ASSESSMENT, SELECTION AND TRAINING PATHWAYS

Each training phase will force you to discover your limits and push past them. It's a crucible you must endure. Each stage of training is gut wrenching and frought with failure. Want to be the best? Prove it. Every day brings a new challenge, a higher standard.

By: Naval Special Warfare
Posted: May 5, 2022

Related content:

  1. SEAL SWCC Physical Screening Test Standards and Procedures (the rule book)
  2. SEAL SWCC Physical Training Guide
  3. SEAL SWCC Physical Training Guide
  4. SEAL SWCC Physical Training Guide exercise videos
  5. SEAL SWCC Combat Sidestroke Guide
  6. BUD/S and SWCC Alpha Phase training videos

Every Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) and Special Warfare Combat Crewman (SWCC) candidate must endure a long training process, which for enlisted candidates follows Navy recruit training or time in the fleet. The first step at Naval Special Warfare (NSW) for officer and enlisted candidates is the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory course (NSWPREP), located at Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California.

The NSWPREP course is five weeks long and focuses primarily on physical training. These five weeks are followed by two weeks of Naval Special Warfare Orientation (NSWO), which will introduce you to expectations and practices of the assessment, selection, and training pathways. Navy SWCC candidates completing NSWO will begin their first stage of specific SWCC training, known as Alpha Phase. Officer and enlisted SEAL candidates completing NSWO move on to the First Phase of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S).

STAGE 1: NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE PREPARATORY COURSE

At NSWPREP you'll train for five weeks to improve your fitness and learn the basic concepts of special warfare. The end of NSWPREP has a Physical Screening Test (PST), which you must pass. Graduates move on to NSWO. Those who don’t pass are reassigned elsewhere in the Navy. The following are some of what you can expect at NSWPREP:

Check-in

  1. Physical/medical assessment
  2. Course introduction

Physical training

  1. Group physical training (determined by ability level)
  2. Swimming
  3. Running
  4. Strength and conditioning
  5. Basic underwater skills
  6. Exercise science
  7. Nutrition
  8. Injury prevention
  9. Plyometric training

Academic topics

  1. Daily academic instruction
  2. SEAL Ethos or SWCC Creed
  3. Core values
  4. Professional development
  5. Basic military training
  6. Cycle of achievement
  7. Mental Toughness
  8. Goal setting
  9. Military heritage (aircraft, ships, honors and courtesies)
ENLISTED SEAL CONTRACT QUALIFYING - PST STANDARDS
Exercise Time Rest Average Minimum
Swim 500 yards (breast or sidestroke) Unlimited 10:00 min. 9:30 12:30
Push-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 75 50
Curl-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 75 50
Pull-up 2:00 min. 10:00 min. 15 10
Run 1.5 miles Unlimited Event over 9:30 10:30

SEAL OFFICER CONTRACT QUALIFYING - PST STANDARDS
Exercise Time Rest Average Minimum
Swim 500 yards (breast or sidestroke) Unlimited 10:00 min. 9:00 12:30
Push-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 85 50
Curl-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 85 50
Pull-up 2:00 min. 10:00 min. 20 10
Run 1.5 miles Unlimited Event over 9:00 10:30

SWCC CONTRACT QUALIFYING - PST STANDARDS
Exercise Time Rest Average Minimum
Swim 500 yards (breast or sidestroke) Unlimited 10:00 min. 10:00 13:00
Push-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 70 50
Curl-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 70 50
Pull-up 2:00 min. 10:00 min. 10 06
Run 1.5 miles Unlimited Event over 10:00 12:00

SEAL AND SWCC EXIT TEST - PST STANDARDS

The end of NSWPREP has a mandatory pass or fail PST. Graduates of NSWPREP move on to Naval Special Warfare Orientation (NSWO). Those who don’t pass the NSWPREP PST test are reassigned elsewhere in the Navy.

ENLISTED SEAL AND SEAL OFFICER EXIT TEST - PST STANDARDS
Exercise Time Rest Pass
Swim with fins (breast or sidestroke) 20:00 min. or less 10:00 min. 1K
Push-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 70 or more
Curl-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 60 or more
Pull-up 10:00 min. 2:00 min. 10 or more
Run (with pants and shoes) 31:00 min. or less Event over 4 miles

SWCC EXIT TEST - PST STANDARDS
Exercise Time Rest Pass
Swim with fins (breast or sidestroke) 22:30 or less 10:00 min. 1K
Push-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 50 or more
Curl-up 2:00 min. 2:00 min. 60 or more
Pull-up 2:00 min. 10:00 min. 7 or more
Run (with pants and shoes) 31:00 min. or less Event over 3 miles

STAGE 2: NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE ORIENTATION

Naval Special Warfare Orientation (NSWO) lasts for two weeks. Your instructors will familiarize you with all aspects the special operations training lifestyle, and the values of teamwork and perseverance. The course prepares you for running in the sand with full gear, swimming in the ocean and underwater training in the pool, and how to perform on the obstacle course. You'll also learn NSW culture and heritage.

It's during NSWO that instructors begin the process of selecting only those who demonstrate the proper character and passion for NSW excellence. You must prove you're mentally strong, physically fit, and ready for the challenge of becoming a NSW operator. If you don't, you'll be reassigned elsewhere in the Navy. After successful completion of NSWO, SEAL candidates go to First Phase of BUD/S training and SWCC candidates go to Alpha Phase.

STAGE 3:

SEAL - First Phase

First Phase, the basic conditioning phase, is seven weeks long and develops the class in physical training, water competency and mental tenacity while continuing to build teamwork. Each week you're expected to do more running, swimming and calisthenics than the week before, and your performance is measured by a four-mile timed run, a timed obstacle course, and a two-mile timed swim. In addition to physical training, You'll learn how to conduct hydrographic survey operations.

The fourth week of First Phase is known as Hell Week. In this grueling five-and-a-half day stretch, you'll sleep only about four hours in total, and expected to train for more than 20 hours per day. You'll run more than 200 miles by the end of the week. Every candidate will break down physically, but you'll succeed if you have the mental strength to push past your self-perceived limitations and commit yourself to teamwork. Hell Week is the ultimate test of your will. Those who succeed move on to Second Phase.

SWCC - Alpha Phase

Alpha Phase is the basic conditioning phase and lasts seven weeks. You'll perform physical training, demonstrate aquatic skills and mental tenacity while continuing to build teamwork with your class.

Each week you're expected to do more running, swimming and calisthenics than the week before, and your performance is measured by a timed run, timed obstacle course, and timed swims in the pool, bay, and ocean. The ultimate test of your physical and mental fortitude comes during week five’s “The Tour”, when you must apply skills, teamwork, and mental tenacity in various weather conditions – all with limited sleep. If you make it, you’ll go on to Bravo Phase.

STAGE 4:

SEAL - Combat Diving

SEAL candidates become basic combat swimmers and learn open and closed-circuit diving. Second Phase, the combat diving phase, lasts seven weeks. This phase introduces underwater skills that are unique to Navy SEALs. During this phase, You'll learn how to conduct basic combat swimming and conduct open and closed-circuit diving.

You must demonstrate a high level of comfort in the water and the ability to perform in stressful and often uncomfortable environments. If you're not completely comfortable in the water, you may struggle to succeed. If you do well, you’ll go on to Third Phase.

SWCC - Bravo Phase

Bravo Phase develops intelligent and highly motivated SWCC candidates who'll perform under the most demanding conditions over a period of seven weeks. You'll learn basic special operations maritime skills, including navigation, gunnery, communications, combat medicine, engineering and small boat seamanship. Candidates advance to Charlie Phase upon completion of Bravo Phase.

STAGE 5:

SEAL - Third Phase

Third Phase, the land warfare phase, is seven weeks long and will teach you basic weapons, demolitions, land navigation, patrolling, rappelling, marksmanship and small-unit tactics. For the final three and a half weeks of training, the days become longer and more work intensive, set to mirror the work hours spent in the field.

You'll be taught to gather and process information that will complete the overall mission. There's more classroom work that teaches map, compass, land navigation and basic weapon skill sets. These skill sets allow you to transition from having novice skills to becoming more comfortable out in the field. Most of this training is new and the learning pace becomes faster and faster.

Third Phase lays the foundation for the rest of Navy SEAL training. These basic move-shoot-communicate skills will be used by you in SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) and in the SEAL Teams. Those who make it to Third Phase have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to becoming SEALs.

SWCC - Charlie Phase

Charlie Phase is the last seven-week training phase at the SWCC training center. During Charlie Phase, candidates combine physical and mental toughness learned through Alpha Phase with special operations core skills developed in Bravo Phase, and put them to the test on an NSW combat craft. Candidates learn advanced navigation, weapons and mission planning. This phase of training introduces each prospective candidate to the rigors of operating in various, and often unforgiving, sea states primarily at night, providing only a taste of what each Operator will endure while assigned to a Special Boat Detachment.

Candidates participate in multiple training evolution's culminating in the execution of a joint final training exercise with SEAL candidates. During the final training exercise, both SWCC and SEAL candidates conduct joint mission planning, rehearsal and execution of a special operations mission. After completion of this phase, candidates attend a week of NSW Survival; two weeks of Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Training (SERE); and a week of the Cross-cultural Competence course, followed by graduation.

STAGE 6

SEAL - SEAL Qualification Training

SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) is a 26-week course that'll take the student from the basic level of Naval Special Warfare to a more advanced degree of tactical training. SQT is designed to provide students with the core tactical knowledge they will need to join a SEAL platoon.

SQT includes:

  1. Weapons training
  2. Small unit tactics
  3. Land navigation
  4. Demolitions
  5. Cold weather training
  6. Medical skills
  7. Maritime operations

Before graduating, You'll attend Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training and parachuting, including static-line and freefall operations at high and low altitudes. Upon completing these requirements, you’ll receive your SEAL Trident warfare designator and be assigned to a SEAL team to begin preparing for your first deployment.