# Are you tough enough to be a Navy SEAL? Here's what you've got to be able to do **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 5, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889 "2005-10-05T14:50:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/1 "2005-10-05T14:50:42Z")
[PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARDS](http://www.navyseals.com/community/navyseals/navysealworkout_main.cfm) [Educational Aptitude Standards](http://www.navyseals.com/community/recruit/requirements.cfm) > [@](#): > > PHYSICAL EVOLUTION REQUIRED TIME > FIRST PHASE > > 50 meter underwater swim PASS/FAIL > Underwater knot tying PASS/FAIL > Drown proofing test PASS/FAIL > Basic Lifesaving test PASS/FAIL > 1200 meter pool swim with fins 45 min > 1 mile bay swim with fins 50 min > 1 mile ocean swim with fins 50 min > 1 l/2 mile ocean swim with fins 70 min > 2 mile ocean swim with fins 95 min > Obstacle course 15 min > 4 mile timed run 32 min > > POST HELL WEEK > > 2000 meter conditioning pool swim without fins Completion > 1 1/2 mile night bay swim with fins Completion > 2 mile ocean swim with fins 85 min > 4 mile timed run 32 min > Obstacle course 13 min > > SECOND PHASE > > 2 mile ocean swim with fins 80 min > 4 mile timed run (in boots) 31 min > Obstacle course 10:30 > 3 I/2 mile ocean swim with fins Completion > 5 1/2 mile ocean swim with fins Completion > > THIRD PHASE > > Obstacle course 10 min > 4 mile timed run (in boots) 30 min > 14 mile run Completion > 2 mile ocean swim with fins 75 min > > Academic standards are required on written tests before graduation from BUD/S are: > 80% or above for officers 70% or above for enlisted > [@](#): > > ASVAB Requirements > > During the enlistment process you will be required to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Your scores on these tests determine the rates for which you are eligible. You must score well enough to qualify for the SEAL program, as well as the SEAL source rate (“A” School) of your choice. > > Your recruiter can arrange for you to take a pre-ASVAB test. The pre-ASVAB will identify weaknesses in your performance and enable you to undertake remedial work, if necessary. In addition, several books are available to help you prepare for the ASVAB test. Check your high school or public library, or your local book store. Alternatively, use one of the popular web search engines and search on the following string: “armed services vocational aptitude battery.” > > The ASVAB is broken down into several categories. To be eligible for BUD/S, you must combine the “AR” and “VE” categories and your score must be 104 or higher. You must also get a score of 50 or higher in the “MC” category. At this time, there is a 5 point waiver (for all categories combined), should your score be below our requirements. > > If you need more than 5 points, you must retake the ASVAB. Take this test seriously and study for it. If you score lower, then those lower scores will stand, so study. > > The ASVAB is a series of 10 mini tests maintained by the Department of Defense. The ASVAB is made up of tests in the following subject areas: > > Word Knowledge > Paragraph Comprehension > Mathematics Knowledge > Arithmetic Reasoning > General Science > Auto and Shop Information > Mechanical Comprehension > Electronics Information > Numerical Operations > Coding Speed ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/2 "2005-10-05T15:03:18Z")
I’m so out of shape, I couldn’t finish reading the list. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/3 "2005-10-05T15:17:07Z")
With a week or two of prep, I could probably pass all of that save the swimming, which I would fail dramatically considering I can’t swim, or barely even float. 🙂 I’d make a terrible SEAL. ---
**Author:** ![Taran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Taran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taran)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/4 "2005-10-05T15:31:24Z")
That last category in the ASVAB interests me. Surely “coding speed” doesn’t mean “the rate at which the applicant can program computers”, but then what _does_ it mean? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/5 "2005-10-05T15:31:24Z")
I got a 98 overall on the ASVAB\*, so I 'd certainly make it on that end. I’m completely out of shape and never ever ever make it on the physical end. Even if I could, Navy SEALS are really, really scary and I think I’d rather just stay away from them 😛 \*Don’t ask how that happened. I showed up at highschool one day and they were like, “Everyone is taking the ASVAB!” Me: “But, I don’t want to be in the military!” “Too bad!” I ended up with 98 on all the sections; except mechanical, where I got 99. I also don’t know how that happened, as I know nothing about mechanics. Anywho, long story short, I am still pestered by the military 4 years later. Good times! ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/6 "2005-10-05T15:33:04Z")
Wait, apparently not. I thought the ASVAB was out of 100? Are there two parts? Have I lost my mind? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/7 "2005-10-05T15:34:53Z")
I took it in high school too. Got a 99. 😛 Just kidding. (Though I really did take it and really did get a 99) -foxy ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/8 "2005-10-05T15:36:59Z")
I would guess it’s Morse code. > [@Taran](#): > > That last category in the ASVAB interests me. Surely “coding speed” doesn’t mean “the rate at which the applicant can program computers”, but then what _does_ it mean? ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/9 "2005-10-05T15:42:02Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Wait, apparently not. I thought the ASVAB was out of 100? Are there two parts? Have I lost my mind? :eek: There’s about 9 parts, each scored on a percentage scale and then somehow a cumulative score is acheived. Like the ACTs. -foxy ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/10 "2005-10-05T15:46:19Z")
The only way I’d make a good seal is if someone used my fat ass to plug a leak! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/11 "2005-10-05T15:47:39Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > There’s about 9 parts, each scored on a percentage scale and then somehow a cumulative score is acheived. Like the ACTs. > > -foxy Or apparantly, upon review, 10 parts. :smack: **F. U. Shakespeare** - not morse code, just general coding ability. “If A = B what does the following passage say?” J Mpwf uif TENC A. Nothing discernible B. I love New York C. I love the SDMB D. I hate cat dogs -foxy ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/12 "2005-10-05T15:57:59Z")
At this point I doubt I’m tough enough to be a circus seal. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/13 "2005-10-05T16:03:06Z")
Give me four weeks training at the open water swim stuff and yeah, I could do that, no problem. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/14 "2005-10-05T16:11:01Z")
I could do it. All they have to do is change the swimming requirements to “becomes wet when submersed” ---
**Author:** ![Taran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Taran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taran)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/15 "2005-10-05T16:11:47Z")
**ladyfoxfyre** : That makes sense, thanks. Wouldn’t that technically be a cipher, though? ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/16 "2005-10-05T16:17:38Z")
There’s loads of stuff that I read they make you do that isn’t in that list. Like sitting in the surf for hours until your skin is worn off by the sand, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/17 "2005-10-05T16:20:18Z")
> [@Taran](#): > > That last category in the ASVAB interests me. Surely “coding speed” doesn’t mean “the rate at which the applicant can program computers”, but then what _does_ it mean? It’s been dropped. > [@http://www.military.com/ASVAB](#): > > Note: Until recently, “Numerical Operations” and “Coding Speed” were also administered on ASVAB, but have been dropped. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/18 "2005-10-05T18:19:33Z")
That makes no sense, the 1200 meter swim in a pool in 45 minutes with fins is way too long, while doing an extra 400 meters in five minutes in open water? I’m pretty sure if you can’t do the 1200 meters you are never going to do a mile. Plus with fins you’d really be moving so I could do all of the swimming, except the underwater part without fins, right now. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/19 "2005-10-05T18:21:55Z")
I didn’t see anything on there about having a club-resistant skull…with all the training costs and everything you’d think that would be a requirement up front. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889/20 "2005-10-05T18:24:11Z")
Oh, good God, that was painful. No Village People dancing on the decks for me. _looks woefully at self_☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tough-enough-to-be-a-navy-seal-heres-what-youve-got-to-be-able-to-do/324889.md?page=2)