Special Warfare Recruiters Visit Bahrain

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Jason T. Poplin, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

June 10, 2010 - MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Two Sailors from Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Command Recruiting Directorate in Little Creek, Va., spoke with Sailors at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain, to promote awareness of the special operations communities June 3.

More than 40 Sailors, including Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Daniel Piston, attended the information session to learn about benefits, package submission guidance and requirements.

"I think it would be a good community to be a part of and a fun job to have," said Piston. "The fact that it's strenuous and difficult is what makes it awesome."

According to Special Warfare Boat Operator 1st Class Daniel Hathorn, the visiting directorate's leading petty officer, expanding the Navy's Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) communities to include more personnel is a chief of naval operations' top priority. This expansion entails the addition of 500 SEAL and 163 SWCC operators by fiscal year 2012.

"We are still a voluntary program and NSW is trying to grow its numbers by bringing awareness to a larger number of people," Hathorn said. "A majority of the individuals that want this job are people who want to challenge themselves."

The Navy's special warfare programs have an attrition rate that can run more than 80 percent. The physical demands are not the only obstacles candidates encounter, Hathorn noted. Candidates must possess strong mental fortitude to get through the rigorous preliminary advanced training sessions, in addition to the many schools they will attend.

"They need the will to push through adverse situations," Hathorn said. "They will push themselves further than they ever thought they could."

Since the early 1960s, when the first teams where commissioned, SEALs have distinguished themselves as an individually reliable, collectively disciplined and highly skilled maritime force. To prepare for this, prospective SEALs go to Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S) training, an intense 28-week program designed to develop and test stamina, leadership, and ability to work as a team.

"BUD/S is not a sprint, it's a marathon," Hathorn said. "You have to be ready to knuckle-down for the long-haul of just punishment."

SWCC team candidates utilize specialized training in navigation, radio communications, engineering, weapons, parachuting, first aid and tactics in conjunction with special operations missions worldwide upon completion of Basic Crewman Training and Crewman Qualification Training.

The two NSW representatives also discussed the benefits of joining their community, such as selective re-enlistment bonuses and special monetary allotments that can include parachute jump, dive, demolition, and special duty assignment pay. Other benefits include a multitude of proficiency schools and up to 40 college semester hours awarded.

"As soon as we start talking about special incentives and the fun aspects of being in naval special warfare, a lot of guys' eyes just light up," Hathorn added.

After the brief, Hathorn noted that the Sailors in attendance comprised one of the larger groups he has seen from commands of similar size.

"In the last four months, this group has been the most focused group of individuals that we've talked to," Hathorn said. "I think these Sailors knew what they were getting into and were definitely all about receiving this information."