only two of the numerous advantages of being a Navy SEAL.
Additionally, the Navy SEALs provide their members benefits like better pay, housing, retirement, and benefits.
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What Schooling Do You Need to Become a Navy Seal?
SEALs are either male or female Navy personnel. Your qualifications may change if you had prior service or are currently serving in the Navy. To become a Navy SEAL, one must first complete the following basic steps:
1. Get ready in advance
Since there are severe prerequisites to becoming a Navy SEAL, also known as a “special warfare operator (SO),” the first step is to start preparing yourself for training and the role as soon as you realize you are interested in it.
Age, U.S. citizenship, security clearance, physical and mental fitness, good eyesight, and passing a background check are some of these prerequisites.
It is advised to start preparing early if you are interested in joining the Navy SEALs by becoming in top physical condition, learning to swim, maintaining good grades in school, and honing strong interpersonal qualities like leadership and teamwork.
2. Obtain a diploma
To join the Navy SEALs, you must have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate. If you have a GED, joining the military might require you to have completed at least one semester of college-level coursework.
3. Take a look at a college degree
You can enlist in the military at age 17 if you have a diploma or GED with the consent of your parents or guardians.
Although a college degree is not necessary to become a Navy SEAL, you can decide to complete one before joining the service. You might also consider applying to the U.S. Naval Academy or an ROTC college.
Many Navy SEALs have advanced degrees and are college graduates. You can join the military with an officer rank and a higher base salary if you get a college degree.
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4. Speak to a recruiter for the Navy
A recruiter will check your eligibility and assess whether you satisfy the standards for the military when you meet with them.
To receive a bigger sign-on bonus than if you enlist first and subsequently elect to become a SEAL, it is crucial to let the recruiter know that you desire a SEAL Challenge Contract before you sign up.
Your recruiter will assign you to a special warfare/special operations mentor who will assist you in preparing for your physical screening test once they have determined that you satisfy the basic standards for a SEAL Challenge Contract (PST).
5. Get a high ASVAB score
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam is required of everyone who wants to join the military.
The ASVAB includes questions in numerical operations, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, math knowledge, arithmetic reasoning, general science, auto and shop knowledge, and mechanical comprehension.
This test determines the type of military occupation you might be qualified for. To be eligible for the SEAL program, you must have a good ASVAB score.
6. Get a high C-SORT score
Candidates who want to join the Navy SEALs must perform well on the C-SORT (Computerized-Special Operations Resilience Test) administered at the recruiter’s office.
The test determines whether the candidate satisfies the minimal requirements for the SEAL training program by evaluating the candidate’s maturity and mental toughness through performance methods, psychological toughness, and personality attributes.
To assess if you are a good fit for the Navy SEALS, your C-SORT scores (a cumulative score of at least 165) will be considered in addition to your PST and other tests.
7. Pass the PST
To pass the Navy SEAL PST, you must meet tight requirements and put a lot of effort into your physical health and training. As a recruit, you will take the PST on multiple occasions each month to become better each time. Your PST will consist of the following:
- 500 yards in 12 minutes and a half.
- two minutes and 75 pushups
- two minutes’ worth of 75 sit-ups
- Pull-ups: six
- 1.5 miles in 11 and a half minutes
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How Long Does It Take To Become a Licensed Navy Seal?
To earn the Special Warfare insignia (SEAL “Trident”), a person must complete approximately 71 weeks of Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) training, which includes Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School (8 weeks), Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training (24 weeks), Navy Special Warfare Parachute Course (5 weeks), and SEAL Qualification Training (26 weeks).
However, rather than having a specific area of specialization within Navy special operations, all enlisted SEALs have the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) Code (equivalent to an Army MOS Code) of 5326, “Combatant Swimmer (SEAL),” and the Navy enlisted rating of “Special Warfare Operator.” Navy SEALs may eventually receive advanced language and specialty training.
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Licensed Navy Seal?
A U.S. Navy SEAL can cost up to $500,000 to train, but the commandos have shown that the money is well spent. Elite Special Forces undergo arduous training to become the nation’s go-to men in emergencies.
Salary and Job Outlook for Navy Seal after Study
The annual salary of an American Navy Seal is $43,952.
If you need a quick pay estimator, that comes to about $21.13 per hour. This is the same as $845 per week or $3,662 monthly.
The bulk of Navy Seal salaries today range between $31,000 (25th percentile) and $40,000 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) getting $63,000 annually across the United States, while ZipRecruiter reports annual wages as high as $87,000 and as low as $21,000.
Depending on skill level, location, and years of experience, there may be numerous prospects for progression and greater pay. The typical pay range for a Navy Seal varies substantially (by as much as $9,000).
Conclusion
Navy SEALs are sailors that specialize in carrying out small-unit maritime military operations that start and end at a river, ocean, marsh, delta, or shoreline and have years of diving expertise as well as parachute certification and ground combat training.
After being assigned to a unit, SEAL members undergo extensive on-the-job training and are placed on probation; as a result, they are subject to termination at any moment after BUDs.
In a nutshell, Special Forces are seen as force multipliers and teachers first, whereas SEALs are seen as gun-toting killers first, with the assigned task being their priority.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Members of the U.S. Navy’s special forces unit trained for unconventional warfare on land, at sea, and in the air are known as Navy SEALs. Sea, air, and land are referred to as SEAL. A part of the Naval Special Warfare Command, they are.
You must be a citizen of the United States, an active member of the U.S. Navy, and able to read, write, and speak English fluently to apply to become a Navy SEAL.
Additionally, it would be best if you were typically under 28. However, exceptions are occasionally made for applicants between the ages of 29 and 30. Additionally, each applicant must pass a background investigation for security clearance.
Along with passing a rigorous physical screening test and maintaining a 1/8″ length haircut, candidates must also have good eyesight, with at least 20/40 in their best eye and 20/70 in their worst eye, both correctable to 20/25 without color blindness.
Navy SEALs’ basic pay ranges from $60,000 to $80,000 annually, depending on experience. In addition to their annual base pay, SEALs may earn additional money depending on bonuses and the kinds of missions they take.
When you sign up for the SEAL Challenge Contract, you will get a bonus and another bonus once you successfully complete the SEAL training course. You can also get paid more for diving, parachuting, and demolitions.
As a Navy SEAL, you will receive several benefits in addition to your pay and other income, such as medical and life insurance, funding for your education, travel and supply discounts, vacation time, tax-free pay in combat zones, tax-free housing and food allowances, and access to military facilities.
The Navy provides instruction, credentials, and certificates in various fields, including electronics, chemical, and biological warfare, explosive ordnance disposal, and more.
Through the American Council on Education, training courses can be converted into credit hours toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Opportunities for undergraduate degrees may be offered through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Navy College Program, and tuition assistance.
Navy SEALs practice and perform missions in various terrains, including deserts, cities, mountains, forested areas, jungles, and polar temperatures. Typical operations can entail infiltrating a hostile environment via parachute, submarine, helicopter, fast boat, foot patrol, or combat swimming.
To ensure that only the most elite Navy members graduate from the school and become SEALs, Navy SEAL training is a highly demanding program. Only about 1% of all Navy active-duty personnel are Navy SEALs, and only 20–25% of all SEAL candidates are thought to complete the required training to join the SEALs successfully.
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