SEALs

SEALs

PREFACE
This information is from a Public Broadcasting program aired in November 2003, a book "The Teams," as well as information from other books written by former SEALs.

DISCLAIMER
This information is drawn from several different sources and may contain errors and omissions. It is not intended to be a comprehensive view of the subject matter.

ANGRY 109
This is an old radio, the AN/GR 109, which was powered by a hand-cranked generator. It was a high frequency (HF) radio used for long range, continuous wave (CW) communications, employing Morse Code. Because of the long wavelength produced by the transmitter, the radio could communicate long distances. However, a lot of power was required to transmit, and batteries were not capable of running an HF radio at that time. For that reason, a hand-cranked generator was used. A long wavelength requires a long antenna, and operators were trained on how to employ a long antenna in the field.

AR-15
The AR-15 was a weapon favored by SEALs during the Vietnam conflict. It shoots NATO 5.56 ammunition which is considered more effective than the .223 caliber ammunition used by the M-16. If kept clean, this weapon was very reliable. Later versions of the AR-15, modified by the Army, were less reliable in battle.

BB GUN
During pre-mission drills and other training, SEALs may use BB guns to practice what the Army Special Forces calls "Immediate Action Drills," whereby the team immediately forms two columns. Team members nearest the enemy drop down low and shoot, often on full auto. The two persons behind them kneel and also shoot. When the magazines of the front men are empty, they turn to the center of the two columns and crawl to the rear to reload and get back in line for their turn to shoot. The men behind them drop low, taking the place of those who have moved to the rear. This circular motion of the two columns is designed to put out as much firepower as possible against an enemy force. When well executed, a Team can destroy an much larger enemy force. BB guns are often used to practice the technique for safety purposes. It is not known if the Teams have ever had BB guns that would run in full auto.

BOESCH, RUDY
Rudy, a former member of SEAL Team Two, is perhaps the most famous SEAL. Because of his leadership ability and other talents, he was permitted to stay on active duty in the Navy, as a SEAL, by Presidential order. Rudy was a member of the first installment of the reality series, "Survivor," in the early 21st century. Rudy was selected for a later Survivor episode, but was voted off the island in the early part of the program. Rudy was one of the few SEALs who didn't experience a divorce during his tour of duty.

BUD/S
Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal (BUD/S) training is a six-month program. It is the most rigorous six-month military training program in the world. It includes team-building exercises, cold water activities, body conditioning, sleep deprivation, stress testing, etc. After a personal graduates from the course, the CIA often requests members of the class to train military personnel in NATO countries.

CAMEL BACK
A water bladder with shoulder straps, carried on the back, with a delivery tube near the soldier’s mouth. Initially manufactured for hikers, the military found this water delivery system to be superior to traditional canteens because, laying against a persons back, it has a lower profile, and water can be drawn from it in nearly any body position at any time, without using the hands.

CIRCUS
Physical Training (PT) exercises done by SEALs in a group. This training not only toughens the body but also helps with team building. It should be noted that when SEALs finish their basic training and then go to the Army's Jump School, they are in such good physical condition that the Army's physical training is just like a short warm-up for them, infuriating Army instructors.

CQB
Close Quarters combat action used to clear rooms in houses and buildings.

CROSS BOW
This is a modern version of the ancient weapon. It was chosen by the SEALs in Vietnam because it is silent and deadly when employed by a trained operator. It fires a nine-inch, arrow-like bolt. The use of crossbows by SEALs went underground when someone questioned its use in the context of the Geneva Convention.

DDS
Dry Deck Shelter: large, watertight cylinder attached to the deck of a submarine that houses SDV and other SEAL equipment.

DOUBLE TAP
Two quick shots at a target. Usually lethal. Saves ammunition compared to a full-auto burst. Often used to dispatch wounded enemy combatants.

DOUBLE DUCK
A motorized raft.

DPV
Desert Patrol Vehicle: fast, durable, carries a lot of firepower.

EOD
Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) capability is a valuable asset in the Teams. A SEAL who is trained in EOD can either defuse bombs and other ordinance or make a good decision on how to deal with them.

FIN BURN
Fin burn affects the ankles by the rubbing of flippers during long swims. The skin is rubbed raw and can result in bleeding. Ocean salt water tends to sterilize the wound, but it also makes it painful.

FLECHETTE
This is a type of load for a grenade launcher. Other types are loaded with buckshot or high explosives (HE). HE rounds are generally the preferred load. Flechette rounds contain many, very sharp, knife-like objects that chop up everything in their path.

FORT BENNING
Fort Benning, Georgia, is the location where many SEALs received jump training.

FROG MEN
A movie about military divers that inspired many persons to join UDT during the early formative years of the SEAL Teams.

HALO
High Altitude jump, Low Opening (HALO) is the method of insertion by which the men jump from a plane at an altitude above 20,000 feet (7,000 meters) and free fall to a low altitude before opening their parachutes. By using body motion, jumpers can cover long distances over the ground, depending on winds, their techniques, and the jump altitude. This method was designed to allow a jumper to jump from an aircraft flying over friendly territory and "fly" across the border to land in enemy territory. The aircraft never violates enemy airspace, and the jumpers are very difficult to pick up on radar. Like the Army Special Forces, the SEALs were trained to jump at night.

HELL WEEK
An extraordinarily week of difficult, intense physical and mental tests and sleep deprivation at the beginning of SEAL training to weed out those who may be unfit for that sort of duty or who are not fully committed to becoming a SEAL.

HSB
High Speed Boat that can cruise at 70 mph.

HUSH PUPPY
Silenced hand gun used in close quarters to eliminate enemy combatants.

K BAR
A military knife preferred by SEALs. It is very high quality, keeps an edge for a relatively long time compared to other cutting instruments, and can has a variety of used from dispatching an enemy from behind, quickly and quietly, as well as cutting up food and chopping small trees.

LITTLE CREEK, SC
Little Creek is the former location of SEAL Team One. SEAL Team Two was located at Coronado, California. Eventually, the east coast SEALs were merged with the west coast Team.

LOCKING OUT
The procedure for getting the SEALs out of the submarine and into the water while the sub remains submerged.

M60
Belt-fed machine gun. Because of its weight, SEALs are the only US force who carry this gun. The SEAL carrying an M60 will also carry 400 to 1,000 rounds of ammo for it. (This gun and its ammo are a heavy load. When fired from the shoulder like a rifle, it is accurate.) The reason the SEALs can employ this weapon in the field, without mechanized vehicle support, is because they are so highly conditioned.

M88
McMillan M88 Sniper Rifle. This is a high-powered, bolt action rifle with a 2,000+ yard accuracy that is effective for targets that are more than a mile away.

MIKE BOAT
This is a larger, fast boat that can carry several smaller STAB boats. The Mike Boat can run in to a certain area where the Team then uses the STAB boats to go the rest of the way to the target area.

MP57
Light machine gun used by SEALs.

PICKLE MEADOWS This was an escape and evasion (E&E) course in which the students were to hide in the countryside as long as possible, living off the land. That was the easy part. When they were eventually caught by an "enemy" force, consisting of instructors, the experience in the prisoner of war (POW) camp was made so difficult for the "captives," that it almost seemed real. The object of the training was to determine if students could endure POW captivity and retain their mental well-being. Several students nearly died due to the authentic tortures employed by the instructors. In one case, a SEAL was nearly drowned in a tank of water. A Congressional investigation of the training resulted in the closure of Pickle Meadows. The exhortation of run-of-the-mill military units is to say only your "name, rank, and serial number." The SEALs were told to say absolutely nothing. The SEALs were usually mixed in with members of less disciplined military units, and many of those persons gave up everything very soon after the course began. However, due to their tough training, most SEALs went through the course without breaking. Breaking was not a bad thing. The course was designed to help each individual understand his strengths and weaknesses and to understand the methods that might be brought to bear in an enemy POW camp.

PRC-25
The PRC-25 was a short-range, frequency modulated (FM) radio used during the Vietnam conflict. It did not require as much power to run as did the Angry 109 HF radio, and batteries could be used with it. The radio was line-of-sight (LOS) to the receiving station or aircraft, so it had limited capabilities. This is why most long range missions also carried the Angry 109 for long range comm.

REBREATHER
A Scuba breathing system that does not emit bubbles. Instead, air that is exhaled is recycled through filters and chemicals.

SDV
Swimmer Delivery Vehicle: an electric powered, open, underwater vehicle capable of transporting several SEALs. Carried in a submarine DDS. Allows the submarine to stay farther offshore and reduces time required for the SEALs to reach the target and return.

SEAL
"SEa, Air, Land" force under the Department of the Navy. During the 1960s, this term was considered Top Secret by the military.

SEALS CAPTURED
None.

SEALS LEFT BEHIND
None.

SEAL "RULE BOOK"
Accomplishing their mission is the SEAL objective. They have to remain accountable to their superiors and use good judgment, but there are no hard "rules" on how they do their job. When SEALs hit the ground, everyone else hits the deck. Don't get in their way.

SILENT OPTION, THE
The Silent Option is a term used to describe SEALs. Most of their activities are classified. They do not do "nation building" like Army Special Forces. Their mission is to use a small, low-profile force to quickly accomplish a specific objective, then disappear. Their mission is to get the job done, by whatever means they deem fit.

SILENCED WEAPONS
Not discussed in the PBS program. However, other published material written by SEALs indicates there may be several "quiet" weapons, including a silenced shotgun, a Hush Puppy (see entry), and a crossbow (see entry) that are available, depending upon mission requirements.

STAB
This is a small boat, often carried on a Mike Boat to a location where the Team can transition to the STAB for the final approach to the target area.

STONER
The Stoner is a lightweight machine gun favored by many SEALs, and they were the primary troops who carried it. When the Viet Cong heard the distinctive sound of a Stoner, they knew that the feared men with green faces (SEALs) were in the area. The Stoner can be belt-fed from a belt loaded into a plastic belt box or it can be fired from a 150-round drum. A Stoner fires 800 rounds a minute and uses M16 ammunition. Unlike the AK-47 that was built with loose tolerances so that it would operate dirty, the Stoner had to be kept moderately clean.

In training a SEAL learns to use most of the weapons that he is likely to come across in that area of the world. In practice, a SEAL is allowed to carry any variety and quantity weapons and ammunition that he wishes. In some cases, a SEAL who carries a grenade launcher may carry 60 rounds of high explosive (HE) grenades for the launcher. This ability to carry heavy loads into battle requires excellent physical conditioning, one of the hallmarks of SEAL training. It was not uncommon for a SEAL to go on patrol carrying a pack weighing in excess of 50 lbs.

SWIM, THE
THE Swim is a severe test of endurance in which the SEALs swim from Puerto Rico to Vieques Island, seven miles away. Although swimming seven miles in a pool is no problem for a SEAL, ocean currents cause the actual distance swam to be two or three times the straight-line distance between the islands.

SWIMS, NIGHT
Night swims are part of SEAL training. SEALs practice "attacking" a ship in Chesapeake Bay or near Key West, Florida. The object is to swim underwater, in cover of darkness, to plant a fake "mine" on the bottom of the vessel. SEALs swim in pairs with one man navigating by use of a compass and the other man watching ahead for obstructions. After the swim, instructors grade the SEALs on how well they answer questions such as how long it took them to make the swim, where they planted the "mine," and where the best location would be to place the mine to achieve maximum damage to the vessel.

TEAM BUILDING
This is a critical goal of SEAL training. For example, when SEALs attend the Army's Jump School, and if an Army instructor orders one SEAL to drop and do pushups, the entire SEAL team drops to do pushups, infuriating the Army instructors who soon realize that neither they, nor any Army Special Forces personnel, are in as good a physical condition as the SEALs.

UDT
Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) was an early name for SEALs. UDT swimmers were tasked with placing charges on coastal tank traps and other obstacles prior to the invasion of Europe (D-Day) in WWII.

UDT/R
Underwater Demolition Training, Replacement (UDT/R) was the name given to a training course designed to train divers as replacements to the UDT Teams. UPCLOSE & DIRTY
Describes the way SEALs operate. They are trained to go into an unsecured area, accomplish the objective by whatever means that they deem necessary, and get out fast.

XM-48
The XM-48 is a grenade launcher used during the Vietnam conflict.

ZODIAC
Rubber, high-speed boat with a powerful gasoline engine for transporting SEALs on the surface.