Navy SEALs

U.S. Navy’s main special operations forces Sea, Land and Air team also known as SEALs was formed in 1962 when the U.S. government needed guerilla and counter-guerilla units which could operate on sea, land and air.

         At first two teams were formed in January of 1962 and were stationed at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. The first mission was in Cuba, where they sent submarines and carried beach reconnaissance, during the Cuban crisis between the Soviet Union. They also were active in Vietnam War and the CIA used SEALs in covert operations, as well as intelligence gathering, capture and assassination of high ranking North Vietnamese officials. After the removal of U.S. troops from Vietnam soil, the SEALs were the most decorated unit for their size in the war, received 2 Navy Crosses, 42 Silver Stars, 402 Bronze Stars, 2 Legions of Merit, 352 Commendation Medals, 3 Presidential Unit Citation and 3 Medals of Honor. At the end of the Vietnam War the unit lost 48 brothers, but managed to kill almost 2000 enemies. 

On 1st of May, 2011 the team of 40 Navy SEALs with Belgian Malinois Military Working Dog, supported by Special Activities Division killed Osama Bin Laden, leader of Al Qaeda, in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Later President Barack Obama confirmed the death officially.  

Before being accepted by into Basic SEAL training, the candidates must complete the requirements of both physical and mental state. After the mental and physical screening the recruits get admitted to Navy SEAL training, which is extremely rigorous only 10-20% of the trainees finish the course.  The program consists of 8 week of Naval Recruit Training, 8 week of Naval Special Warfare Prep School, 24 week of Basic Underwater Demolition Training, 5 week of Parachute Jump School and 26 week of SEAL Qualification Training. After the graduation the members begin 18 months of predeployment training which consists of 6 months of Individual Specialty Training, 6 months of Unit Level Training and 6 months of Squadron Integration Training. In 2015 the government abolished the regulation of no women joining the SEAL team, if they can withstand the hardships of the training they are now allowed to become the SEALs, but as of April of 2016 there were no female sailors, who applied for exams and trainings.