Expert: Rod Powers - 3/22/2007

Question
Hey, I am a Jr, in highschool and I have made up my mind that I want to be a NAVY SEAL when I get out of highschool. It is actually my dream of almost ten years to be a SEAL, and since I am almost out of highschool, I need advice on becoming one, because honestly, I am scared that I wont be able to do good enough on the ASVAB to be able to be a SEAL.

I am in great shape and I don't think I could ever have a problem with the physical part of it. I just need some advice on some of the expertise required to be a SEAL and some advice on how to do really good on the ASVAB. Can you help me?

Answer
Hi John,

The Navy has a program called SEAL CHALLENGE, in which qualified applicants can apply through a recruiter, and -- if accepted, will have up to three chances to try out for BUD/S during basic training and/or A-School. See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/seal.htm

Don't minimize the physical requirements. The *VAST MAJORITY* of those who fail the SEAL Program fail because they can't make it through the physical training.

You may *think* you're in shape, and the physical fitness standards shown in my article (above) are only the very minimum to get into the program. Can you make the grade after a week without sleep? That's the standard used during SEAL "Hell Week." (See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navytrng/a/sealhellweek.htm).

Trust me.....no matter how good of shape you *think* you're in.....you *will* have problems with the "physical part" of the selection process. I can't emphasize this enough. Nothing you've physically done in high school will even come close (When is the last time in high school you spent 132 hours straight, without sleep, performing physical exercise during the entire period?).

I'm not trying to scare you off, but to convince you, beyond doubt, that -- no matter how good of shape you think you're in -- it's not enough. SEALS are special. They're the "elite of the elite." They are twice as fit as any professional football or basketball player you've ever heard of.

After their initial training period, they work out/train for 12 hours per day, six days per week, just to maintain their training/physical status.

Okay, enough of the "scare tactics." It's important that you understand that if you get accepted for SEAL, your high school "great shape" is only about 1/4 of what is going to be expected of you, and it will take several hours per day, each day to become/maintain "SEAL Status."

From the mental (ASVAB) side, to be eligible for SEAL Selection, you need ASVAB scores of: GS+MC+EI=165 or VE+MK+MC+CS=220.

That means your ASVAB General Science score and Mechanical Comprehension Score, and Electronics Score must equal 165, or your ASVAB Verbal Expression Score (Comprised of the Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension subtests), and Mathematics Knowlege Score, and Mechanical Comprehension Score, and Coding Speed, must equal at least 220 (note: Coding speed is no longer a factor, but a "dummy score" is used to make sure it's equal to the average).

Now, the good news is that I've just completed writing the 2nd edition of "ASVAB for Dummies," which can help you study for the test. It'll be published this June. Don't buy the first edition (which is currently on the market), but wait until after June for the 2nd edition, which includes all the latest changes in the test.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com