Sports

MaryKatherine said:
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.
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Sorry - I tried to edit. Now I am thinking you might have graduated a few years back - when most seal-aspirants went SWO then tried out for seals and direct USNA-to-seal was uncommon. Hence only the five slots.
 
The only thing I know about crew I have learned by reading the late David Halberstams great book on Ivy league rowers.

What stuck out to me was the amount of pain and suffering these rowers went thru on a daily basis.

If I was picking someone for BUDs I’d want to know what exactly they did not like about crew.

If it was anything to do with water or pain and suffering that might be a red flag as far as buds.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
The only thing I know about crew I have learned by reading the late David Halberstams great book on Ivy league rowers.

What stuck out to me was the amount of pain and suffering these rowers went thru on a daily basis.

If I was picking someone for BUDs I’d want to know what exactly they did not like about crew.

If it was anything to do with water or pain and suffering that might be a red flag as far as buds.
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I love Halberstam. Could you save me the time of a Google search and share the name of the book?
 
I don't think it was clear to me. Are you an incoming '27 plebe? Or someone still in high school (or college) looking to get into the Academy? An answer to which one would have a significant difference on how to answer the question, I would say.

And, it has been mentioned before, I would hazard a large bunch of incoming kids vowed they wanted to be NSW or a pilot before they entered the Academy. Usually, that has shifted quite a bit by the time they finish Plebe summer, and even more so by the end of the first year.

Then, for those that even attempt the screener in the 2/C year, it is a big "Oh sh-t" moment that changes more minds!

What I'm trying to say is a roundabout version of what the good CAPT said. First, be a good Plebe, a good company/shipmate, in he best shape you can be, a good performer, and academically solid. THEN, worry about whether or not you've got the chops to get into the NSW world.
 
severn said:
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?
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I personally haven’t ran with a ruck or swam intervals yet. However, I’ve been trying to get the fundamentals down for my CSS.

Yes, I can run under a 10:30 but not by a lot.
 
A1Janitor said:
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.
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Can you elaborate on why your son’s interest in SEALs diminished so quickly? Is it because of swimming or did he find another passion?

The endurance team/triathlon team both look like great alternatives to Crew. More than likely I’ll just keep training for PS and Crew and attempt to walk-on during PS. From there I should be able to make a decision on what sport I’ll go with.

One thing at a time :)
 
It was the swimming that sunk his interest.

Subsequently he found out his colorblindness meant he couldn’t do it anyway.
 
One member of the endurance team is going seals this year. 30 total.

I asked my son about what sports future seals did. He said d1 athletes or top athletes in various sports.

Other than that - he basically restated what others have said here.
 
Dragomir said:
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.
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My plebe has a roommate/good friend that is a member of the SOT team (his older brother is already a SEAL). He does not participate in another sport as SOT is very intense and time consuming. I also get the impression that SOT counts for a sport during plebe summer. I don't see how someone could do both a D1 sport and SOT. Just FYI those that participate in SOT seem to be "a special kind of crazy"--I once saw a picture of this kid after a two hour swim in the Severn/Bay and he must have been covered in 200 jellyfish stings. He thought it was a fun day.
 
This is my two cents since I have '26 Plebe. I can only assume that you have a Plebe(s) past and present. Currently my DS is hardcore about becoming a SWO. It's ok. I have not mentioned about going SEAL. I think it's dormant at this point. Although he observed me before exiting and falling from a C130 at12,000 feet. Maybe a visit to the Airborne & Special Operation Museum in Fayetteville, NC will slowly awaken the dormant state.
To graduate from SEAL/SF, one must have this mindset: I have to die first before I quit. You have to kick me out before I quit. It's harsh. Mind over matter. I think a 19-20 year old Mid don't have this because they have no exposure unless they have family members, relatives, or close friends who are spec ops. Finding and having a Seal Mentor and joining a formal/informal community/team (SOT) can give a laser focus on becoming a SEAL. Having a team with the same mindset constantly train together such as distance swimming and road marches. It's a brotherhood. Lastly, once a Mid reaches 2/C, still in SOT, and expects to go SEAL, all comments in this forum must stop. This is the time to practice operational security however anonymous.
 
If you have the skill set and ability to join the crew team, I wouldn’t discount it until you actually try it out here. There is a chance you will really enjoy it based on a different set of coaches/team culture, and make a lot of great friends. All three crew teams are known to have very high academic performance, are successful in pursuing high-ranking billets, and they know how to have fun. Yes, it’s a hard sport, but you may find that you enjoy college rowing more than in high school. You can always switch to another sport if you find it’s not for you, because crew definitely has a well-earned reputation for producing great athletes.
 
Can anyone attest to the Offshore Sailing Team? I’ve heard the team culture is really good and it’s a great opportunity to develop leadership skills.
 
iskekeirhtj said:
Can anyone attest to the Offshore Sailing Team? I’ve heard the team culture is really good and it’s a great opportunity to develop leadership skills.
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While waiting for posts, why not jump on their Insta account and see if you can chat with any team members? Easy google. There is a Naval Academy Offshore Sailing as well as a Sailing Team account.

You will not want for leadership development opportunities at USNA, in company, sports, ECAs or among peers.
 
Capt MJ said:
While waiting for posts, why not jump on their Insta account and see if you can chat with any team members? Easy google. There is a Naval Academy Offshore Sailing as well as a Sailing Team account.

You will not want for leadership development opportunities at USNA, in company, sports, ECAs or among peers.
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Will do. Thank you ma’am.
 
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