CIVILIAN AND PRIOR SERVICE ENLISTED SEAL OR SWCC APPLICATION STEPS
Becoming an enlisted SEAL or SWCC is not about becoming an officer. There's three steps you need to take. Prior service members should follow these same application steps.
By: Naval Special Warfare
Posted: May 5, 2022
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STEP 2: HEALTH SCREENING AT THE MILITARY ENTRANCE PROCESSING STATION
Your recruiter will schedule you to go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) for a general health screening and Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. If you pass everything, you will agree to enter the Navy Delayed Entry Program (DEP) and may be offered an enlistment contract for a non-special warfare job. This is a back-up plan should you fail to earn a special operations contract and still want to join the Navy. You may voluntarily opt out of the enlistment process at any time until you leave for recruit training.
STEP 3: EARN A CONTRACT TO BECOME A SEAL OR SWCC
From start to finish the entire process to earn your SEAL or SWCC contract may take several months. High school age SEAL or SWCC applicants should consider seeing a Navy recruiter during their senior year to begin the process. If you're in college you should consider seeing a Navy recruiter as early as your junior year.
After you've taken and passed at least three competitive Physical Screening Tests (PST), your recruiter will submit your application package to Navy Recruiting Command (NRC). Prior Service (NAVET/OSVET) candidates will also have their applications reviewed by the Naval Special Warfare Enlisted Community Manager (NSWECM) to ensure it meets the needs of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community.
If you're selected, you'll receive an offer for a SEAL or SWCC contract. If you had a non-special warfare contract for DEP, it will be replaced with a SEAL or SWCC contract. You'll need to pass an additional PST no less than 14 days before attending Navy recruit training in order to keep your SEAL or SWCC contract.
SEAL AND SWCC CONTRACT QUALIFYING - PST STANDARDS
| ENLISTED SEAL CONTRACT QUALIFYING - PST STANDARDS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Time | Rest | Average | Minimum | ||
| Swim 500 yards (breast or sidestroke) | Unlimited | 10:00 minutes | 9:30 | 12:30 | ||
| Push-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 75 | 50 | ||
| Curl-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 75 | 50 | ||
| Pull-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 15 | 10 | ||
| Run 1.5 miles | Unlimited | Event over | 9:30 | 10:30 | ||
| Use the SEAL PST Calculator to find out if you've got what it takes to join NSW. | ||||||
| SWCC CONTRACT QUALIFYING - PST STANDARDS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Time | Rest | Average | Minimum | ||
| Swim 500 yards (breast or sidestroke) | Unlimited | 10:00 minutes | 10:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Push-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 70 | 50 | ||
| Curl-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 70 | 50 | ||
| Pull-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 10 | 06 | ||
| Run 1.5 miles | Unlimited | Event over | 10:00 | 12:00 | ||
| Use the SWCC PST Calculator to find out if you've got what it takes to join NSW. | ||||||
AGE
SEAL
- Between 17-28 years old
- Arrive at bootcamp no later than your 29th birthday
- Exceptions may be considered if you have prior special operations experience or special skills, such as foreign languages
SWCC
- Between 17-30 years old
- Arrive at bootcamp no later than your 31st birthday
- Exceptions may be considered if you have prior special operations experience or special skills, such as foreign languages
GENDER
All SEAL and SWCC training is open to anyone who can meet the standards.
CITIZENSHIP
You must be a U.S. citizen to become a SEAL or SWCC. Non-citizens with permanent residency status may join the Navy and apply for conversion to SEAL or SWCC training after at least two years of service at your first command.
Foreigners must legally immigrate to the United States and renounce native citizenship. Dual citizenship is not allowed. Enlistment into the U.S. Navy, or any branch of the U.S. military, by citizens of countries other than the United States is limited to those foreign nationals who are legally residing in the United States and possess an Immigration and Naturalization Service Alien Registration Card (INS Form I-151/551 commonly known as a "Green Card").
You must speak, read and write English fluently. The U.S. military branches can't assist you in obtaining entry into the United States. The U.S. government agency which is responsible for immigration and naturalization is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. If you have immigration questions contact your local U.S. Embassy.
BRAINS
The military has an admissions test, just like colleges have the SAT or ACT. The military test is called, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB. It has several sections, each focusing on a different aspect, such as math, reading, and mechanical comprehension. This is how the Navy classifies you as competent for various jobs. A Navy recruiter will explain the details, but the standard is different for SEAL and SWCC applicants.
To qualify for SEAL, you must score at least one of the following on the ASVAB:
- GS + MC + EI = a minimum score of 170 (GS and EI are waiverable up to three points each, MC is not waiverable)
- VE + MK + MC + CS = a minimum score of 220 (VE, MK and CS are waiverable up to three points each, MC is not waiverable)
- VE + AR = a minimum score of 110 (VE and AR are waiverable up to three points each) + MC = a minimum score of 50 (not waiverable)
To qualify for SWCC, you must score at least one of the following on the ASVAB:
- VE + AR = a minimum score of 103 (VE and AR are waiverable up to three points each) + MC = a minimum score of 51 (not waiverable)
Some high schools administer the ASVAB test, but you can get a practice test and study guide online. Active duty candidates can find ASVAB resources at the local Navy College office. Waivers are granted on a case-by-case basis. Your PST scores and the strength of your overall application will be used to make a determination of eligibility. If you're already in the Navy, submit your conversion package. Your package will be evaluated by the SEAL Enlisted Community Manager.
HEALTH
You must be in excellent health to endure the rigors of special operations training and missions. You'll fill out a medical questionnaire to determine your eligibility. Waivers may be possible for some conditions, past or present. Your recruiter will let you know. Examples:
Vision
You must see at least 20/40 in your best eye and 20/70 in your worst eye to qualify. Eye surgery is at your own expense and must be done prior to applying. LASIK, LASEK, or PRK are acceptable. Lens implants are not. Color blindness is disqualifying, but a certain amount of color deficiency may be acceptable.
Past injuries/surgeries
You may be required to provide medical documentation or submit to an examination to determine if they are waiverable.
Allergies
Most are disqualifying, including food allergies. Your recruiter will answer your questions.
HAIR
It doesn’t matter what your hair looks like before you enter the Navy, but we require all candidates, regardless of gender, to maintain a 1/8" length hair cut throughout Naval Special Warfare training.
MORAL CHARACTER
Every NSW operator must be of the highest moral character in order to be the Special Operations Force that America expects. As a Navy Sailor you will be required to memorize the Sailor's Creed. As a SEAL you will learn the SEAL Ethos. A SWCC will learn the SWCC Creed.
As a SEAL or SWCC candidates, you must pass a background check and qualify to earn a secret security clearance. Applicants with felony records are not accepted, but some misdemeanors and traffic citations may be accepted. Past illicit drug usage may be waiverable. See your local Navy recruiter to discuss your legal record.