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Navy SEAL Training Pipeline Pathways

Special operations forces attract a special breed of soldier. The true SOF hopeful is precisely focused, tirelessly motivated, and fully committed to their goal. Whether trying to secure Navy SEAL Hell Week, make it through Army Q Course, or push through the lengthy Air Force “Superman School,” the SOF candidate is defined by an urge to join the ranks of America’s most elite fighting forces. The relatively small number of officer billets in these communities makes the pool of applicants vying for them all the more competitive. Especially for special operations communities that can be directly entered without years of military service, like the Navy SEALS, the melee for an officer spot is fierce. This accessibility makes their selection all the more ruthless and raises concerns about which qualified SEAL candidates get the nod for a shot at BUD/s. Excluding the unicorn lateral transfer, SEAL officer candidates come from three main pools: the US Naval Academy, Officer Candidate School (OCS), and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs at conventional colleges.

The Academy is expectedly to be a powerhouse for producing qualified candidates. It’s no secret that most of the Navy water polo team has their sights set on becoming SEALS, or they very often reach that goal. At an institution organized around creating model naval officers, it’s not a surprise that the students (especially the student-athletes) at the Academy are strong contenders for limited SEAL officer spots at BUDS. USNA gives them all the support they can, from SEAL-specific workout groups to special warfare-specific mentorship. When the Academy guys show up at SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection (SOAS), the final two-week “boot camp” filter before officially entering the SEAL training program, they often excel among their peers from other commissioning pathways.

A high school wrestler challenges a member of the special warfare community to a race up the cargo net at the Navy SEAL Accelerator during the National High School Wrestling Championships at the Virginia Beach Convention center. The accelerator offered high school wrestlers from around the country the opportunity to see some of the career choices the Navy has to offer. (Source: US Navy)

That’s not to say that becoming a SEAL officer is hopeless if you’re not coming from the Academy. Pathways to the commission, like OCS or ROTC, offer advantages and a unique group of qualified candidates. For one, not everyone can get into the Academy. The application process is complicated, requiring high school applicants to earn an elusive congressional nomination, sit for an interview, and complete a lengthy online form. For another, only some people who hope to be a SEAL want to attend the Academy. Four years at a military school is not for everyone. The intense 12-week OCS course attracts candidates with college degrees who want to enter the NSW pipeline as soon as possible. ROTC provides the option for a traditional college education and experience as a candidate prepares to join the Navy. The flexibility of OCS or ROTC appeals to those unable to attend the Academy or those uninterested in attending a service academy (think of the Ivy League rower-turned-SEAL trope). There’s a case to be made for the diverse perspectives developed in experiences outside of the structured USNA system, be they from a “normal” college experience or civilian OCS candidates. SOF prides itself on creativity and adaptive problem-solving. The Academy produces qualified, even overqualified, candidates but can impress upon them a rigid, uniform approach to being a naval officer.

San Diego-area high school students participate in log physical training during the third annual Navy SEAL Invitational hosted by the Navy SEAL & SWCC Scout Team. The Scout Team provides mental and physical training for different athletic teams with the goal of creating awareness for careers in Naval Special Warfare. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Conor Minto/Released)

Regardless of the commissioning pathway, all future SEAL officers must make it through SOAS and, more importantly, BUDS. Anecdotally, a similar number of Naval Academy, ROTC, and OCS prospects are invited to SOAS to earn their spot in a future BUDS class. Naval Academy candidates, however, are usually the largest group. This makes sense if you acknowledge that these individuals have spent four years with a singular focus on becoming the best naval officer, and SEAL candidate, as possible at an institution designed to help them fulfill this vision. But it risks underemphasizing the advantages of the other candidate pools. ROTC candidates, if they lack quite as scrupulous a military bearing as their Academy peers, benefit from the creativity of a diversely spread education, especially those candidates from our country’s prestigious universities. An applicant motivated and competitive enough to gain admission to an ROTC program at a top university clearly has the ambition and talent needed in NSW. OCS candidates come from countlessly varied backgrounds, with professional expertise and real-world experience that can improve their decision-making as naval officers. Think of the Olympic athlete who turns to the military. Candidates commissioning from sources outside the Naval Academy should, of course, be assessed relative to their qualified Academy peers, but not in a way that dismisses or marginalizes their mismatched makeup.

Diverse thought benefits NSW and SOF in general. Reevaluating NSW’s criteria for selection and what candidates these criteria favor ensures NSW keeps talent on the table when developing its leaders. The Naval Academy can and should be relied upon for model NSW candidates, but not at the expense of alternative commissioning routes.

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Author Bio

Cole Black grew up in San Diego, CA, and is currently attending Yale University. He is a sophomore pursuing a History major with a focus on War and Society. Cole grew up with three brothers. His father is a former Navy SEAL. Cole hopes to pursue a commission as a naval officer after college.

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SOFREP’s Navy Highlight: The Path of Special Warfare Combatant Crewman Nick O’Sullivan

In the fast and flashy world of bustling America, we sometimes forget how our homegrown heroes live their lives. Today, we’ll show you the inspiring dedication of Navy’s Nick O’Sullivan.

“I always push myself to try and learn something new every day.” This is how Nick wakes up every morning – with purpose and passion. When he was seven years old, his family moved all over the country because of his father’s job. He played baseball in school and became an umpire in high school. For Nick, his sports training taught him to make the right decisions at the right time. This would become one of his irreplaceable foundational skills in the military.

Nick was not a kid who you would call a “jock.” Instead, he was extraordinarily creative and had a passion for design. In the military, he integrates his love for creating things into his woodworking activities.

As young Nick sought a career that would change his life, he went on to work in a local grocery store, but he knew there was something bigger awaiting his destiny.
He knew he wanted to serve “something bigger than himself.”

Then, his brother got re-enlisted as a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy. The Navy’s Hospital Corps has more than 30,000 active duty and reserve Corpsmen training in multiple specialties. Corpsmen are stationed in various limitary facilities, research units, clinics, and medical institutions throughout the US. Corpsmen are instrumental in providing direct support to the Navy and Marine Corps (especially during a live mission).
His brother’s passion sparked something in him, pushing him to join the military.

At first, Nick didn’t know what to enlist in, but when he watched a video of Special Operations Craft – Riverine (SOC-R) carrying [Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman (SWCC) crew members, that got his attention.

“I want to do that,” Nick said.

The SWCC is somewhat of a hidden branch in the Navy. They’re not as flamboyant as the ones we see in the movies, but they’re a highly important, specifically trained unit that operates and maintains smaller craft for special operation missions (supporting Navy SEALS).

Since SWCCs are highly specialized, their crewmembers must have a knack for combat and analysis.

As per the US Navy:

“United States depends on an elite defense force known as Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen, or SWCC. You may have never heard of them, and that’s on purpose—their missions are the kind the Navy keeps quiet because of how vitally important they are. As the Sailors who insert and extract Navy SEALs from classified locations around the world, they are true warriors—highly trained, disciplined and distinguished. Their motto is “On Time, On Target, Never Quit,” and they live up to every word.”

Nick finally knew what he was meant for—the SWCC.

Nick discovered that the program was ruthless. As part of the SEAL’s special operations unit, SWCC needs to be quick on their feet and highly intelligent when it comes to analyzing the situation and making “the right decisions at the right time.” SWCCs are also trained in communications, electronics, small boats, and special missions (like raids and waterborne confrontations).

Nick had to undergo the Recruit Training Command (RTC), aka Boot Camp, where he had intensive medical screening and physical training. Then, there was the 2-week SWCC indoctrination in Coronado, CA. Then, another five weeks go for his Basic Crewmember Training (BCT), which covers water competency, basic seamanship, boat handling, teamwork, and mental tenacity.

He passed the Crewman Qualification Training (CQT) and *finally* became an official SWCC member.
Through this program, Nick became passionate about learning and improving himself everyday. He also appreciated the bond in the SWCC team and treats everyone like family.

Even outside of training and duty, learning and bettering himself simply became second nature to Nick.
Nick’s most outstanding achievement is being invited to return as an SWCC Instructor “Instructor to pay the training and knowledge he’s received forward to new recruits. As an instructor, Nick sees his team as a family and wants to set them up for success when they’re embarking into the world for their mission—just like he does with his own son.”

Want to know more?

From shallow rivers to distant shores, the United States depends on an elite defense force known as Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen or SWCC. You may have never heard of them, and that’s on purpose—their missions are the kind the Navy keeps quiet because of their vitally important. As the Sailors who insert and extract Navy SEALs from classified locations worldwide, they are true warriors—highly trained, disciplined, and distinguished. Their motto is “On Time, On Target, Never Quit,” and they live up to every word. Learn more about what it takes to be a Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman.

Share your story

We all have our own stories in the military. If you’d like to share yours, reach out to the SOFREP team and send an email to editor@sofrep.com.

How to Jump Out of a Perfectly Good Airplane the Navy SEAL Way – This Could Save your Life!

Several years ago I filmed a video for Business Insider about my experience with civilian skydiving. It turned out to be a controversial one.

At the time I was taking my military parachute qualification and transferring it to a civilian skydive license at a drop zone in San Diego, California.

The skydiving community was outraged and I received hundreds of emails. “How could you say this!” “You’re ruining our industry!!!” were some of the nicer emails I received.

The truth is that a lot of drop zones — like gun ranges — are very poorly run, and the staff isn’t professional or nice. Worse yet, they sometimes overlook critical safety checks and often have lax protocols.

Most people probably didn’t watch the video all the way through. This is just more proof that people rarely read past the headline before they are ready to light the torches and start burning down the town square.

The video had millions of views and was titled something like, “A Navy SEAL tells us why he’ll never skydive again…” This, actually, isn’t true: I still enjoy skydiving and since I’m flying aerobatics in my plane I have to strap on a chute as well. Hopefully, I’ll never use it unless the wings fly off my RV8!

In the video below, I’m telling the story again but in greater detail. In addition, I give some practical advice on what to look for in a drop zone. I see so many people putting their lives in the hands of completely incompetent drop zone staff when there are some incredible professionals out there that will take care of you.

It’s so strange that something so dangerous never really gets scrutinized by the people that participate in it.

If you’re going for surgery you are probably going to do some research right? Isn’t it the same with skydiving? You’d hope so but no, most people don’t ask some basic questions.

Hopefully, this video will help.

So You Wanna Be a Frog Man? 3 Steps to Prepare for Navy SEAL Training

There are no tips or tricks to Navy SEAL training. Everyone has to do the push-ups that make your fingers bleed and the 100-foot rope climbs that tear callouses off hands. Everyone has to endure the brutality of a cold, dark, and unforgiving Pacific ocean.

I started class 215 of BUD/S training (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) with roughly 220 candidates. Seven months later, only 23 of the original (not counting the roll-ins) candidates would finish.

The first six weeks for me were brutal. But eventually, you adapt to any environment, even in the harshest of conditions. Viktor Frankly talks about this in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, which I highly recommend to anyone who wants to be a Navy SEAL.

In short, there are no cheat codes, no hall passes. You’ll just have to get on with it. And that’s why 90 percent fail. They just don’t understand what training really involves. So here are three steps I’ll share with any prospective Navy SEAL.

Step One: Do Your Homework

Really understand what you’re getting into. How many times have I heard the sob story of some SEAL quitter packing his bags and telling me and my friends he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. A funny sidenote: We had an Egyptian show up to Navy SEAL training. He thought he was supposed to be in navy dive school. “Why the fucking logs?!” he would squeal. Doom on you for not doing your research.

Our complete guide to Navy SEALs is a great place to start.

Step Two: Get in Mental Shape

Take one of the SEAL preparation courses. I recommend Mark Divine’s SEAL Fit in Encinitas California. Mark doesn’t fool around and you’ll come out of his prep course in great mental and physical shape. I’ve seen too many candidates show up in peak physical shape only to get mentally beaten a few days in. My story was the opposite: I was mentally prepared and not as prepared physically, something that I paid dearly for with ripped-off bloody callouses and a lot worse. But, since my mind was ready, my body would soon follow and I would be out of the hurt locker.

Step Three: Find Your Purpose

You need to really think about the purpose of why you are doing what you’re doing because it will help shape your life and career. Read Man’s Search for Meaning, and any books about SEAL training that you can get your hands on. I talk about my training in The Red Circle, and there are plenty of other books out there. Study as much as you can and then ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? For what purpose?”

Follow the three simple steps and the odds are just a sliver better for you. And remember, nobody likes a quitter.

Tune into my next Instagram live on my personal page @BrandonTwebb as I’m always available to answer well-thought-out questions.

Top 5 Jobs Navy SEALs Take After Service

The career of a Navy SEAL after the military is more exciting than you may think. These are the top five jobs Navy SEALs take after service.

1. Paramilitary Contractor

Most guys I know who did over 10 years in the Teams are on this gig. I think most like it because of two reasons: freedom and pay. There are not too many places where you can make over $100k a year and work 4-6 months. Tired of paying Uncle Sam? Move to Thailand or the Philippines. I know a lot of guys who are banking 100% of their paychecks and laughing on the beach in Thailand, living like Dan Bilzerian for $1,500 a month.

Who’s hiring? CIA, DOS, DOE, DynCorp, Triple Canopy, MVM, Academi, maritime shipping companies, and more.

2. Private Security Professional

Who’s on Bill Gates’s private personal security detail? Former Navy SEALs, that’s who.

Death threat? Hire a SEAL turned JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) intel professional turned private sector operative. He’ll run a vulnerability assessment on his client’s “pattern of life” that will have them begging for momma.

Pay is good — well into six figures. However, you risk being an overpaid private security guard and getting abused by over-zealous clients who confuse babysitting with security. The dirty secret of this job is the JSOC guy — he can pull in more money and knows both sides of the game, and no babysitting duty.

Russia oligarch — Russian oligarchs are hiring, especially in Bahrain.

Who’s hiring? Silicone Valley moguls and Fortune 500 CEOs. Bonus option: Go rogue and seek offshore employment with some rich Russian oligarch with a pet baby giraffe, and make friends with Snowden.

3. Business Owner

Something about the SEAL Teams makes the operators exceptionally programmed to build and run companies. A great example is Mike Noell of Blackhawk. I think guys start their own businesses because they can accept the risk (better than getting shot at), and they are encouraged to lead in the Teams from the moment they get there. The bonus is that you get to be your own boss and dictate your own schedule.

Navy SEAL photo — Who’s hiring? You are. Now, that’s a top Navy SEAL job!

4. GS (Government Service) Contractor

Perhaps the biggest boondoggle out there is the GS gig. The pay isn’t great but it’s steady and lets guys double down on federal retirement. The downside is that you don’t get a look at the outside world (maybe this is an advantage), and you lose a lot of the privilege that came from your former rank in the community. A lot of guys who do over 20 years go this route. Bonus: retirement, and you don’t have to deal with civilians in the real world.

Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 9.24.24 PM — You were once hard, but now you’re GS.

Who’s hiring? Your last command. It’s the good ole boy club at its finest.

5. Professional Pilot

Want to know an open secret in the SEAL community? We have our own enlisted-run airlines (AKA TWA-Teeny Weenie Airlines, and yes, it’s real). Have your knees or back start giving you problems as an E-8? Put your application in and get a few thousand hours flying jets for your teammates. FedEx doesn’t deliver parts to obscure African countries on the fringe of civil war…

After you retire, coast into a nice job with one of the major airlines, or take a private flying gig for a major company. Pay is great, and there’s nothing like piloting multi-million dollar aircraft around the globe.

Who’s hiring? Harrahs, Delta, American, Dan Bilzerian, and any Asian airline with a bad safety record.

private jet airport Abu Dhabi — Private jet airport in Abu Dhabi

Note: This list of the top five jobs that Navy SEALs take after service, is compiled from my own (un)official survey of friends in the SEAL community, and represents my own personal perspective. I wanted to list Author or Hollywood Tech Adviser but in reality, these professions provide more part-time income and are not a long-term play. Most of the guys I know don’t go this route because of peer pressure. Hope you enjoyed this.

NSW Prep: The First Hurdle in Becoming a Navy SEAL or SWCC

It is a long and thorough process to earn a contract to attend BUD/S or SWCC school. Those that do receive a contract go to Navy Boot Camp and are assigned to 800 divisions. These 800 divisions are comprised of SEAL, SWCC, EOD, Navy Diver, and Air Rescue candidates. The purpose of these divisions is to hold candidates to a higher physical standard and to begin grooming them for the tough training they are soon to endure.

Upon graduation from Boot Camp, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) candidates move right across the street from Great Lakes Recruit Training Center to the Training Support Center, in Illinois. This is where students get their first taste of the NSW training and lifestyle.

Although NSW hopefuls were in 800 divisions and “trained harder,” they are most likely completely out of shape after spending two months in Boot Camp — it is a shitty environment for maintaining and excelling in physical fitness; NSW Prep didn’t come into existence on accident after all.

The purpose of NSW Prep, if you didn’t put two and two together, is to prepare candidates for the real deal in Coronado, CA. The idea is to ensure that the individuals arriving in Coronado have a shot in hell at making it through training. NSW Prep weeds out the initial weak, hell even Boot Camp weeds out a few people. The prep course saves the Navy time, money, and frustration by preventing unprepared sailors from being sent to Coronado.

The Final Primer

Upon arrival to NSW Prep, candidates are required to complete a PST (Physical Screening Test), consisting of the usual push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, swim, and run routine.

Over the next two months, SEAL and SWCC candidates participate in physical training instruction. The candidates are introduced to and trained in topics such as swimming techniques, principles of running, and strength and conditioning, just to name a few.

Candidates are broken down into physical training groups, based on ability level. The training regimen is fluid and changes daily in an effort to improve the physical level of these wannabe operators. Physical assessments are conducted often, which helps in tracking improvement and setting goals.

In addition to the daily physical routine, students spend time in an academic setting: NSW needs more than basic knuckle-draggers. There, candidates are introduced to many subjects, including principles of team building, mental toughness, treatment of heat- and hypothermia-related injuries, and nutrition. Performing at a high level physically requires strong performance mentally and vice versa. Academic achievement in the SEAL and SWCC pipelines is just as important as physical performance.

Throughout the two months at NSW Prep, each candidate’s progress is tracked in order to determine their ability to improve and their desire to be there.

At the end of NSW Prep, students are subjected to a final modified PST, consisting of a 1,000-yard swim (with fins), push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and a four-mile timed run. If students fail this test, they may be rolled, but more than likely will be removed from SEAL or SWCC training.

Candidates participate in one final review board and then are put on a commercial airliner and sent to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, CA, where the real fun begins.

Injuries Without Scars: How Special Operations Medics Treat Brain Injuries

Since the start of the United States’ armed engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan, many military members have fallen victim to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other explosive blasts. As most people know, IEDs have been a major contributing factor to the death toll of Americans in the Middle East. A lot of servicemembers have survived these blasts with visible injuries and others have walked away unscathed, or so they thought.

According to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, in 2017 it was reported that approximately 350,000 military personnel had experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) since 2000. It was estimated that anywhere from 11 to 23 percent of deployed personnel had been exposed to a TBI event. There is such a wide range in the estimate because many individuals either didn’t report their injuries or didn’t realize they had experienced a TBI at the time they were exposed to a blast.

It was estimated that approximately 50 percent of the individuals who experienced a TBI also exhibited Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Before the true dangers and repercussions of TBIs were understood, many operators claimed they would experience concussive blasts while outside the wire, or on a mission, to only go out the next night and operate all over again.

Treating Brain Injuries

When I arrived at the Special Operations Combat Medic Course (SOCM) in 2012, the severity and dangers of TBIs had become fully understood. Dealing with and treating TBIs was at the forefront of the special operations medical community and was implemented into the SOCM training curriculum.

The critical piece to understanding and treating a TBI is to identify when a TBI event occurs. It had been discovered that if an operator did experience a TBI, they would be much more susceptible to serious brain damage if they were exposed to a secondary TBI or a concussive event soon after. The SOCM schoolhouse understood this and began training medics on how to properly conduct a Military Acute Concussion Evaluation, better known as a MACE exam.

During a MACE exam, the medic asks the patient a variety of questions and conducts different tests to determine the cognitive function of the patient’s brain. The MACE exam assists medics and medical professionals in determining if an individual experienced a TBI and what is its severity level.

Conducting a MACE exam provides multiple benefits for the patient. First and foremost, by conducting a MACE exam, medical providers can definitively determine if an individual experienced a TBI and thus prevent him from re-entering a dangerous environment until he is completely healed and considered fit for duty. Secondly, if an operator experiences a TBI and the event is documented by the use of a MACE exam, the operator will be entitled to disability compensation benefits and other resources to help heal and manage this “invisible” injury.

A SEAL medic who recently attended the mandatory, two-year SOCM Refresher Course, claimed that the special operations medical community is placing more emphasis on TBIs now than ever before. This is supported by the amount of training that is taking place at the SOCM schoolhouse and the implementation of the MACE 2 exam. The MACE 2 exam became available in 2018. This updated exam provides improved brain injury information, testing, and vestibular-ocular-motor screening.

The United States military has made great achievements in identifying and treating individuals who have experienced TBIs. The research, treatment, and preventative care today will help keep our warriors strong tomorrow.

So, You Want to Be a Part-Time Navy SEAL? There’s a Way

Believe it or not, being in special operations can be a part-time endeavor. The Army, Navy, and Air Force all have reserve and/or national guard special operations units at their disposal. These “part-time” units give people the unique opportunity to serve in America’s elite forces while still being able to maintain their civilian careers and lifestyles.

The 19th and 20th Special Forces Group make up the Army National Guard’s special operations units. Individuals that receive a National Guard Special Forces contract are required to go through the same Special Forces Qualifications Course (SFQC) as their active-duty counterparts. A National Guard member going through Special Forces training is placed on “active duty” during their time at SFQC and must complete the entire pipeline before they return to National Guard status. National Guard units stay extremely busy and take part in deployment rotation just as active-duty Special Forces units do.

3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group operators (3/20th)

The Navy consists of NSW and EOD reserve units. The NSW reserve units are SEAL Team 17 and SEAL Team 18. These two teams are comprised of both SEALs and SWCCs. The majority of the SEALs and SWCCs at these units are prior active duty members that transferred to the reserves upon completion of their active duty commitment. But, some sailors are able to obtain an NSW contract while in the reserves and upon completion of training are assigned directly to a reserve SEAL Team. EOD operators are similar to their NSW brothers, with most being active duty service members before their transfer to the reserves. The NSW and EOD reserve units are also on a constant deployment rotation. Usually, reservist operators are mobilized for a year. The first three to six months are used for pre-deployment training and the f0llowing six to nine months are the actual deployment, which could be anywhere in the world.

The Air Force’s special operations career fields, Pararescue (PJs) and Combat Control Teams (CCTs), Special Reconnaissance (SR), and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) have Air Force National Guard and Reserve units. Like the Army, individuals are able to enlist into the Air Force National Guard or Reserves and directly enter into a special operations training pipeline. Upon completion of PJ, CCT, SR, or TACP training, operators are assigned to their respective units.

The Pararescue community has many Rescue Wings (Guardian Angels) assigned to both the Air Force National Guard and the Air Force Reserves. The Combat Control Teams only have two Special Tactics Squadrons under the Air National Guard. These units have a wide array of responsibilities, ranging from domestic operations to deploying to combat zones downrange.

If an individual has the burning desire to become a member of the United States Special Operations Command, but still wants a “normal” life, becoming a special operator in the reserves or National Guard could be the perfect blend.

My Woobie, My Best Friend

It’s undisputed that if a soldier would go in the wilderness for an extended period of time, one of the few things he’d take along would be the woobie. The beautiful polyester camo encased in two layers of joyous quilted nylon is a universal staple for the infantryman.

If you search online for the term woobie, you’ll get various results, from poncho liner to sleeping bags, to blankets, to baby blankets, and yes, even hoodies now.

Woobie is also used as a term of great affection. Calling someone a “woobie” is basically the same as calling them “love” or “sweaty.”

But when it comes to the military, the woobie is the nickname given to the poncho liner issued to all soldiers. The woobie is not a new thing with the first used in the jungles of Vietnam.

A Term of Uncertain Origins

My Woobie, My Best Friend — A Marine private holds up a sleeping system and poncho liner “woobie” during a gear issue return at the SOI Supply Warehouse on Camp Pendleton, CA, September 26, 2017. (Photo by Pfc. Dalton S. Swanbeck/Marine Corps)

How the term “woobie” came to be applied to the poncho liner remains a mystery. Some claim that it started as the phrase, “Because you would be cold without it” and “would be” evolved into “woobie.” Or that it was called a “willbie” from the phrase, “It will be what keeps you from freezing.”

Now anyone has access to woobies. They are sold online and now come in various fabrics, prints, colors, prices, and qualities. Woobies have been widely advertised to civilians. Hunters and campers use them during cold and wet weather. Picnickers and stadium goers use them as blankets. People even use them as comforters and couch blankets at home.

I use mine as a pillow on a hot summer afternoon and always place it inside my ruck frame to give me a little padding on my back and allow me to quickly access it.

Some soldiers have altered their woobie to have a zipper. When lined inside their poncho, they now have a lightweight waterproof sleeping bag. The woobie has several anchor points with ties to fix to the poncho.

It can also be used as an overhead shade. In the desert, we would use two woobies or ponchos, one about a foot over the other. This created a buffer for the heat and kept us significantly cooler underneath.

Can the Woobie Keep You Warm?

Matched with its poncho counterpart, the woobie can be very warm. Even if you are wet, it will help trap your body heat. If you have never experienced the joyous hug from a woobie, I highly suggest you get yourself one and take it on your next hiking adventure. Or better yet, put it in your living room for watching movies.

The Intriguing History of the Term Special Operator

Operator – someone who operates.

In the civilian world, that could be someone operating an excavator, a wheeled tractor, and other similar heavy equipment. Historically, the term applied to people who worked in the old-school telephone centers and operated the manual telephone switchboards that were necessary in order for someone to call another number.

In the military, conversely, the term operator has come to be associated with troops serving in Special Operations Forces (SOF). A Navy SEAL operator, a Special Forces operator, a Marine Raider operator has become standard nomenclature, even in official communique and statements.

But what’s the actual origin of the term? For many in the spec ops community, an operator is someone who is serving or has served in one of the Joint Special Operations Command’s (JSOC) Special Mission Units (SMU). This would apply to members of the Delta Force, SEAL Team Six, also known as the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), 24^th Special Tactics Squadron (24^th STS), Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), or one of the other smaller, blacker SMUs.

The office of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) historian, however, posits that the term originated from within the Green Beret community. In support of this claim, there is a document from the late 1950s. Dated April 2, 1959, the document’s headline reads: “The Code For the Special Forces Operator.” It includes 10 provisions by which a Green Beret must abide. They range from the volunteer and highly dangerous nature of Special Forces – during the Cold War, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas (SFODAs) were designed to remain behind enemy lines once the Soviet mechanized onslaught had been unleashed on Western Europe; their role, as it is today, was to organize, train, and lead indigenous forces in waging an Unconventional Warfare (UW) campaign against the Communists – to superb physical fitness, soldiership, and professionalism, among other things.

“I realize,” the document’s sixth provision states, “it is my responsibility as a Special Forces Operator to undergo more intense and more rugged training than is required of the average soldier of the United States Army.”

The document was signed by Captain Albert Clement, 1^st Company, 77^th Special Forces Group (SFG), and witnessed by John Hanretty. The 77^this one of the original Special Forces Groups and the predecessor of the modern-day 7^thSFG.

So, there it is. According to the existing historical evidence, it is the Green Berets who have the claim over the term “Operator.” Does a title matter, though? Not to those who operate.