Saw this on YT from ex Seal who now counsels and trains candidates who want to be SEALs. Obviously ridiculously hard to make it through BUDS training.
Anyway, he says his training plan regarding running is to get candidates up to 55 mpw and be able to run 6 min mile. That’s pretty steep for a lot of these guys who are big and strong. He also says the most successful college athletes in terms of making it through BUDS are college wrestlers.
Most special ops guys- SEAL, Delta, Ranger, etc are not very big in the general sense of the word. 5’10/180 would seem about the usual. They can do push-ups and pull-ups all day, but are definitely not body builders. Running training and being comfortable in the water prior to BUDS was the key to getting through BUDS/SQT according to my brother (12 years in the teams).
Average Navy Seal is around 5’10” which is consistent with the height of the average American male. Their physical abilities represent what an average fit person should be capable of performing. They seem more impressive because people are getting fatter and lazier.
Nope, not for a runner. Remember, this is a training suggestion to train people for beginning BUD(s). How’s your swimming? Pullups? Push-ups? Sit-ups? To even be considered for DEVGRU (seal team 6- the top of the top), you’ll need to MINIMUM be able to do the 1.5 mile run on the track in 7:30, followed by at least 30 pull-ups done to failure (most do >40), max push-ups in 1 minute, max sit-ups in one minute, and then finish with a fast 500m swim. I don’t know the time on the swim. Mind you, this is done all in the same morning, moving from station to station. Running on the track is a luxury, as the majority of the runs are done on soft sand.
My brother had an Olympic swimmer drop from his class, and numerous collegiate athletes. It’s the grinders that make it through. People used to finishing at the top all the time don’t typically do well.
I was a member of Seal Team 6 (DEVGRU) and also Army Delta (1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta). I wish I could give you more information but it's classified.
U.S. special forces are marketing tools, maybe to create enlistment interest. Special forces are unnecessary. Name one conflict or war U.S. prevailed due to special forces? Name one conflict or war special forces were used and Marines couldn't have done the job equally well.
Navy frogmen who became Se.A.L.s were brought on land for one reason and one reason only. Se.A.L.s were brought on line to take away combat glory from Marines. Early 1960's, correct? Was the U.S. government running low on Marines? No. The world would be just fine if Se.A.L.s went back to swabbing the deck as boatswain's mates.
U.S. special forces are marketing tools, maybe to create enlistment interest. Special forces are unnecessary. Name one conflict or war U.S. prevailed due to special forces? Name one conflict or war special forces were used and Marines couldn't have done the job equally well.
I have the utmost respect for Marines, but seriously???
Nope, not for a runner. Remember, this is a training suggestion to train people for beginning BUD(s). How’s your swimming? Pullups? Push-ups? Sit-ups? To even be considered for DEVGRU (seal team 6- the top of the top), you’ll need to MINIMUM be able to do the 1.5 mile run on the track in 7:30, followed by at least 30 pull-ups done to failure (most do >40), max push-ups in 1 minute, max sit-ups in one minute, and then finish with a fast 500m swim. I don’t know the time on the swim. Mind you, this is done all in the same morning, moving from station to station. Running on the track is a luxury, as the majority of the runs are done on soft sand.
My brother had an Olympic swimmer drop from his class, and numerous collegiate athletes. It’s the grinders that make it through. People used to finishing at the top all the time don’t typically do well.
Ok, the pull ups and push ups are easy. I used to do 100 push ups every morning in a few minutes. I used to have a pull up bar on the door and did overhand and underhand pull ups without issue, so how is that difficult? 1.5 miles in 7:30... ok 5 flat pace I can do that but I doubt many of their recruits can so I'm calling bs on that. Maybe I'm naturally gifted at athletics but none of this is making me think they are amazing. It's the back office people that do the intel and break into computer systems or the scientists who design the rocket systems who are amazing.
U.S. special forces are marketing tools, maybe to create enlistment interest. Special forces are unnecessary. Name one conflict or war U.S. prevailed due to special forces? Name one conflict or war special forces were used and Marines couldn't have done the job equally well.
Easy: Afganastan
We won the war against the people who bombed the WTC with ONLY special forces and the CIA.
We defeated the enemy in Afghanistan. For some reason we decided to keep fighting, expanding scope, etc. But we won the war.....only to "lose it" later with conventional thinking.
Not if you're a little skinny guy, but we're talking about soldiers.
Are you serious? 55 miles and a 6:00 is easy for anyone with a modicum of athletic ability. You must be a 4 hour marathoner.
A sub 6:00 mile isn't crazy for athletic people age 17-28, but 55 mpw can be more difficult for someone without an extensive running background going in (soccer, XC/track, basketball, etc.). Most of these people are not built small and it generally takes time to consistently built up to 55 mpw without being plagued with overuse injuries.