SEALs Open Doors to Coasties
Monday August 11, 2008
For the first time in the Navy SEALs’ 46-year history, Coast Guardsmen will be allowed to try out for the elite team of special operators, according to the Navy Times.
Coast Guardsmen who make it through the nearly two years of physically and mentally daunting training will be assigned to a SEAL team for five to seven years, although they still officially will be part of the Coast Guard. But before the SEAL training begins, hopefuls first have to make it through the Coast Guard’s screening process — the service plans to send only four people to the training each year.
Comments
If you want to be a SEAL join the Navy. Why do we have a Coast Guard. Their job could be performed by the Navy. The CG should be absorbed into the USN and it would save the taxpayers some money. I am a SEAL (1970-1973) and Vietnam Vet. Next we will have Army SEAL, Air Force SEALs and Marine SEALs. We are called NAVY SEALs for a reason.
I wonder if the SEAL training will be comparable to dive school? The Coastie graduation percentage consistently exceeds the navy. Wouldn’t you want the best person for the job regardless of what service or their regular job is?
I agree with the seal, however, I can’t imagine any Marine who would want to be a seal. The Marines have Force Recon, who taught combat
skills to UDT when the seals first graduated from UDT. Besides, who wants to eat and smell like fish and balance balls on their nose all day? >
ForceRecon Sgt of Marines ‘66-’72
Don’t worry you won’t have Army SEALs or Air Force, or whatever b/c they have their own very capable special operations unit. If you use that argument then you would have to take into consideration that non army personel(yes navy too) goes through army jump school, army free fall school(yeah air force too) and yes even US army combat divers school.
Everyone learns from everyone.
This program sounds like a good idea…Joint Operations (JOPS) is what it’s all about. Charlie Mike!
The Sarge
I understand your Esprit de Corps for the Navy Seals John. The Seals have become who they are today because of those who lost their lives yesterday. The Seals deserve all the respect they have. The major distiction (advantage) to the Coast Guard that no one else can claim is summed up by the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 (18 USC 1385). The Act prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services from exercising nominally state law enforcement. The Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security not DOD, has Customs,Immigration authority and is still a uniformed service subject to the UCMJ. Under case law the Coast Guard can search a seagoing vessel in some cases without a Search Warrant. With all that said that is alot of Legal/Military power to give up if absorbed under the Navy. For years the Coast Guard has been the bastard red headed step child of the armed forces. The CG has broken it’s shell and is opening it’s eyes. The CG needs to learn how to play hardball and this is the perfect opportunity.
I think it would be a good idea there’s more to becoming a navyseal than just completing the training and probational period than becoming a seal team member ex seal 82-89