Sat. we went thru BUDs Training area. Was driven from O-course North to end of NSW area. Got to go on Grinder and walk around other areas. Fri. Class 268 Grad with I think 43 New SEALs, 273 goes to Phase 2, 274 starts Phase 1 and 275 is arriving for Indoc.got to meet some of the Class Members from each Class. Visited with GS who starts P1 on Mon. Will update on what we do today,Sun., when I can. Not sure how this will look on the Web Site, I am typing this on me Blackberry and I am not good at this.

Have a Great Day.

275 will arrive in SD in Dec. they are still in GL. I believe that 273 is just finishing phase 1 and 274 finished INDOC on Friday and starts phase 1 on Monday....thoughts, prayers and good intentions for all those who are starting INDOC on Monday. HOOYAH!

my son is still in boot camp his PIR is 11/26 ... then he said he will be across the street in pre-buds for 2 months

How is eveyones son doing? Where are they located? My Grandson is resting this weekend, he had Treading and Drown Proof test last week and passed them. He is still in Coronado, Phase II will be over next month.

Hope everyone here is doing fine and your Loved Ones are doing good.

Everyone have a Great Weekend, what is left of it.

If your Loved One is training to be a U.S. Navy SEAL I have uploaded a must watch video of a Memorial Service for a Great SEAL. Please watch if you can.

HOOYAH! To all in 274 who made it thru Hell Week yesterday. We are very proud of everyone!

HooYah Class 274. My Family and I are very Proud of each and everyone of you. My Grandson is in Class 273 and I can tell you the saying "The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday" will mean more to you than you think. You have made it this far and I am sure you have the commitment and desire to finish this training. I wish you the Best of Luck and each of you will be in my Heart and Prayers as you travel the long, steep and winding road to your dreams. YOU CAN DO THIS.

That is Great to hear. I know your are Proud of him and you have a right to be. He has a long and hard road ahead. Remind him to take it one step at a time. Tommorrow is not the problem, getting though Today is all he should thinking about and Yesterday was the only easy day. We are Proud of him and will keep him in our Thoughts. Hopefully when we go back to Coronado we will be able to meet him and tell him ourself what a Great Job he is doing.

My Grandson left today (01/01/09) for Coronado. They have to meet Sunday to get equipment I think to start Phase III. I really enjoyed his visit and hated to see him leave. About 9 more weeks till SQT.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Good luck to your Son.

I hope every one's Sailor is doing well. I wanted to stop by and say that I have been watching Navy Seals Training: BUD/s Class 234 on the military channel. It is on again tonight 7 - 10 pm. It was filmed in 2002 and is amazing. If you do not have the military channel than find it on DVD. It shows what they do from day 1 until the end. A must see. I have to tell you that I have all the respect in the world for what your children have volunteered to put themselves through. These are some tough kids and I'm glad their in our Navy. I wish them the best of luck.

My GS is in Class 273 doing Phase III. I think they are on a Mountain this week and should be picked up either today or tommorrow. There is no communication with them now till they get back to Coronado. Either next week or the week after they will go to the Island for 5 weeks and no communication from the time they leave till they get back to Coronado. Its going to be a long 5 weeks. I think I have the timing right, things always seem to change.

Hope everyones Loved One is doing Good and is Safe. Keep us updated on how they are doing.

273 I just finished watching the end of the BUD/s training on the military channel. It is unbelievable what these young men can put their minds and bodies through. It takes a very dedicated Sailor to be able to call himself a Navy Seal. Props to your grandson.

Got call yesterday, they made it back to Cornodao. Only problem was thin air at times. He was really upbeat. I put those videos on DVD and watch them to remind me what they are doing.

Have a Great Weekend

I'm with EG--- I've watched that series probably half a dozen times and am amazed at the dedication shown. I can summerize by saying that I am darn glad they are on my side! HooYah!

275, I think the Class will get smaller quickly. Between the instructors and the the guys that work as a Team the others will be gone quickly. At least that seemed to happen in earlier Classes.

Tell your Son to hang-in there, we are Rooting for him and keeping him in our Thoughts.

word is that class doesn't really come together until Phase starts....this point it's hard to depend on someone who might not be there the next day.

GS texted me today, he finished his 5.5 mile ocean swim.

275 keep us updated on your Sons condition. We are keeping him in our Hearts.

275 just keep reminding him the only easy day was yesterday and just think about what he is doing not what the is about to do.

Good Luck to him in Phase I, he will look back and say it really wasn't that bad.

275 the last time I checked to water temp in the SD area was about 57. They get wet very often and the outside temp and wind keeps them cool down, if they get dry they will get wet and sandy again.

I am Keeping your Son in my Heart.

Hey SEAL Dads....you should all get a Bravo Zulu for raising such fine and dedicated men. HooYah!

Just a note to everyone. BUDs Class 275 is about to complete their first 24 hours of Hell Week. Today had been rough as the weather in Coronado has been very bad.

I hope Everyone will join me in Keeping Class 275 in their Hearts and Thoughts as they make this Journey enroute to becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL.

HooYah Class 275

HooYah future SEALs.....you have our prayers and support in this test of will.....you will succeed!

Semper Fi... oops that's jarhead jargon. Semper Gumby! (always flexible)
May the Lord grant an extra measure of His grace, wisdom, and strength to the young men of 275! Blessings, Kevin

BUDs Class 275 has been secured and Hell Week is over. The numbers I have heard are 111 started the week and 70 finished.

Great Job Class 275, we are Proud of you.

HooYah Class 275

Spoke to our son this afternoon, 74 completed hell week. Didn't talk long, he needs rest and rehab, as you would expect. We are very PROUD of all of them, VERY WELL DONE. Thank you all for info as the week progressed, kept some info coming our way.

Congrats to the Class that Graduated BUDs today. I am Proud of every Class Member and I know each of you will succed in SQT. Keep up the good work, train hard and the end is getting closer.

I am keeping all the BUDs Classes in my Thoughts and hope each of them make it to the end. Its a long and hard road but just remember what you are training for and focus on the now and the future will come fast enough. The future is not here so past the present.

HooYah all BUDs Classes.

interesting reading:

SEAL School Preps Candidates for Success
Story Number: NNS090311-16
Release Date: 3/11/2009 9:44:00 PM


By Susan M. Koerner, Training Support Center Public Affairs Office

GREAT LAKES (NNS) -- More than 1,200 Sailors have completed the first step of becoming a Navy SEAL since the formal dedication Feb. 7, 2008 of the new Special Warfare Preparatory School at Great Lakes.

"The school was established as a detachment of Naval Special Warfare Center to physically and mentally prepare SEAL candidates for the rigors of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUDS)," said Special Operations (SEAL) Master Chief Paul Tharp, officer in charge of the school.

"Starting this program from scratch about 18 months ago, we are now a diverse team of civilian coaches, students and staff support along with active-duty personnel. This past year we have trained more than 1,200 students in our eight-week physical and academic curriculum utilizing various commands' facilities here in the Great Lakes Region."

The need to increase the number of Sailors in the special operations rating has become a priority. The Navy's goal is to have 2,500 enlisted SEALs by 2012. In order to meet that goal, candidates from the civilian sector and the fleet are being actively recruited.

Before the preparatory phase of the school began, only about 26 percent of those who began BUD/S successfully completed the grueling six-month training.

"The Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School is a key asset in training U.S. Navy SEALs," said Capt. Stewart Elliot, Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWCEN) commanding officer.

"It is delivering candidates that are more physically ready and mentally prepared for the rigorous training of BUD/S. Since the course began, we have seen a 22 percent decrease in early BUD/S losses, significantly aiding in critical growth of the force."

Tharp says the curriculum provides each candidate with the opportunity for success through daily physical and academic training, while continuing the sailorization and military training environment provided by the Training Support Center (TSC).

"Overall, our collective efforts are providing NSWCEN with a stronger Sailor - professionally developed and physically prepared for the challenge of BUDS," he said.

Tharp added that an opportunity for a candidate to change his mind is also available for the few candidates who may decide being a SEAL is not for them or for those who may not be completely ready, physically or mentally.

"The infrastructure here at Great Lakes is established to efficiently support those Sailors in the reclassification process, setting them up for success in other ratings, which continues to add value to the fleet," he said.

Emphasis on physical conditioning, swimming and underwater confidence are addressed as part of the prep school so students are ready for the rigors of the BUDS training held in Coronado, Calif.; however, academics are not ignored during the process. Sailors are instructed in SEAL Ethos, core values, exercise science, nutrition and mental toughness.

As part of TSC, the Sailors also participate in the apprentice military environment, known as the sailorization process that includes watchstanding, inspections, naval history and phased liberty.

"Leadership from nearly every command in the Great Lakes Region played key roles assisting us in the establishment of NSWPS by providing infrastructure and personnel support, training facilities and so on. Any and all success we encounter here and at BUDS is clearly a byproduct of the continued support we have from all here," Tharp said.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/.

My son Matt just got his seal contract We're very happy, proud and nervous

Congrats on your sons contract... now the fun begins!! My Son is two months away from shipping out to begin his journey in becoming a member of the NSW community.

Posted by Navydads Creator, April 12, 2009.

" Thank you to our Navy and the Navy SEALS for freeing Capt. Phillips and bringing this American home safely to his family."

HooYah U.S. Navy SEALs

Amen to that!!!!!!

Bravo SEALS for bringing the hostage crisis to a close. HooYah and GO NAVY !

Well this weekend saw a big step in preparation for my son's journey in becoming a member of the NSW Community. His Mentor (Rob Ord)held a camp where he and seven other NSW Contract holders got a taste of what awaits them. Two days, each day 10 hours long, heavy doses of PT, Classes on exercise and diet. Finally courses on What it means and takes to be a Warrior. They were pretty beat down after the first day, but by the end of day two they motivated, focused and yelling HOOHYA!!!

John, it is great to hear his Mentor is working with him and the others to get them in the right mindset. Tell your Son to keep up the training, it will really help him in the end. Long days are the norm in Coronado. My GS was leaving the house at 0300 to 0400 and getting home about 1700 t0 1800 for a long time. It seems like the more they worked them the more the guys focused, after the long days I watched my GS start studying and we would leave so we didn't bother him.

We are keeping your Son in our Thoughts. Tell him we are rooting for him and hope to see him on one of the Teams in about 2 years.

My Son is about to finish Boot Camp @ Great Lakes 6/19 and head to BUDS in Coronado. I have read "the Warrior Elite" and have a good idea what he is up against. I am extremely proud of his decision to attempt this ultimate challenge. Can anyone on this forum tell me, as a parent, what to expect? (John 3:16)

There are no earthly limits for SEALs;

Navy SEAL to Launch into Space
Story Number: NNS090612-11
Release Date: 6/12/2009 4:17:00 PM



By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dominique M. Lasco

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla (NNS) -- A Navy SEAL in NASA's astronaut program will launch into space June 13.

Cmdr. Chris Cassidy of York, Maine, will be the second SEAL to launch into space since Capt. William Shepherd in 1992. Cassidy is a mission specialist and a part of the STS-127 crew that will work on upgrading the International Space Station (ISS).

STS-127's mission is to complete an ISS crew member swap, change out the cache of batteries which stores energy from ISS's solar arrays and install a platform to one end of the Japanese Kibo laboratory on the station. The platform will conduct experiments designed to work outside the protective confines of the space station.

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 1993, Cassidy continued on to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in Coronado, Calif., and was the honor graduate for BUD/S Class 192. Cassidy has spent more than 10 years with SEAL teams, holding such positions as executive officer and operations officer of Special Boat Team 20 in Norfolk, Va., and platoon commander at SEAL Team 3 in Coronado. Along with serving in the Mediterranean, Cassidy deployed several times to Afghanistan where he was awarded two Bronze Stars with Combat 'V' and a Presidential Unit Citation for missions with the Army's 10th Mountain Division on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

He applied for the astronaut program after receiving his master's degree from the Massachusetts's Institute of Technology in 2000 and was accepted into the space program in 2004.

For more news from Naval Special Warfare, visit www.navy.mil/local/nsw/.

Launch has been rescheculed. The launch is scheduled for 5:40 a.m. Wednesday. Forecasters put the odds of good weather at 80 percent, Easten Time. I may have to record it that is really early.

Here are some pictures of Cmdr. Chris Cassidy of York, Maine, who will be the second SEAL to launch into space. I would like to Thank dive doc from navyseals.com for getting the pick and hope you will enjoy them. Be sure and check out his Flight Suit, he is wearing his Trident.

I forgot to add that the pictures below, one of which was taken during last weeks TCDT (Terminal Coutdown Demonstration Test) Walkout ... Just so you can see the Trident on his chest!!!

HooYah! Go Navy!

SEAL - Sea, Air, Land, and now Space?

These guys are relentless.

Congrats to the Navy SEAL's for putting another one of their own in space.

If you are looking for really great info I would like to recommend the book "The Only Easy Day was Yesterday-Making Navy Seals" My son got his from the Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce, Fl. It is printed by the US Naval Institute, (www.usni.org) great insight into the process of making a Navy Seal. The photographer was given access to rarely seen events of Seal training. Son is halfway through bootcamp.

Another good couple of books are "Warrior Elite" and "Finishing School" by Dick Couch.

Check out "You Want Me To Do What? ". Meet J. Kraus. Jeff is the only man to succeed at ALL THREE elite US Military Special Operations qualifications schools. His book aptly titled "You Want Me to Do What?" is a terrific account of what truly happens at Army Special Forces, Navy SEAL and Army Ranger Training.

My son is starting Pre-BUDS in Great Lakes this week for 8 weeks. Can anyone tell me what Pre-BUDS has in store for him?

Well my son just started off on his career to become a Trident holder. Ship out for Boot today. My wife is a member of Navy for Moms, and they have a Pre-Buds Chat group. This program "Pre-buds" is relatively new and is designed as one more gut check/spin up prior to going to INDOC in Coronado.

John, are you ready for a bumpy ride. Your Son will have longer days and more PT's than the normal bootcamp. When you find out his address start writing, he will really enjoy the letters before he has a chance to write or call home. Words of encouragement, some family news or events, jokes and off the wall subject are good when writing. I did learn not to ask to many questions, as time goes on there will be more and more things the cannot tell you or he just doesn't want to talk about now. With that said our GS would drop a bomb shell about something during training and my wife would get up and leave saying you didn't have to tell me that. For us it have been very informative and interesting to watch our GS grow and become a man, plus this whole Military thing is new to us.

We will have to keep in touch, mostly by private messages due to the nature of what they will be doing and where they will be going.

Keep me informed as to his progress and let him know my family and I are very Proud of him for wanting to Serve his Country in this manner.

Thanks so much and I will pass along your thoughts and kindness to my son. Also thanks for the suggestions, always so hard trying to balance enouragement versus letting your kid sprout his wings and experince some of life on his own.

I found a couple great links explaining pre-BUDS:
http://www.honorfirst.com/prebuds.htm
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/0...seals_041908w/

Hi!
My son is in Ship 04 DIV 840.
Are there any Moms or Dads out there who's son is gonna be a shipmate with him?

Welcome to our Group mom of cjj. Is your Son at Bootcamp, if so how long has he been there?

If you have any questions let us know and someone will try to answer them for you and everyone can learn together.