Defense Secretary meets future Navy SEALs

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Gahlau, Naval Special Warfare Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The visit was part of an itinerary that included stops at several military installations in San Diego Aug. 12-13.

Gates met candidates of Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea, Air and Land (BUD/S) class 284 as they were training on the beach during what is known as 'Hell Week.'

"First of all you volunteered for the Navy and then you volunteered for this," said Gates to the class.

After praising the class, Gates officially secured them from their 107-hour ordeal. During Hell Week, candidates endure constant stressful training with little sleep, which is why it is considered one of the most arduous evolutions of the 50-week SEAL candidate training at the Center. Long distance swims, small boat handling and navigation, strength conditioning drills and other teamwork-building exercises are conducted night and day until the candidates are given permission to secure from training, usually by a major official.

"You are the best and we are in a tough fight, and I wish you the very best. " said Gates. "Class 284 you're secured from Hell Week!"

"The Navy has made recruiting high-quality SEAL candidates a top priority," said Naval Special Warfare Center Commanding Officer Capt. Bill Wilson. "The students now arriving are the best prepared physically and mentally we've seen.

"Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson has personally become involved in assuring we are well-resourced and we appreciate his leadership immensely," Wilson said.

Gates was sworn in Dec. 18, 2006, as the 22nd SECDEF. He is the only SECDEF in U.S. history to be asked to remain in office be a newly elected president.

Naval special warfare is the maritime component of U.S. Special Operations Command and is the Navy's special operations force. The community is composed of more than 7,500 personnel, including 2,300 SEALs and 600 special warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC), along with military support personnel, Reserve components and civilian staff. SEALs and SWCC focus on missions involving irregular warfare, direct action, anti-terrorism, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, information warfare, security assistance, counter-drug operations, personnel recovery and hydrographic reconnaissance.