Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land Forces) are a maritime special operations force of the U.S. Navy. Members of the Navy SEALs must have extreme discipline and endurance to respond successfully to the dangerous operations for which they are trained. Navy SEALs number approximately 1,800, and the U.S. Government is preparing to increase their numbers by 700, in the next three years.CBS News: The Making of a Navy Seal (April 13, 2009)
Navy SEALs sharpshooters were instrumental in the release of Captain Richard Phillips, after shooting three Somali pirates in the head. The pirates were holding the captain hostage on the Maersk Alabama. A fourth pirate turned himself in, prior to the rescue, and is in the custody of the United States.Fox News: Navy SEALs Kill Pirates... (April 12, 2009)
Qualifications
- Must be a part of the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard
- Must be male
- Age range: 18-28
- 20/200 uncorrected vision
- A citizen of the U.S.
- Uninvolved with drug use
- Have good character
- Must pass an aptitude test
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References
Fast Facts
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Navy SEALs began in 1962 as a special operations force of the U.S. Military
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They operate on the sea and land, and in the air
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Sharpshooters are trained to hit a target from a distance of 100 yards and hit within an inch of their targetABC News: T Navy SEALs' Simultaneous Headshots (April 13, 2009)
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Spotters are trained to gauge the conditions before the snipers fireABC News: T Navy SEALs' Simultaneous Headshots (April 13, 2009)
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Other SEALs take the role of a coordinator and make the call for simultaneous shootingABC News: T Navy SEALs' Simultaneous Headshots (April 13, 2009)
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Minimum of 52 weeks of training
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SEALs are divided into teams within platoons
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Headquarters are in California, Virginia and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
