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Training letter from Chris Bent Lt USN (Ret)E-mail at bttom of letter.
My name is Chris Bent LT USNR (Ret) SEAL RDAC (a Seal Recruiting Assistance element). FYI, I was formerly with UDT-21 and recovered Gemini 6 & 7 and the very first Apollo Spacecraft back in 65. My hobby is helping you guys, trying to answer your questions and guide you on your journey. I have to share that this is very serious and will require you to achieve an extraordinary level of aerobic conditioning above levels most of you are familiar. Dont waste your time or mine if you dont take this advice very seriously. You must become an outstanding runner doing 30-40 miles weekly (Nikes ok) The sidestroke must be mastered in SEAL style, no one elses. You should be swimming this stroke 3 miles weekly minimum, not to mention your situp, pushup, and pullup program. It takes time to get to this level. I favor SEAL LT. Stew Smiths workout book. You can find it at www.getfitnow.com.
You must be in superior shape prior to enlisting. After you enlist you will find you have little time to workout, much less build yourself up. You may accordingly just pass the minimum PRT Test standards, go to BUDS and quit. 85% of our guys pass BUDS, whereas 75-90% never make it, all because they had no idea of the shape required. Enthusiasm is one thing, time on the road and in the ocean is another. The following PRT Test standards are what we ask of the guys we write written recommendations for:
1. 500 yd sidestroke swim in 8:30 min or better, hands not to break the water, use speedo & goggles
(check out: http://www.getfitnow.com/sidestroke.html )
2. 10 min standing rest
3. 80 plus pushups (100 officer) full extension of arms, chest to 3" ground, back straight in 2 min
4. 2 min standing rest
5. 80 plus situps (100 officer) in 2 min, head to knees, hands clasped behind head, elbows to hit ground.
6. 2 min stand rest
7. 15 plus pullups (20-25 officer), no time limit, palms out, full extension, no kicking, chin over bar
8. 10 min standing rest
9. 1.5 mile run in 10 min or better, boots (break in your combat boots before BUDS) & long pants.
(The competition is getting greater each day and our standards will probably rise)
To enhance your selection chances you should have taken a language, i.e. Spanish, Arabic, etc. Science backgrounds are helpful. Try to take a Scuba Course and join an Orienteering Club. Let the Navy teach you to shoot and skydive, etc. Learn to swim with fins. Get to know surf, feel comfortable in it. A little sailing is good to develop further feel of the ocean. Just spend time in and on the water.
There are a lot of good websites to visit and absorb. Many have good links to a lot of good info. But dont waste your time on the net when you could be running
Some of the many good books:
"Class 29" by John Carl Roat, a fabulous account of BUDS Class 29..(it got even colder in '31, eh John??)
"Combat Swimmer" by Bob Gormly, the best book from a real officers point of view. (and a good guy)
"Never Fight Fair" & "Brave Men, Dark Waters" by Orr Kelly, great stories by SEALs
"Night Raiders" by Samuel Katz, an outstanding history of the Israeli Naval Special Warfare Units
"The Teams" by Kevin Dockery
"Seal Team Roll-Back" by Tim Bosiljevac, I think is the truth under the guise of fiction. Great, great book!
"US Navy Seals" by Hans Halberstadt
"Hunters & Shooters" by Bill Fawcett
"At The Hurricaine's Eye" by Greg Walker, U.S. Special Operations from Vietnam to Desert Storm.
"Seal Team One" by Dick Couch
Again, DO NOT ENLIST until you are truly prepared. Recruiters are not SEALs, they have not been to BUDS. It is difficult for them to give you meaningful advice, especially when they have to cover so many technical programs. There is a good new program called "Seal Challenge" which replaces the "Divefarer" program which did not offer as much. (Call 1-888-USN-SEAL for SEAL Challenge info or their new website: http://www.sealchallenge.navy.mil/ -- and also ask them to send you a BUDS Warning Order). And remember, all is for naught if you are in the 75% who quit at BUDS, all guys who really wanted to be SEALs, many of whom were top high school and college athletes. We have given the PRT Test to over 100 guys and helped them get their scores up, though many decided not to stick it out and enlist. It is up to you. We have seen every type of guy, muscles to skinny, short to tall make the commitment and make it through BUDS. The PRT Test is really a good measure. You can give it to yo!
urself. I will question you as to form and hopefully there is an ex-SEAL nearby who we could find to help, maybe. That said, your scholastic and the Navy aptitude tests will be an editing factor (grades are important). For those of you in the NE, the PRT Test is given in Greenwich CT by Capt. Bisset , CONRNAVSPECWARCOM. I am now residing in Naples, FL and can do same here.
If you have questions, do your research, then e-mail me at[email protected] It is important that the e-mail subj box read:
BUDS/Your full name, incl rank if in service/Age/State/E-Mail # ? ( total e-mails sent here)
Godspeed & Hooyah!