U.S. Navy SEAL (SO): Definitive Guide (2025)

This guide provides useful information for those who desire to become a United States Navy SEAL (Enlisted) in FY 2025.

If you’re considering becoming a Navy SEAL, you’re taking on one of the world’s most exclusive, demanding, and difficult occupations. These aren’t your average troops.

Navy SEALs—members of the United States Navy’s Special Operations Forces—are well-known for their renowned toughness, grueling training regimens, and critical roles in high-stakes military missions.

The Naval Special Warfare Command puts it plainly: SEAL training trains candidates for “unconventional warfare” operations.

That’s military language for achieving what most people believe is impossible.

This guide will teach you all you need to know about SEALs, from what they do and how they train to what life as a SEAL is like.

ENLISTMENT BONUS: Future Navy SEALs are currently eligible to receive up to $15K in cash bonus just for signing up.


What is a Navy Seal?

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A Navy SEAL, which stands for Sea, Air, and Land, is a member of an elite United States Navy organization that specializes in a variety of high-stakes missions. These include direct combat, reconnaissance missions, anti-terrorism operations, and unconventional warfare in some of the world’s most perilous locations.

Not only are SEALs tough, but they are also versatile. SEALs are prepared for every circumstance, whether it is entering enemy territory, diving deep below, or parachuting into dangerous zones.

They’re also skilled collaborators, frequently operating alongside other Special Operations Forces such as Delta Force, Green Berets, and Marine Raiders.

The Navy officially refers to SEALs as Special Warfare Operators (SOs). The variety of skills they are trained in is staggering:

  • Tactical combat entails close-quarters fighting, small-unit tactics, and ground mobility.
  • Advanced diving includes combat diving and operations using SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDVs).
  • Parachuting includes high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) and static-line leaps.
  • Explosives expertise includes demolition and explosive breaching.
  • Intelligence gathering include acquiring and analyzing mission-critical information.
  • Defensive capabilities include chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense.

SEALs operate in every possible setting, including blistering deserts, thick jungles, icy wastes, and urban battlegrounds. They are prepared to go wherever the task may lead them.

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What Do Navy SEALs Actually Do?

Navy SEALs take on some of the military’s most difficult missions. Their operations frequently entail infiltrating enemy territory, capturing or destroying high-value targets, and gathering intelligence in difficult, restricted regions. Here’s an overview of their primary responsibilities:

  • Special Reconnaissance is the collection of essential intelligence behind enemy lines, frequently in conditions where drones or satellites are ineffective.Counter-terrorism is neutralizing terrorist threats or stopping attacks before they occur.
  • Direct Action: High-risk operations like as raids, sabotage, and capture of enemy soldiers.
  • Training Allies: Collaborating with foreign military forces, such as the Philippine Naval Special Operations Group, to enhance allied capabilities.
  • Underwater demolition is the use of explosives to destroy hostile structures and barriers.

SEALs also work with specialist units, including:

  • Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) are experts in marine mobility.
  • Naval Special Warfare Groups: Units such as Group 2 or DEVGRU (also known as “SEAL Team 6”) conduct the Navy’s most sensitive operations.

If a perilous task needs accuracy, stealth, and innovation, SEALs are the ones to call.

Also Read: The Navy Warrior Challenge: Complete Guide

What Makes Special Warfare Unique?

Here’s the thing: SEALs aren’t simply tough; they can also be invisible when necessary. By the time you know a SEAL team was present, they had already finished their objective and departed.

Their stealth and efficiency are famous, and their operations frequently include what most people would consider impossible.

For example, one day you may be swimming out of a torpedo tube. The next moment you’re parachuting from a chopper into hostile territory at night.

SEALs train in a range of locations, including hot deserts, freezing highlands, dense jungles, and urban conflict zones.

Their missions may require traveling by:

  • Glider or Parachute: Silent air invasion.
  • Submarines and small boats: navigating dangerous waters.
  • Combat Swimming: Underwater advances to hostile territory.
  • Foot Patrol: Trekking miles across tough terrain, typically carrying large loads.
  • Teamwork is essential for SEALs.

They work in units of different sizes, such as:

  • Task Units are 32-person teams.
  • Platoons are 16-person squads.
  • Squads are 8-person teams.
  • Swim Buddies: Two-person couples (believe me, you’re never alone).

Whether conducting surveillance, raids, or rescue operations, SEALs rely on their training, technology, and one another to complete the objective.

Rank Structure

Pay Grade Rating Abbreviation Rate
E-4 Special Warfare Operator Third Class SO3 Petty Officer Third Class
E-5 Special Warfare Operator Second Class SO2 Petty Officer Second Class
E-6 Special Warfare Operator First Class SO1 Petty Officer First Class
E-7 Chief Special Warfare Operator SOC Chief Petty Officer
E-8 Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator SOCS Senior Chief Petty Officer
E-9 Master Chief Special Warfare Operator SOCM Master Chief Petty Officer

Navy SEALs don’t have specific E-1 to E-3 ranks. Candidates come from the Navy or straight from civilian life, but they’re not SEALs yet. First, they have to go through BUD/S—grueling training. Only after that, and more training, do they have a chance to earn their trident.

Until then, they hold standard Navy ranks: Seaman Recruit (SR), Seaman Apprentice (SA), or Seaman (SN). No “Special Warfare Operator” title. That only comes at E-4 (SO3) after completing SEAL training.

How Much Do Navy SEALs Earn?

Let’s discuss about payment. SEALs don’t sign up for the money, but they’re highly rewarded for the dangers they incur. Here’s an overview of the 2025 pay structure for enlisted personnel:

The following paygrades ranges from under 2 years to over 8 years.

Pay Grade< 2 Years2-4 Years4-6 Years6-8 Years8+ Years
E-4$2,752.20$2,892.90$3,049.80$3,204.30$3,341.40
E-5$3,001.50$3,203.70$3,358.80$3,517.20$4,021.80
E-6$3,276.60$3,606.00$3,765.00$3,919.80$4,443.90
Source: 2025 Military Active Duty Pay Chart

In addition to basic salary, Navy SEALs get the following benefits:

  • Dive Pay and Hazardous Duty Pay: Additional compensation for high-risk jobs.
  • Housing Allowances (BAH): Adjusted based on your station.
  • Comprehensive Health Insurance: For you and your family.
  • Education Benefits: This includes the Post-9/11 GI Bill and tuition help.
  • Retirement benefits include a full pension after 20 years of employment.

You will also have the opportunity to travel abroad, with duty stations in countries such as:

  • Coronado Naval Amphibious Base is in California.
  • Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
  • Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek is located in Virginia.

How to Become a Navy SEAL

Here’s when things become real. Becoming a SEAL is more than simply passing a few exams; it’s about demonstrating your ability to survive some of the most difficult training on the planet.

Navy SEAL Requirements Summary

SEAL Challenge candidates need to be mature, motivated, and confident. They must follow orders, handle stress, and work in dangerous conditions. Physical fitness is key—they must be ready for the tough demands of working in the water. Swimming well and pushing through fatigue are big factors in completing training. They also need to have impeccable study habits, learning skills, and a solid grasp of math (arithmetic and basic algebra). Mechanical skills and good hand coordination are important too. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and able to qualify for a security clearance.

Basic Requirements

To qualify, you must:

  • Be a United States citizen
  • Be between the ages of 18 and 28 (with exemptions allowed up to 30)
  • Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) with any of the following score combinations:
    • VE + AR = 108 and MC = 50 and AR + MK = 100; or
    • VE + MK + MC + CS = 216 and AR + MK = 100; or
    • GS + MC + EI = 167 and AR + MK = 100; or
    • VE + AR + MK + AO = 216 and AR + MK = 100
  • Pass the Physical Screening Test (PST)

The PST will assess your endurance, strength, and general physical fitness. Here is what you’ll need to accomplish:

  • Swim: 500 yards in under 12 minutes and 30 seconds
  • Push-ups: At least 50 in two minutes
  • Sit-ups: At least 50 in two minutes
  • Pull-Ups: A minimum of ten (no time limit)
  • Run: 1.5 miles in under 10 minutes and 30 seconds

Step-by-Step Process for Becoming a Navy SEAL

Once you’ve met the basic prerequisites and passed the Physical Screening Test (PST), here’s how you may earn your SEAL Trident:

  1. Speak with a recruiter. Visit your local Navy recruiting office to talk about your eligibility and career ambitions. They’ll help you assess if you qualify for the SEAL Challenge Contract, which guarantees you a spot in SEAL training.
  2. Complete Recruit Training. All potential SEALs begin in the Navy’s ten-week Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. This phase establishes the foundations of military discipline, physical fitness, and collaboration.
  3. SEAL Challenge Contract. With this contract, you will have formally secured a seat in the SEAL training pipeline. But remember, this is only the beginning.
  4. Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal (BUD/S) Training. Welcome to what many see as the most demanding military training in the world. BUD/S is a 24-week program that tests your body and mind to their maximum limits. Here’s an overview of the phases:
    1. The first phase (physical conditioning) evaluates and improves your endurance, strength, and mental toughness. You’ll go through the famed Hell Week, a 5.5-day marathon of constant physical difficulties, cold water immersion, and severe sleep deprivation. Expect to be wet, chilly, and very weary.
    2. Second Phase (Combat Diving): You’ll learn how to use SCUBA equipment and carry out underwater operations while learning both open-circuit (standard) and closed-circuit (stealth) diving techniques.
    3. The third phase (Land Warfare) concentrates on small-unit tactics, navigation, demolition, and marksmanship.
    4. The dropout rate during BUD/S is astonishing; just around 25% of applicants pass.
  5. Parachute Jump School. Following BUD/S, applicants attend Jump School to master military parachuting tactics, including HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) jumps. These talents are required for clandestine air insertions.
  6. SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). SQT is the final stage before formally receiving your SEAL Trident. This 26-week curriculum improves advanced fighting abilities, such as:
    1. Advanced firearm handling and marksmanship.
    2. Close quarters fighting.
    3. Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training.
    4. Advanced diving and parachuting skills.
    5. At the completion of SQT, you’ll attend a graduation ceremony and receive the coveted SEAL Trident, which will mark your formal acceptance into the SEAL community.
  7. Pre-deployment Training. Before deployment, new SEALs get an extra 18 months of specialized training with their assigned units. This training prepares soldiers for the specialized obstacles of each mission area, such as desert warfare, jungle survival, or urban battle.

A Day in the Life of a Navy SEAL

A Navy SEAL doesn’t have a “typical” day. Your daily schedule will vary depending on whether you are training, preparing for deployment, or actually carrying out operations. However, here’s an overview of what you can encounter:

  • Mornings frequently begin with strenuous physical routines such as swimming, jogging, weightlifting, and team endurance exercises. Maintaining optimum physical condition isn’t optional; it’s required.
  • Tactical exercises include live-fire drills, underwater navigation practice, and parachute jumps. SEALs continually hone their fighting and tactical abilities.
  • Equipment Maintenance: Making sure weapons, vehicles, and specialized equipment are mission-ready is an important component of the job.
  • Mission Briefings: SEALs often attend briefings to plan future missions and cooperate with other units such as Special Boat Teams and allied troops.
  • Team Bonding: SEAL teams function like a family. Building trust and coherence via ongoing collaboration is critical to success in high-pressure situations.
  • When implemented, the timetable becomes even less predictable. You may spend days planning a task, only to complete it in hours—and then rapidly reorganize for the next challenge.
  • Watch the video below to see a glimpse of what SEALs do:

Special Warfare Training: Pushing Beyond Limitations

Navy SEAL training is meant to knock down even the strongest men and rebuild them into exceptional fighters.

Every step of training, from the minute you start BUD/S to the day you earn your Trident, puts your physical and mental strength to the test.

New recruits learn the basics of Naval Special Warfare through formal Navy schooling and hands-on training. SEAL candidates go through four phases of training held in Coronado, CA, and other locations.

This is a summary of the training pipeline after recruit training:


Naval Special Warfare Orientation (NSWO)

  • Location: Coronado, CA
  • Training Time: 7 weeks
  • Subjects: Prepares SEAL and SWCC candidates physically for First Phase and BCS.
  • Training Methods: Group/individual instruction, classroom, and practical exercises.

Basic Underwater Demolition/School (BUD/S) Phase 1

  • Location: Coronado, CA
  • Training Time: 7 weeks
  • Subjects: Prepares candidates for “Hell Week,” focusing on teamwork and endurance.
  • Training Methods: Group/individual instruction, classroom, and practical exercises.

BUD/S Phase 2 & 3

  • Location: Coronado, CA
  • Training Time: 14 weeks
  • Subjects: Physical conditioning, small boat handling, diving physics, basic scuba (open/closed circuit), land warfare, weapons, demolitions, communications, and hydrographic reconnaissance.
  • Training Methods: Group/individual instruction, classroom, and practical exercises.

SEAL Qualification Training (SQT)

  • Location: Coronado, CA
  • Training Time: 26 weeks
  • Subjects: Core Naval Special Warfare tactical knowledge and skills to safely and effectively integrate into a SEAL Platoon.
  • Training Methods: Group/individual instruction, classroom, and practical exercises.

Training does not end after you become a SEAL. Throughout your career, you’ll be involved in ongoing training and joint exercises with other elite groups such as Delta Force, Air Force PJs, Army Rangers, and Royal Marines.

Career Opportunities and Post-Service Options

Becoming a Navy SEAL is about more than simply defending your nation; it’s also about opening up new options. Whether you continue your military career or return to civilian life, the talents you gain as a SEAL will set you apart.

Over 20 years, SEALs spend roughly 75% of their time with operational Teams and the other 25% at Naval Special Warfare training or staff commands.

They get advanced training in many areas, including demolition, weapons, diving, communications, intelligence, Jump Master (Static Line/Military Free-Fall), foreign languages, Scout/Sniper skills, and other specialized abilities.

Military Advancement

Enlisted SEALs can advance through the ranks, assuming leadership positions such as:

PaygradeTitleRating
E-4Petty Officer Third ClassSO3
E-5Petty Officer Second ClassSO2
E-6Petty Officer First ClassSO1
E-7Chief Petty OfficerSOC
E-8Senior Chief Petty OfficerSOCS
E-9Master Chief Petty OfficerSOCM

Those who thrive may even advance to officer roles, heading whole SEAL teams or Special Operations Task Forces.

Civilian Careers

The skills learned as a SEAL apply well to civilian occupations, including:

  • Personal security or executive protection.
  • Federal agencies include the FBI and CIA.
  • Entrepreneurship and business leadership.
  • Public speaking, consulting, and motivational coaching.

Many former SEALs are in high demand in businesses that emphasize discipline, leadership, and tenacity.

Usual Duty Stations

Navy SEALs are stationed at some of the Navy’s most modern facilities, including:

  • Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California.
  • Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Virginia.
  • Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

These bases serve as focal points for training, mission planning, and cooperation with other Special Operations forces.

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

Becoming a Navy SEAL is more than just a professional option; it represents a dedication to excellence, sacrifice, and service. If you’re ready to push your body and mind to their limits, start preparing to become a Navy SEAL.

You may also be interested in the following high-speed, low-drag Navy Enlisted jobs:

For more details, contact your local Navy recruiter or visit the official Navy SEAL website.

Ted Kingston
I’m a Navy veteran who used to serve as a Navy recruiter. This website is the most reliable source of information for all Enlisted Navy Sailor aspirants. In coordination with a network of current and former Navy recruiters, my goal is to make reliable information easily available to you so you can make informed career decisions.

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