John Ballen

But the most skilled at multiple disciplines is very likely the Navy SEAL teams. And it's because the acronym SEAL stands for Sea, Air, Land, so S-E-A-L. The idea is even though it's under the Navy, which is sort of like maritime and water, the reality is that the SEAL teams are a special operations group that can insert into virtually any area. Any environment, sea, air, or land.

But the most skilled at multiple disciplines is very likely the Navy SEAL teams. And it's because the acronym SEAL stands for Sea, Air, Land, so S-E-A-L. The idea is even though it's under the Navy, which is sort of like maritime and water, the reality is that the SEAL teams are a special operations group that can insert into virtually any area. Any environment, sea, air, or land.

They can also use multiple insertion platforms, whether it's diving, jumping, going in on land. It's like a highly versatile special operations group, whereas a lot of the other special operations groups, not just in the United States, but internationally, are kind of specialized in certain areas.

They can also use multiple insertion platforms, whether it's diving, jumping, going in on land. It's like a highly versatile special operations group, whereas a lot of the other special operations groups, not just in the United States, but internationally, are kind of specialized in certain areas.

geographies like you have mountain warfare specialists you have like the dutch have this incredible uh diving unit uh but the seals are like we do everything and they also sort of came into prominence they started in the 60s under jfk they really came into prominence post 9 11 because they were being sent out into the middle east which is you know it's a landlocked place but this navy special operations unit was being very successful carrying out you know kinetic operations all across the middle east

geographies like you have mountain warfare specialists you have like the dutch have this incredible uh diving unit uh but the seals are like we do everything and they also sort of came into prominence they started in the 60s under jfk they really came into prominence post 9 11 because they were being sent out into the middle east which is you know it's a landlocked place but this navy special operations unit was being very successful carrying out you know kinetic operations all across the middle east

So it's like a very famous jack of all trades special operations group that, especially after the bin Laden raid as well, that sort of made them celebrities. But even before that, they were very well known as like the jack of all trades special operations group.

So it's like a very famous jack of all trades special operations group that, especially after the bin Laden raid as well, that sort of made them celebrities. But even before that, they were very well known as like the jack of all trades special operations group.

Broadly speaking, I would say it takes about two years. But realistically, it takes a little bit longer. So you have... There's two ways to become a SEAL. You either go in as an enlisted person. So there's the enlisted component of the military, which is somebody basically without a college degree who just raises their hand and just serves. That's the grunts of the world.

Broadly speaking, I would say it takes about two years. But realistically, it takes a little bit longer. So you have... There's two ways to become a SEAL. You either go in as an enlisted person. So there's the enlisted component of the military, which is somebody basically without a college degree who just raises their hand and just serves. That's the grunts of the world.

Those are the enlisted community. And then you have the officer side, just somebody who at a minimum needs to have a college degree to apply. You go to officer school. And in the SEAL teams, there's a tiny, tiny number of officer SEALs and a massive number of enlisted SEALs. But there are two very different pathways into training.

Those are the enlisted community. And then you have the officer side, just somebody who at a minimum needs to have a college degree to apply. You go to officer school. And in the SEAL teams, there's a tiny, tiny number of officer SEALs and a massive number of enlisted SEALs. But there are two very different pathways into training.

If you go the officer route, it's practically like a political appointment just to get an opportunity. Like it's so, so difficult to even get a chance to try out that what you get. And it's because there's just like a handful of spots available. That's really all it was.

If you go the officer route, it's practically like a political appointment just to get an opportunity. Like it's so, so difficult to even get a chance to try out that what you get. And it's because there's just like a handful of spots available. That's really all it was.

So you have all these people on the enlisted side who actually have college degrees and could easily like become an officer in the military who, let's say, have other opportunities that they could pursue with their college degree, but they want to be a SEAL.

So you have all these people on the enlisted side who actually have college degrees and could easily like become an officer in the military who, let's say, have other opportunities that they could pursue with their college degree, but they want to be a SEAL.

and so you have this big number of people that are electing to go be enlisted to try out to be seals and that's important because it makes the enlisted side super competitive you have like these professional athletes and you have like olympians and you have like the best college athletes and you have mma fighters and wrestlers and then like the random people like me who have no resume and you all just show up for the class in san diego that technically is six months long but there's like

and so you have this big number of people that are electing to go be enlisted to try out to be seals and that's important because it makes the enlisted side super competitive you have like these professional athletes and you have like olympians and you have like the best college athletes and you have mma fighters and wrestlers and then like the random people like me who have no resume and you all just show up for the class in san diego that technically is six months long but there's like

Before you've been joined the Navy, you need to basically compete for a spot to even have a chance to try out. And there's a whole application process before you've joined the Navy that can take years. And then let's say you get your chance as an enlisted person. They're like, okay, you're going to get a chance to go. Well, first you got to go to boot camp. That's two months in Chicago.

Before you've been joined the Navy, you need to basically compete for a spot to even have a chance to try out. And there's a whole application process before you've joined the Navy that can take years. And then let's say you get your chance as an enlisted person. They're like, okay, you're going to get a chance to go. Well, first you got to go to boot camp. That's two months in Chicago.