# Becoming a navy SEAL **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 26, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398 "2003-03-26T23:45:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/1 "2003-03-26T23:45:18Z")
No, stop laughing. I don’t mean me. A Newphew of mine wants to join the navy and be a SEAL. I’d like to assist him, particularly with the recruiters, but don’t think my own experience was completely applicable to what he wants. I was an avionics tech, not a specialty needed in the SEALs at any rate. I already know he can’t join the navy specifically to be a SEAL and I’ll explain that to him. I want to encourage him to get guaranteed training of some kind but the specifics will have to wait until he takes an ASVAB test. I do not want to see him join as an undesignated seaman and just telling him to be a striker for boatswain’s mate becuase I don’t know what else to say isn’t acceptable either. Maybe he _should_ be a boatswain’s mate but I’d really like to find out if there are better ratings for his goals and civilian life job prospects. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/2 "2003-03-27T00:15:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > Maybe he _should_ be a boatswain’s mate but I’d really like to find out if there are better ratings for his goals and civilian life job prospects. \*\* He could look into being one of these guys: [http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/personnel/seabees/seabee1.html](http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/personnel/seabees/seabee1.html) Not only do Seabees learn civillian job skills like welding and heavy equipment operation, they also have to train with the Marines in fundamental combat skills. With that under his belt, if he went from there to SEAL training, he be better prepared than someone who, say, went through fire controlman school. And if he washes out of SEALS, at least he can fall back on those constructions skills. (I tried out for SEALS, but washed-out: I couldn’t bite out any good songs on a row of bicycle horns) ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/3 "2003-03-27T00:31:33Z")
::glares around the room:: First guy with a Boatswain’s Mate joke gets thumped in the head with a well stained coffee mug! Chief Boatswain Mate sends… BT NNNN 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/4 "2003-03-27T00:33:32Z")
You might want to direct him [here](http://www.navy.com/jsp/explore/comunity/seals/index.jsp?cid=29&pid=2) . > [@](#): > > You must qualify for and complete training in a SEAL source rating (Navy career field). You’ll learn the basic skills associated with your rating at Navy “A” School/Intermediate Training. For details, talk with your command Career Counselor (if you’re in the Navy) or a Recruiter. Apparently the SEALs won’t take just any rate or MOS. If he’s serious I’m sure that the recruiter will point him in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/5 "2003-03-27T01:17:02Z")
**Chandeleur** , I did not mean to disparage boatswain’s mates, just pointing out that I was in unfamiliar turf. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/6 "2003-03-27T01:25:16Z")
Thanks \*\* JamesCarroll]/B], finding the term “source rating” gave me the info I was looking for on another search. I was actually a little suprised how wide the possible ratings are. This gives me some fodder to talk to him and find out what his interests are. Yes, I know the recruiter will tell him all this but the recruiter has a vested interest. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/7 "2003-03-27T01:26:00Z")
**Padeye** , I certainly didn’t take it in that manner, I was just funnin’… I’m always up for a little rate bashing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/8 "2003-03-27T01:31:06Z")
'sawright. I was an AQ (order of the flying barstool) so I got no room to make fun of any rates. Except aviation ordinancemen. BB stackers get no slack from me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/9 "2003-03-27T01:32:58Z")
Though Ordinancemen can be SEALS. From [http://www.navysealteams.com/..\Warning.htm](http://www.navysealteams.com/..%5CWarning.htm) Aerographer’s Mate (AG) Aviation Ordinance (AO) Aviation Warfare Systems Operator (AW) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (AB) Boatswain’s Mate (BM) Boiler Technician (BT) Cryptologic Technician (CT) Electrician’s Mate (EM) Electronics Technician (ET) Engineman (EN) Gunner’s Mate (GM) Hospital Corpsman (HM) Hull Maintenance Tecnician (HT) Intelligence Specialist (IS) Interrior Communications Mate (IC) Machinery Repairman (MR) Machinist’s Mate (MM) Mineman (MN) Operations Specialist (OS) Ocean Systems Technician (OT) Ocean Systems Technician Analyst (OTA) Ocean Systems Technician Maintainer (OTM) Photographer’s Mate (PH) Personnelman (PN) Parachute Rigger (PR) Quatermaster (QM) Radioman (RM) Signalman (SM) Sonar Technician (STG) Torpedoman’s Mate ™ Yeoman (YN) ---
**Author:** ![Carcosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@Carcosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carcosa)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/10 "2003-03-27T01:52:06Z")
Interesting. I thought there were some restrictions on CTs becoming SEALS. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/11 "2003-03-27T02:01:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > \*\*No, stop laughing. I don’t mean me. A Newphew of mine wants to join the navy and be a SEAL. I’d like to assist him, particularly with the recruiters, but don’t think my own experience was completely applicable to what he wants. I was an avionics tech, not a specialty needed in the SEALs at any rate. > > I already know he can’t join the navy specifically to be a SEAL and I’ll explain that to him. I want to encourage him to get guaranteed training of some kind but the specifics will have to wait until he takes an ASVAB test. I do not want to see him join as an undesignated seaman and just telling him to be a striker for boatswain’s mate becuase I don’t know what else to say isn’t acceptable either. Maybe he _should_ be a boatswain’s mate but I’d really like to find out if there are better ratings for his goals and civilian life job prospects. \*\* uuuhhh dont you have to be the right species? I saw on the news about those dolpins for the navy (but who ever heard of an Air Force Dolphin?) 😃 Sooooo… does a Boatswains mate ever do it … **OWW!!!** WHO THREW THAT COFFEE MUG??!! ---
**Author:** ![censored](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@censored](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/censored)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becoming-a-navy-seal/164398/12 "2003-03-27T02:53:11Z")
You can go into the Navy with the express intention of becoming a SEAL or SWCC. (Special Warfare Combatant Crewman, if I remember my acronyms correctly.) This is called a SEAL Challenge contract ([http://www.sealchallenge.navy.mil/](http://www.sealchallenge.navy.mil/)). Information, I’m sure, is available there. A motherlode of information on this process is available in the archives of the message board at [http://www.socnetcentral.com/vb](http://www.socnetcentral.com/vb). Just make sure (very sure) if you are going to ask a question that it has NOT been asked before, as the people there are not very kind to newbies who haven’t done their research. Search, search, search.