Navy Special Warfare — SO, SB, EOD, and ND Requirements
TL;DR — Quick Answer
Navy Special Warfare and Special Operations encompass four ratings: SO (SEAL), SB (Special Warfare Boat Operator/SWCC), EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), and ND (Navy Diver). All require exceptional physical fitness, passing the PST (Physical Screening Test), and completing some of the most demanding training pipelines in the U.S. military.
Pipeline overview
All NSW/NSO candidates begin with a contract guaranteeing them a slot in the training pipeline — this is secured at MEPS based on your ASVAB scores and PST performance. After boot camp, candidates attend a preparatory course (NSW Prep or EOD Prep) at Great Lakes before transferring to their respective training locations. The entire pipeline from boot camp to fleet-ready operator takes 12-30+ months depending on the rating. Attrition is the defining characteristic of these pipelines. BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training) has a historical attrition rate of 70-80% — meaning only 2-3 out of every 10 candidates who start will finish. SWCC, EOD, and Dive School have lower but still significant attrition rates (30-50%).
Physical Screening Test (PST) requirements
The PST is the entry gate for all NSW/NSO programs. The minimum standards for a SEAL contract are: 500-yard swim in under 12:30 (competitive scores are under 9:00), at least 50 push-ups in 2 minutes (competitive: 80+), at least 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes (competitive: 80+), at least 10 pull-ups (competitive: 20+), and a 1.5-mile run in under 10:30 (competitive: under 9:00). Meeting the minimums is not enough to be competitive. NSW mentors and recruiters will tell you that you need to score well above minimums to earn a contract and to have a realistic chance of completing training. Train for 6-12 months before attempting the PST, focusing on swimming, running, and bodyweight exercises.
BUD/S and SWCC training
BUD/S is a 24-week program in Coronado, California, divided into three phases: First Phase (basic conditioning, including the infamous "Hell Week" — five and a half days of continuous physical evolution on minimal sleep), Second Phase (diving and combat swimming), and Third Phase (land warfare). After BUD/S, SEAL candidates complete SQT (SEAL Qualification Training) — an additional 26 weeks of advanced tactics. SWCC training (Basic Crewman Selection/BCS followed by Crewman Qualification Training/CQT) is conducted at the Naval Special Warfare Center. It is shorter than BUD/S but still extremely demanding, with emphasis on small-boat operations, navigation, and weapons. SWCC operators serve in Special Boat Teams conducting insertion/extraction of special operations forces.
EOD and Navy Diver paths
EOD school is located at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and is a joint-service program lasting approximately 52 weeks. EOD technicians learn to identify, render safe, and dispose of all types of ordnance — from conventional bombs to nuclear weapons to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The training is intellectually demanding in addition to being physically rigorous. Navy Diver (ND) training takes place at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida. The 15-week Second Class Diver course covers underwater cutting/welding, salvage operations, and hyperbaric chamber operations. NDs support ship husbandry, underwater construction, and special operations. Both EOD and ND offer excellent post-military career prospects in the defense and commercial diving industries.
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