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Special Operations

navy_or_bust

New Member
I am working on my app and trying to decide my top 3. I am pretty sure NA and NFO are on there but I am interested in Special operations. The problem I am having is that whenever I search for info on this topic it only comes up with info on SEAL. Does someone have a good link describing the pipeline and career outlook. Also, how selective is this community? How often does the board meet and how many selects do they make? I will be applying BDCP if that affects it.
 

utak

Registered User
There is no BDCP program for Special Warfare (SEALs). It is a very selective community. Yes, there is a major surge in recruiting to get more people into BUD/S, you can check it out yourself at www.navy.com/seals . But most of the recruiting efforts are to get more enlisted into the program, the Teams need trigger pullers (and being a trigger puller is all what the Teams are about). There are virtually no new officer recruiting efforts, because there are really no great need for more SEAL officers. There's only about 10-12 OCS spots a fiscal year for BUD/S, give or take. Board selects twice a year.

That being said . . . if you want to go Special Warfare, be sure that you 1) train hard and 2) have a backup plan if something happens. A good half of all the enlisted men in my BUD/S Class already had bachelors and master degrees. And only about 10-20% actually finish the program, so it's not too hard to see how many of those will go out to the fleet as a junior seaman. I was one of the lucky (and very) few and got picked up for OCS pretty fast, almost everyone else I know with a bachelors who didn't make it is still trapped in the Fleet chipping paint.

If you want more info, I would suggest you head over to SOCNET at www.socnetcentral.com and search for your answers there. Do tread lightly and think before you post cause the Team guys over there will virtually-analy rape you if you say something gay/stupid/ill-researched.
 

Scoob

If you gotta problem, yo, I'll be part of it.
pilot
Contributor
I got news for you. Neither Aviation or Special Warfare is going to select someone who listed their community second.

I got more news for you. If you're "pretty sure" that NA and NFO are in your top choices, and "interested" in Special Operations, you're not likely to make it through the training program for either.

Figure out what exactly you want to do, and then chase it with everything you've got. There's no room to half-ass this stuff and get anywhere.

If you're "Navy or Bust" but nothing else - go SWO. That's as Navy as you'll find it.
 

VetteMuscle427

is out to lunch.
None
There is no BDCP program for Special Warfare (SEALs). It is a very selective community. Yes, there is a major surge in recruiting to get more people into BUD/S, you can check it out yourself at www.navy.com/seals . But most of the recruiting efforts are to get more enlisted into the program, the Teams need trigger pullers (and being a trigger puller is all what the Teams are about). There are virtually no new officer recruiting efforts, because there are really no great need for more SEAL officers. There's only about 10-12 OCS spots a fiscal year for BUD/S, give or take. Board selects twice a year.

That being said . . . if you want to go Special Warfare, be sure that you 1) train hard and 2) have a backup plan if something happens. A good half of all the enlisted men in my BUD/S Class already had bachelors and master degrees. And only about 10-20% actually finish the program, so it's not too hard to see how many of those will go out to the fleet as a junior seaman. I was one of the lucky (and very) few and got picked up for OCS pretty fast, almost everyone else I know with a bachelors who didn't make it is still trapped in the Fleet chipping paint.

If you want more info, I would suggest you head over to SOCNET at www.socnetcentral.com and search for your answers there. Do tread lightly and think before you post cause the Team guys over there will virtually-analy rape you if you say something gay/stupid/ill-researched.

I believe he might be talking Spec Ops... like SWCC type stuff. Not Spec War. Unfortunately I don't have any useful info. I do know a couple of guys that got attached to them as Intel & Supply. But nothing about being a true Spec Ops officer.
 

Scoob

If you gotta problem, yo, I'll be part of it.
pilot
Contributor
I believe he might be talking Spec Ops... like SWCC type stuff. Not Spec War. Unfortunately I don't have any useful info.
The SWCC track for officers is called SWO. Of course, he could also be looking for EOD?
 

utak

Registered User
The SWCC guys lived with us in the same barracks, and I've never saw an officer as part of their SWCC Class. The OICs of SBU units and detachments do tend to be straight up SEAL officers.

EOD officers used to be called Special Operations, but they recently changed that to straight up EOD.
 

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Navy SpecOps and SpecWar are different. SpecWar is SEALs and Special Boat guys, SpecOps is EOD and the divers...which are you asking about?

There's also the RIVRON small boat guys...their O's are mostly SWOs, and there's talk of making it a seperate career path for both O's and E's.
 

Stearmann4

I'm here for the Jeeehawd!
None
Special Warfare consists of SEALs and SWCC. With the exception of the newly created SWCC CWO track, all SWCC OICs/officers are SEALs as well. (That's a dreaded 2 years of your career).

Special Operations refers to EOD and various diving NECs such as deep sea and salvage. There's usually confusion because special operations is the catch all term for SpecWar.

I wouldn't recommend pursuing BUD/S (or any other career field) casually. Within the first day of 1st Phase, After some practice, I could pretty much pick out the guys who wanted to be SEALs, verses the ones who just wanted to wear the Golden Leg Spreader and say they were SEALs.

Coincidentally, while flight school may not be as physical as BUD/S, it takes just as much mental discipline to do it well. Being wishy washy at either will send you to the same gray, bobbing boat doing a job they couldn't get some other squared away guy to do.
 

Scoob

If you gotta problem, yo, I'll be part of it.
pilot
Contributor
Being wishy washy at either will send you to the same gray, bobbing boat doing a job they couldn't get some other squared away guy to do.
Oooooohhhh...harsh!!!


I like it.:icon_smil
 

hobiesailor13

New Member
pilot
I got news for you. Neither Aviation or Special Warfare is going to select someone who listed their community second.

That's actually not true, I'm living proof since aviation was my third choice for service selection. Long story attached to it, but I had never been around anything aviation except for fast roping and jumping out of SH60s until I got to API. I was never "wishy washy" about it, I just wanted something else, but since I've been in the pipeline, I've had no regrets, have worked hard(well, as hard as studs usually do) and have gotten everything I have tried for so far. Bottom line, if you don't get your first choice, you're not necessarily going to get sent to a ship, but you will have to work at whatever you get like it was your first choice.
 

Scoob

If you gotta problem, yo, I'll be part of it.
pilot
Contributor
I was never "wishy washy" about it, I just wanted something else, but since I've been in the pipeline, I've had no regrets, have worked hard(well, as hard as studs usually do) and have gotten everything I have tried for so far.
If you'd like, I could give you a pat on the head, and a plate of cookies and milk.
 

navy_or_bust

New Member
I am "not" looking to go special warfare which was the common misconception that makes is hard to find any information. I was more interested in salvage diver which on http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/noru/orojt/generalofficer.htm is listed under "special operations". In another thread I heard that that page might me outdated. Anyway the pipeline listed there does no mention buds or the coveted trident which I am not after. I do understand that there is cross community mission and special operations may fall under different Special operation commands. Any way, I am sure that at least this point in time I probably wouldn't be able to make it through bud/s.

Is this the pipe line and could some one provide a link describing each portion? I do not know what DIVO, SWOS, and ND/STC are. Thanks.
- OCS (12 wks)
- DIVO (6-10 months)
- SWOS (4-6 wks)
- Complete DIVO tour
- ND/STC(18 wks)
- EOD School (51wks)
 
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