Guys, the process is in the early stage of starting. The guys are probably getting close to donning their Dress Uniforms and it won’t be long till they are secured. They will be in a room, tent or some other enclosure with no view of the outside. After changing into suitable clothing they’ll be free to relax, sleep, etc. while they wait inside the enclosure. When the sun sets tonight if you are driving down the Strand you’d notice the beach side of the street (where NSWC is located) is strangely dark. Only a few street lights are on and all windows will be blacked out if a light is on inside. It is an odd thing to see. When Breakout begins their door will be opened and several instructors will enter with machine guns firing (blanks of course), yelling instruction, yelling to hear their own voice and controlled confusion begins. As they leave their room they will be greeted with barrels that will be exploding to simulate battle and several instructors with water hoses making sure they are wet. The water they will be using will be cold but that’s not new to your guys. The machine gunfire, yelling and explosions will last for about 20 minutes to make sure everyone is wide awake. Once on the Grinder their fun begins. My GS Class had guys ringing the Bell and DORing within the first hour to hour and a half. This is normal. There will be Medics and Brown Shirts to ensure the guys are safe and injuries are taken care of quickly. Food won’t be plentiful but it won’t be total deprivation. No steaks, prime rib, tea or coffee but MREs will taste like the finest restaurant in town.

Now it is out of OUR hands, what happens will happen for a reason. Pray and keep good thoughts heading their way. That’s the only thing WE control this week. Their outcome will be decided by a much higher power than ours.

I ask each of you to stay strong and be positive if you hear from your guy before Friday, DOR is not the only reason you might receive a call. It could be illness or injury, but always remember everything happens for a reason. Sometimes we wonder “why?” but those answers will come with time and new accomplishments!

Good Luck Class 292.

HOO YAH !!!!!!!!!

Guys, I will be leaving early in the morning for a 6 hour drive to Lubbock, TX. I will be working they next week. The hotel has internet so I will be checking on the Group durning the evenings. If you know anyone in the Lubbock area let me know, I am looking for some Navy Moms or Dads to have coffee with. I will be returning to DFW late on Friday, it will be a long drive since I will not be able to know how the guys are doing and if you have gotten you phone call.

Stay Strong.

HooYah Class 292!!!!!!!!!

I just got back from the SQT graduation for my son, who graduated with Class 286.  We went to a parents' dinner the night before graduation, and I got to meet my son's teammates, and the NSW Commander.  The graduation itself was awe-inspiring, with the graduation speech given by Rear Admiral "Irish" Flynn (Ret.), who was a member of both the UDT and SEAL Team ONE, and went on to serve as Commander of NSIC.  Obviously though, the best part of the day was watching them pin the Trident on my son's uniform!  I only hope that each of you gets the same chance to visit Coronado and be present when your son gets his Trident as well!

Jeff, Congrats to you Son. What a Milestone in all of your lives. I have never seen anything in my life that can compare with SQT Graduation.

Congratulations I know you enjoyed the time with your son and being able to salute his success. I graduated in 1963. The picture on my profile is myself and one of my instructors Tom Blais at a reunion 5 years ago. You know your son so if he is like many of us who;  just enjoyed being and didn’t save many mementos along the way, help him and save everything you can get your hands on tell he is ready to enjoy it. My wife did that for me but we weren’t married till I had been in the teams’ a couple years so most of that time is gone.

For the past 25 years I have had a framed passage hanging in my bedroom.  It is a father's prayer written by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.  It reads in part:

"Build me a son O Lord who will be strong enough to know when he is weak and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. ..........Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort but under the spur and stress of difficulties and challenge.......Then I, his father, will dare to whisper "I have not lived in vain."

--To all our sons of 292 as well as to all those sons and daughtors who serve our country, --Good luck and Godspeed!

Jeff, what was the Class Gift to the Instructors?

273 gave a Black Trident from the Sea. I liked the statue next to the door of the Grinder of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Can't remember the Class number that gave it.

Congratulations Jeff, my son was there after the graduation and his group was ordered to eat the left overs from the banquet.  I doubt it took too long to clean it up considering the colories burned there.

SEALs Celebrate 50 Years of Service

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Meranda Keller, Naval Special Warfare Group 2 Public Affairs

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (NNS) -- The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum hosted its annual Veterans Day ceremony and Muster XXVI aboard Fort Pierce, Fla., Nov. 12-13.

The two-day event honored SEALs past and present. The Muster featured several events including a 5k run, U.S. Navy Leap Frogs jump, a memorial ceremony in honor of Veterans Day and a live capabilities demonstration conducted by East Coast-based Navy SEALs featuring military working dogs and a demolitions demonstration.

The Veterans Day ceremony also celebrated the approaching 50th anniversary in 2012, of the commission of the first two SEAL teams by President John F. Kennedy. The ceremony also included remarks from Rear Adm. Sean Pybus, commander, U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command; and former presidential candidate Ross Perot.

"Freedom is a privilege," Perot said. "Freedom is fragile, and you can lose it in a minute. You are the guardians at the gates of freedom."

On day two, Veterans and family members gathered on the beach at sunrise to honor 50 members of the Naval Special Warfare community, active duty and retired, who have passed since last year. Two SEAL team members delivered a wreathe and the ashes of one of the fallen members to his final resting place at sea, in accordance with his last wishes.

"You are going to hurt bad and you are going to want to quit," said retired Lt. Cmdr. Dante Stephensen, commenting on making it through training in 1959, with Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training Class 22. "If you quit it will be with you the rest of your life."

U.S. Navy SEAL "Leap Frogs" skydiving team conducted a demonstration after the UDT-SEAL memorial dedication ceremony.

"What you do for our country makes all the difference in the world in the lives of every citizen," said Perot while addressing the many retired and active duty members in the crowd. "Your service and sacrifices have given us the freedom we have today."

For more news from Naval Special Warfare Group Two, visit www.navy.mil/local/nswgtwo/.

Can anyone tell me if the Navy takes pictures during HW and makes them available to the guys or their families afterwards?

RyeJim;

I will tell you this: It doesn't ever look as bad as it is. http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnCarlRoat#p/a/u/0/DQBmNjrAX5U

Congrats to all of 292 who made it through the "long day"!

WELL HERE I GO HIS PIR IN A FEW DAYS CANT WAIT TO SEE HIM BUT I KNOW IT WILL BE A LONG ROAD FOR HIM AND ME

ITS LIKE WATCHING HIM TAKE HIS FIRST STEP ONLY THIS TIME I WONT BE THERE IF HE FALLS

Congrats class 292!!  Your journey begins

Thanks John.  Great link!  --According to my son in 292, regarding HW he felt that physical nature of it might have been a bit overestimated but that the misery index was off the charts. He's glad it's behind him. -- I'm assuming that's pretty typical. 

Congratulations to those of 292 who made it thru HW!!! For those that were injury rolled, keep the faith. You'll go thru w/another class , as do most guys.

HOOYAH!! 292

I was told the Navy takes many pictures during HW and that they are given each graduate at ceremony following SQT.  Not sure how they handle rolls since the graduating class is often not the class a sailor goes through HW with.

Thanks tk.

the day after thanksgiving i hope everone had a great day yesterday  and i hope a lot of you got to see your son and fed him well and had a chance to bond . we all know they deserve it . our son stayed in s.d. and enjoyed the day with college friends and celerbrated the day . but  we had a very nice phone conversation with him and at christmas he will fly east something for us to look forward to . happy thanksgiving weekend to all .

my son in prep gl his pir was 11 23 what class will he be in

well found out its 294

Hellow all,

This is the perfect job for my son.  He doesn't communicate anyway, and now he's not allowed to.

Merry Christmas all, or at least Merry Advent, (if that's even appropriate for a time of penance)

Steve

In light of my previous post.  A funny thing happened over Thanksgiving.  My nephew is in the same line of work as my son, only he's Army.  The two of them talking over dinner went something like,

"yep."

"um-hum."

"right."

"nice Turkey."

"Can't talk about Turkey."

"right."

Steve

Happy New Year Navy Dads, lets roll for two-nine three!!

Hope everyone has a Very Happy New Year. Lori  I like the picture you posted. Gingerman, I am getting use to now info about what is going on and probably would worry if I knew anything. Kurt Class 294 will be getting down to business very soon. Mark it is so nice when they are home and so hard to see them leave.

Everyone be safe during the Holidays. My Family will be keeping your guys in our Thoughts and Hearts.

HooYah U.S. Navy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Men of 293 guys... join group Class 293. Not in discussions above, you must go to Groups and type Class 293 request to join. I started this group. I am a proud father of a brown shirt

hi tony ...lol

ok..I see that now Barb..Thanks...I will re-post

your welcome

Navy Announces Disestablishment of SEAL LDO Designator

From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Navy has announced the phase-out of the SEAL Limited Duty Officer (LDO) designator, officials said Jan. 17.

According to NAVADMIN 017/12 the disestablishment will create efficiencies while increasing war fighting capability through integration of existing officers into the naval special warfare enterprise.

Under a phasing plan announced in the message, disestablishment will occur in two phases.

During the first phase, current SEAL LDOs may convert to the SEAL unrestricted line officer designator based on defined criteria. Some SEAL LDOs may continue to serve in the LDO capacity until retirement if that date fits within billet conversion timelines. Implementation will be managed by the SEAL officer community manager.

In the second phase, beginning in fiscal year 2013, Navy will begin converting SEAL LDO billets to SEAL chief warrant officer billets or SEAL unrestricted line officer billets. Billet conversion will occur through fiscal year 2017.

SEAL LDOs may contact the SEAL officer community manager and SEAL officer detailer for individual career counseling to ensure the best possible individual decision for career success while integrating their skill sets into the naval special warfare community.

For more information, read the message at the NPC website at www.npc.navy.mil or call the NPC Customer Service Center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (1-866-827-5672).

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/npc/.

Hey any Class 289 dads out there: Any idea when 289's SQT Graduation is (tentatively) scheduled? 

any =87 parents out there now .

I think 289 graduation is on June 8

Thanks Russell!

Russell, We're waiting til we get the "all clear" from our son before we book travel. As we learned from our oldest (who got rolled late in SQT and got his Trident 3 months later than planned) -- A LOT can happen between now and graduation day. I hope we have a chance to meet in-person on the grinder! Hoo Yah 289!  Jerry M  

HooYa 289!!!

 It's been a while since I have posted and I would just like to sound a note of caution and  second what Jerry M just said  -  when making early travel arrangements flexibility is key.   You don't want to be "locked" into any arrangements that are going to cost you a bunch to change. I know every class is different but from my sons class and other classes I have followed it is not an insignificant number of guys who get rolled back even after BUDS(I don't want to mention any specific percentages) or even dropped still for whatever reason.  My son was rolled back once and when it happened it kind of blind-sided him. He understood why it happened but it all happened so fast he had a tough time dealing with it at first.  ( However everything worked out just fine with the new class  and he is currently serving his first deployment.)  They are never " home free".  This really is a rollercoaster ride for both you and your son.   I thank all your sons for their  service and the path they have chosen.     Hoo-Yah 289       Steve k

  my son is about to get his pin and yes we have booked a flight out of NH to cal . on a flight that allows you to rebook or cancel all together as far as we know south west is the only carrier that allows you to do this . the hotel is not the problem either are the rental cars but the air flight is the problem and extremely expensive he is now in sere training and still can DOR  GOD forbid . like they say its not over till its over ! good luck guys ! Go 287 

My son is a couple behind yours; congrats!  I think at times we have held our breaths so often and long we could do some of the swim tests.  Best wishes!

I sent the car in a hauler and loaded it with stuff he would need.  It wasn't too expensive; there is a lot of competition for business and I got a fair price.  I remember him saying how they were ordered to eat the leftovers from a graduation.  Got a good laugh since he has never needed an order like that. 

  no i ment a car for mom and dad ud he has had his since day 1 . thanks for the tips but rental car who do you recommend .