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U.S. Navy SEALs


SEALs in from the water
U.S. Navy SEALs Photo


Insignia

Official force name

U.S. Navy SEALs
U.S. Navy BUD/S
SEALs

Nickname

Frogmen

Branch

U.S. Navy

Chain of Command

U.S. Navy Special Warfare Command
NAVSPECWARCOM

Description

Versatile Sea, Air or Land Special Operations Force, mainly trained for Basic Underwater Demolition (BUD).

Readiness

Each team can deploy anywhere in the world with 18 hours notice.

Specializations

Conducting Airborne operations, conducting direct action operations, conducting raids, counter-terrorism, hydographic recoinnasance, infiltrating and exfiltrating by sea, air or land, intelligence, recovery of personnel and special equipment, support of general purpose forces (GPF), underwater demolition.

Headquarters

Naval Special Warfare Command
San Diego, California
United States of America

Insertion date

Traced back to 1943, but officially commisioned in April 16, 1987.

Reason of creation

U.S. Navy need for demolition of naval mines and beach obstacles.

The United States Navy SEALs are the U.S. Navy premier Special Operations Force (SOF). The force specialize in Basic Underwater Demolition (BUD) and SEa, Air, or Land (SEAL) operations. SEAL Teams go through what is considered by some to be the toughest military training in the world.

Table of contents
1 Force fact file
2 Famous Navy SEALs
3 Movies
4 Related Topics
5 External links
6 References

Force fact file

The U.S. Navy's premier Special Operations Force are the SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) teams that trace their history to the first group of volunteers selected from the Naval Construction Battalions (SeaBees) in the spring of 1943. These volunteers were organized into special teams called ‘Navy Combat Demolition Units’ (NCDUs). The units were tasked with reconnoitering and clearing beach obstacles for troops going ashore during amphibious landings, and evolved into Combat Swimmer Reconnaissance Units.

The NCDUs distinguished themselves during World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. In 1947, the Navy organized its first underwater offensive strike units. During the Korean Conflict, these Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) took part in the landing at Inchon as well as other missions including demolition raids on bridges and tunnels accessible from the water. They also conducted limited minesweeping operations in harbors and rivers.

During the 1960s, each branch of the armed forces formed its own counterinsurgency force. The Navy utilized UDT personnel to form separate units called SEAL teams. January of 1962 marked the commissioning of SEAL Team ONE in the Pacific Fleet and SEAL Team TWO in the Atlantic Fleet. These teams were developed to conduct unconventional warfare, counter-guerrilla warfare and clandestine operations in both blue and brown water environments.


SEAL jumps over the side from boat
U.S. Navy SEALs Photo

Concurrently, Naval Operations Support Groups were formed to aid UDTs, SEALs, and two other unique units —Boat Support and Beach Jumpers— in administration, planning, research, and development. During the Vietnam War, UDTs performed reconnaissance missions and SEALs carried out numerous offensive operations. In 1967, the Naval Operations Support Groups were renamed ‘Naval Special Warfare Groups’ (NSWGs) as involvement increased in limited conflicts and special operations.

In 1983, existing UDTs were re-designated as ‘SEAL teams’ or ‘SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams’ and the requirement for hydrographic reconnaissance and underwater demolition became ‘SEAL missions’.

The Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned April 16, 1987, at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, California. Its mission is to prepare Naval Special Warfare forces to carry out their assigned missions and to develop special operations strategy, doctrine, and tactics.

SEALs (Sea, Air, Land) teams go through what is considered by some to be the toughest military training in the world. Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training is conducted at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado. Students encounter obstacles that develop and test their stamina, leadership and ability to work as a team.

Famous Navy SEALs

See also: List of actors who played Navy SEALs at movies.

Movies

GI Jane, Tears of the Sun.

Related Topics

External links


SEALs in woodlands operation
U.S. Navy SEALs Photo

Official sites

Former Navy SEALs websites

References