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iskekeirhtj

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Jul 29, 2022
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Good evening everybody,

Before I go into the rest of this post I first want to give some important background info. My main priority (besides doing well academically, physically, etc.) is to earn a SEAL billet from the academy and if I’m not able to be service assigned SEAL then hopefully go Marine Ground. In order to make myself as competitive as possible for a SEAL billet I thought to myself that I should join a sport to get me in the best shape possible. For this reason, and this reason only, I picked up Crew this semester and rowed in a few regattas. At the beginning of this season I was very adamant on attempting to walk-on but I am now not so sure.

At the end of the season I found myself not enjoying the sport whatsoever. This has sadly diminished my interests in attempting to walk-on but I’m still debating this decision because I know for a fact that Crew would develop me mentally and physically to be more competitive for a SEAL billet.

Long story short, what should guide my decision making process for what sport I should choose for plebe summer? Should I go with Crew and sacrifice time with my company, personal enjoyment, and time for schoolwork? Or should I go with a sport that interests me more and that I might enjoy such as IST, Muay Thai, Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, etc.)

I apologize for the long read.
 
If you don’t enjoy the sport, then you won’t put 100% of yourself into it. And if you don’t put 100% of yourself into it, then you won’t get out of it what you think you will.

There are other ways to prepare yourself for a shot at SEALs that don’t involve unwarranted misery. When you get to the Yard, research the many opportunities to get into shape. There are groups devoted to various fitness activities and to preparing for the SEAL screener itself.

Another reason to not do something you flat-out don’t enjoy: What if you don’t get SEALs, whether for fitness reasons or something else? Will all that time slogging away at something you hate turn out to be worthwhile? Or will you wish you’d done something you genuinely enjoy instead?
 
Keep an open mind on sports and be flexible. There are some sports that are very hard to get into - limited spots for incoming class, and highly competitive.
 
There is the Special Operations Team (SOT) that you can try out for during plebe year. This team is made up of mids who want to do Naval Special Warfare and they do a lot of workouts to prepare for those screeners. I've heard they generally have a good turnout of mids who get selected for SEALs or EOD. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that SOT counts for a sport.

Don't force yourself to do Crew when you don't enjoy it. You don't have to do SOT either. Many mids get SEAL without having gone through SOT. Do a sport you enjoy and make sure you do the work necessary alongside to prepare for the screeners.
 
iskekeirhtj said:
Good evening everybody,

Before I go into the rest of this post I first want to give some important background info. My main priority (besides doing well academically, physically, etc.) is to earn a SEAL billet from the academy and if I’m not able to be service assigned SEAL then hopefully go Marine Ground. In order to make myself as competitive as possible for a SEAL billet I thought to myself that I should join a sport to get me in the best shape possible. For this reason, and this reason only, I picked up Crew this semester and rowed in a few regattas. At the beginning of this season I was very adamant on attempting to walk-on but I am now not so sure.

At the end of the season I found myself not enjoying the sport whatsoever. This has sadly diminished my interests in attempting to walk-on but I’m still debating this decision because I know for a fact that Crew would develop me mentally and physically to be more competitive for a SEAL billet.

Long story short, what should guide my decision making process for what sport I should choose for plebe summer? Should I go with Crew and sacrifice time with my company, personal enjoyment, and time for schoolwork? Or should I go with a sport that interests me more and that I might enjoy such as IST, Muay Thai, Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, etc.)

I apologize for the long read.
Click to expand...
Quick question/tangent:

Were you a part of any high-school sports?
 
DS has two friends who are incredibly athletic, driven, and focused. One is a very strong D1 athlete. Neither made the SOT team. Minimal slots, very competitive.
 
Dragomir said:
I meant many within those who got selected for SEALs, not many in general. Like, of those who got selected SEAL, many didn't do SOT.
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No doubt that is because many who are selected for SEALs play a varsity sport. And a varsity sport will take up the time someone might invest in SOT.

Interesting question though for someone considering SEALs.

Do I take the harder route and play a varsity sport or do I take the easier (IMO) route and have more time for studies and enjoying the social life at the USNA.

There's a reason so many get SEALs IMO who have played varsity sports.

Playing a varsity sport takes up a lot of time for practice, film study, and games and travel. Not only missed classes, lots of them in some cases, but loss of some leave as well during season.

I doubt the sport you pick will be what makes you a Go or No go as far as a SEAL slot.
 
I was one of 5 in my USNA class that was selected for SEALs, I was not a D1 Athlete but wrestled in High School. The SEAL Community loves wrestlers and lacrosse players. You want to get yourself into the absolute best shape you can while maintaining high grades and class rank.. it will matter. Also, you need to make sure from the onset at USNA that you are meeting with SEAL officers on staff and showing your interest. Take as many opportunities as you can to attend special summer training but these aren't a must .... I didn't do any of them.

Be in the absolute best shape you can be when you hit USNA, max your PRTs, and do pull ups!
 
Performance on the SEAL screener is a significant weeder-out, just as the name implies; you have to be in outstanding physical shape AND mentally tough, at a level far above peers. Plus - Leadership, strong academics, no serious conduct issues, no honor issues, adept at swimming and that “something” the SEALs are looking for.

However you get into shape for the SEAL screener can happen via a few different paths. You’ll meet upperclass pursuing that path, you’ll talk to those who successfully select SEAL, you’ll interact with SEALs on staff, you’ll figure out what path gets you there. It doesn’t have to start in PS. All the SEALs I have known well in my career, and I would say it’s about 2 dozen, were all different people, but they had some traits in common: wicked intelligence, with a clever, resourceful, fast-processing, trend-seeing, solution-oriented brain; phenomenal physical shape, more wiry and ropey than muscle-bound; tended toward quiet observation than center of attention; unusually focused; no hubris or ego or me-first, a team-centric approach. They know it’s not a video game, and the reality of what they are asked to do, have done and will do, much of which will never be known, exacts a toll on them, their families and potentially shortens their lives.
 
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Look into the Endurance Team and Triathlon Team but as stated above do it because you want to if you are really going to get anything out of it. I would also suggest SOT Team but it was stated above already. All three teams grind out some pretty intense work outs from what I am told. Most importantly be present in whatever you choose. Don't always be looking to the future but keep it in mind. Head down forward always!
 
iskekeirhtj said:
Good evening everybody,

Before I go into the rest of this post I first want to give some important background info. My main priority (besides doing well academically, physically, etc.) is to earn a SEAL billet from the academy and if I’m not able to be service assigned SEAL then hopefully go Marine Ground. In order to make myself as competitive as possible for a SEAL billet I thought to myself that I should join a sport to get me in the best shape possible. For this reason, and this reason only, I picked up Crew this semester and rowed in a few regattas. At the beginning of this season I was very adamant on attempting to walk-on but I am now not so sure.

At the end of the season I found myself not enjoying the sport whatsoever. This has sadly diminished my interests in attempting to walk-on but I’m still debating this decision because I know for a fact that Crew would develop me mentally and physically to be more competitive for a SEAL billet.

Long story short, what should guide my decision making process for what sport I should choose for plebe summer? Should I go with Crew andomt sacrifice time with my company, personalrn. enjoyment, and time for schoolwork? Or should I go with a sport that interests me more and that I might enjoy such as IST, Muay Thai, Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, etc.)1

I apologize for the long read.
Click to expand...

Questions for self-reflection:
Can you complete a 12-mile road march in three hours with a 60 lbs ruck sack?
Can you swim 500 yards under 12:30?
Are you proficient in combat swimmer stroke?
Can you run 1.5 miles in under 10:30?
 
I know a SEAL, that was a football player, then volleyball player, then jujitsu competitor while at USNA.

Do what you enjoy. It’s your outlet and release. It should be fun!!
 
An older blog post, but a good read:

blog.usni.org

Naval Academy SEAL screener 2010

When is it going to start? Here I was in a racquetball court with 83 other midshipmen anxiously anticipating the start of the Naval Academy’s SEAL screener. After entering the racquetball court at 1630, we had no idea if we would be waiting for five minutes or five hours. That was the point; the...
blog.usni.org blog.usni.org


And, if you haven’t explored Stew Smith’s YouTube channel and website, I recommend it. Stew is a USNA grad, former SEAL, former USNA staff officer, now a fitness professional and still heavily involved at USNA. The article below is a SEAL’s-eye view of the path. Keep scrolling to the end of the article for related links and videos.

www.military.com

Ask Stew: How to Go from Your Plebe Year at the US Naval Academy to BUD/S

Former Navy SEAL Stew Smith answers a question from a newly accepted high school graduate on how to prepare to enter the Naval Academy.
www.military.com www.military.com
 
My son’s interest in Seals before Plebe summer quickly ended. Entered the academy as a below average swimmer. He is now just an average swimmer. Did not have the time to work hard enough to improve sufficiently enough.

I highly recommend the endurance team. I never would have imagined the pudgy little elementary/junior high kid that entered as a slender cross country runner to look like he does now.
 
NavyUMO said:
I was one of 5 in my USNA class that was selected for SEALs, I was not a D1 Athlete but wrestled in High School. The SEAL Community loves wrestlers and lacrosse players. You want to get yourself into the absolute best shape you can while maintaining high grades and class rank.. it will matter. Also, you need to make sure from the onset at USNA that you are meeting with SEAL officers on staff and showing your interest. Take as many opportunities as you can to attend special summer training but these aren't a must .... I didn't do any of them.

Be in the absolute best shape you can be when you hit USNA, max your PRTs, and do pull ups!
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I might be misunderstanding your comment but I thought USNA had approx 30 slots per year for Navy SW. Were you one of five that was not a D1 athlete? I'd love to see a breakdown of USNA's NSW slots by year by sport. It does seem certain sports are represented - but anecdotally there are guys from crew, gymnastics, sailing, lacrosse, football, wrestling, triathlon - pretty much every sport.
 
iskekeirhtj said:
Good evening everybody,

Before I go into the rest of this post I first want to give some important background info. My main priority (besides doing well academically, physically, etc.) is to earn a SEAL billet from the academy and if I’m not able to be service assigned SEAL then hopefully go Marine Ground. In order to make myself as competitive as possible for a SEAL billet I thought to myself that I should join a sport to get me in the best shape possible. For this reason, and this reason only, I picked up Crew this semester and rowed in a few regattas. At the beginning of this season I was very adamant on attempting to walk-on but I am now not so sure.

At the end of the season I found myself not enjoying the sport whatsoever. This has sadly diminished my interests in attempting to walk-on but I’m still debating this decision because I know for a fact that Crew would develop me mentally and physically to be more competitive for a SEAL billet.

Long story short, what should guide my decision making process for what sport I should choose for plebe summer? Should I go with Crew and sacrifice time with my company, personal enjoyment, and time for schoolwork? Or should I go with a sport that interests me more and that I might enjoy such as IST, Muay Thai, Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, etc.)

I apologize for the long read.
Click to expand...
Historically, Navy Crew athletes get a good number of NSW slots. It's arguable whether the sport makes the man or the man makes the sport but the characteristics that are cultivated in crew are similar to what's required (IMO) in NSW. Navy Crew also takes a fair number of walk-ons so chances are with any experience you will make the team. But if you have been rowing crew and discover it is not for you, it will be unbearable at USNA and will be counterproductive to your goals, as well as your experience at USNA.

Now doing it just for plebe summer might be good - you will be doing something hard anyway, you are not obligated, so give it a shot. You will meet great people and can then move on to something that interests you more once the academic year starts.

Aspiring to NSW and hoping crew will help get you there is not enough (IMO) to justify 4 challenging years, and is certainly no guarantee you will get NSW. There's a lot of great advice here that does not include crew - wishing you all the best at Navy and beyond.
 
NavyUMO said:
I was one of 5 in my USNA class that was selected for SEALs,
Click to expand...
MaryKatherine said:
I might be misunderstanding your comment but I thought USNA had approx 30 slots per year for Navy SW
Click to expand...
NUMO has previously posted about DS application, so is likely before 9/11 year group. Back in the day, NSW was a very small community, and certainly not as "popular" or well known as it is now. (Thanks Hollywood !). Only a small handful from each class went NSW. I don't even recall any of my Classmates selecting NSW , but a couple went on to pretty successful careers.

Capt MJ said:
your first job is being a good plebe, then a good mid, staying sat in all graded areas, and earning the respect of your peers.
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^ THis can't be overemphasized.. Goal setting and trying to plan ahead is great, but the best plans in the world are going to change over time. Get through plebe summer...search out and talk to upperclass and SEAL officers in the Yard, and follow their advice, not anonymous advice on the internet (including mine). That said, there is one solid truth throughout the Navy and life (maybe I should post in the favorite quotes thread) ....."It takes a whole lot of "attaboys" to make up for one "aw sh!t".. Selection for NSW is highly competitive, and one dumb mistake can blow it all.
 
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