CORONADO, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2014) Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUDs) students participate in Surf Passage at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Surf Passage is one of many physically demanding evolutions that are a part of the first phase of SEAL training. Navy SEALs are the maritime component of U.S. Special Forces and are trained to conduct a variety of operations from the sea, air and land. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Russell/Released)

OK you guys- you've been WAAAAY too quiet......turn up the volume and let's get it going!!!

"When you care enough to send the very best...."

Yes, hat's off to Class 300!  What an accomplishment!! 

Visited Coronado several weeks ago.  Brought back a lot of good memories of the graduation of our guy.  Maybe I was distracted by all the activity but I never noticed the gold glitter in the sand.  Anyone else notice it north of the Hotel Del?

Also there recently.  Attended the graduation of Class 300,  Was amazed by the number of legacy graduates in this class. 

Jeff - I have been to Coronado to visit my son several times and have ran on the beaches up to the SEAL base and never noticed the gold glitter you refer to.  Asked my wife about it and she said - absolutely....the sand has gold glitter... Guess I'll have to check it out next time back there.

Hello, I'm new to this group.  My son has been active duty for nearly 6 years as an IC (Interior Communications Electrician).  He is following his dreams now and has recently received orders for BUD/S.  He heads to BUD/S Prep in August, but I don't yet know what his class number will be.

You must be very proud of your son and congrats that he is able to pursue his dream.  It's a long hard road, he sounds like an exceptional young man to try this endeavor. Good luck to him and I hope you are able to navigate this most unique journey.

Thank you tk and Stephen for you comments and encouragement.

Thank you Stephen!!  I will view the video. I absolutely agree with you in that they are a special group of men.  My son wanted to try for SEALs when he first joined the Navy coming out of High School, but with the help of his recruiter, we encouraged him to select a rate he could make a living on after his naval career was over.  And with that idea, try for SO after spending some time in the service.  He has excelled in his career as an IC having received several awards for his efforts. But, the dream of becoming a SEAL never left his thoughts. So, he has spent the last couple of years or more preparing for this opportunity. Even having been on deployment with his ship for the last several months, he has been working aggressively to maintain a strong physical and mental stamina.  I am so proud of the efforts he as put forth to chase after his dream.  He is highly motivated and driven to succeed and my heart tells me this young man will go the distance!

Thank you again for your insight and support.  I am excited and scared for him all at the same time, but oh so proud of his accomplishments.  I will follow this group closely and am glad I have a place where I can share my son's journey with others.

I'll put it up for all to see:

That was a great commencement by Admiral McRaven, I shared it with my soon to be SO this afternoon. He graduates high school this evening, then it's off to boot camp, then to BUD/S.

Hooyah Admiral McRaven!

Stephen, thank you.

We are in San Diego this week on vacation and my son was able to workout with the local NSO/NSW mentor group, when he was done we took a spin over to Coronado and got to watch the Navy's finest performing surf passage and other beach drills. I was told by the sentry at the gate that this is hell week, what an awesome sight!

there is no ship 8, 15 or 16

My son has arrived in G.L. for BUD/S training.

Hoping someone in this group can help me out. My son will be headed to Coronado in the near future and I was planning on driving his car out there to him. I understand that they won't have much time for going anywhere but I would like to know if he will be able to have it out there. Thanks for any help!

Thanks for that info Stephen. I'm retired Navy so already have military tags on vehicle so that'll help some. Do you know if there is a period of time that he has to wait once he gets to Coronado before he can have the car? The reason I ask is that he's hearing rumors that he can't have it until after hell week. Oh, and I'll pass along the 5 minute approach to him, it sounds like it would help in some situations. :)

Our guy got his Trident over a year ago, but had called after the first week of BUDs, and said they could have cars.  I drove his car cross Country (54 hours Annapolis to Coronado, by myself) - so he had it the week before HW.  May depend on the Class and the Instructors. From what I heard from our guy, most of what you read about BUDs and HW is true.  The 90% mental aspect is assuming the guys are in great shape -  but it's not necessairly the physically strongest guys that make it.  They have to have the " I will not quit" attitude.  There was a great video of one of the training segments,  a recruit was talking, and the comment was (summarized here) - "They can make me cold, wet, tired,   hungry, miserable, etc,  but the only thing they can't make me do is quit".  Best wishes to your guy.  It is an emotional roller coaster ride for the family and friends -  

My son had his car shipped to Coronado shortly after arriving and it was very helpful for him and his classmates. No DOD sticker required for on base parking and Week. He is across the road on the Amphibious Base side of the street and there is also ample parking there. The dirt lot just outside the gate on that side is also available but does not seem to be needed.Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the help Stephen, limited slip, and Russell! I've friend requested each of you, and as I can see, y'all will definitely be a wealth of knowledge and help during these trying days my son is giving it his all! :)

Is SR granted liberty after PIR until Sunday evening if they are staying in GL for A school? Or do they have to be back each evening?

Must be back on base each evening...and must stay within 50 miles of base at all times

Congrats Keith to you and mostly to your son.  You are in for one of the great treats of your life.  

Navy lodge ( or the beach houses next to the Lodge which are booked thru the Lodge are superb places to stay).  Book ASAP. Your son will submit a list ahead of time for passes that allow you to go on and off North Island base without him being with you-Have him do this!!). Cannot remember whether he had to be there for check in but travel passes are most important.   Graduation is Friday and they are mostly available after ceremony, don't know if they still do the parent dinner the night before.  

Just a fantastic weekend-hope you enjoy

I stayed at the Navy Lodge two years ago on the dry side and really liked it.  I think they have only one bed per room so if you are bringing a family it may not work.  At graduation a year ago I stayed at the Navy Gateway on North Island.  It felt more like a regular hotel room, and you can get them with two beds.  Two years ago my son was able to get me a pass so I could get on and off base without an escort, but we were not able to do that last year - he had to escort us.  He said they had changed the policy so its worth checking into. 

They do still have a parents dinner (with your son) the night before graduation outside on the Grinder, same place as graduation the next day.  Its fantastic, being able to meet some of their buddies as well as other families. 

From what I remember they really don't have much time for family before graduation, although possibly having time for dinner.  Afterwards they have the weekend free, other than moving out.  Not sure about those staying on the west coast, but for those going east they then have a couple of weeks off for moving.

Enjoy it, congratulations!

We had family & couple friends (East Coast)  attending our guy's graduation - I used Craig's list and found a rental in Coronado Cays - couple miles down the strand from the grinder.  Other families rented houses in coronado - makes it nice to have a cookout, other classmates hangin out.  We were there for a week, what we didn't spend in restaurants and bars probably paid for the house.  From all I've read, and our guy's class, 15 to 20% graduation rate seems usual.  For the guys that make it - quit is not in their vocabulary.  HooYah to all!!

Keith, Graduation is a great, but busy time. My son had the weekend off, but started language school the next week. The "Parents" Dinner is great, a time to meet your son's classmates and some of their family members. It is hard for me to be so proud of my son, but not be able to trumpet it to the world, although it gets easier. I suggest you stay as flexible as possible, make yourself available, and grab the brass ring when you can. Congrats to your son. I know you and your family must be very proud. God Bless. 

Excellent comments Keith.  Curious how everyone dodges questions regarding what your son does in the navy.  As you say, I would like to proudly state his accomplishment in becoming a SEAL.  As we have moved through the initial phases of being pinned and moving on to additional training and deployment there is definitely a total tightening of our sons lips....which is of course appropriate.  We do not proclaim his status as a SEAL.  Just curious how you respond to the inevitable question - "Oh, what does he do in the Navy?"

By the way....that's an open question to all.

It's a tough balancing act.  Our close relatives know what our guy "surf" is, but we have a "family agreement" that we don't share where he is or what he's doing.  Training & surfing are common answers. Most of the time we can honestly (almost)  answer that we don't really know what he's doing. We have a "suggested"  reading list, and have loaned many of my Special Ops/SEAL books out to those that want to know more. 

Great comments Stephen.  Intelligence field is a good one.  He had suggested special warfare but I think that is too close and although some won't figure it out others will.  Our son has in fact dropped his facebook account.  Agree with "WE are all Navy Dads" Stephen.  Well said.  As a result of this blog we did start burning Blue Candle when he was deployed.  Like the idea of continuing to burn the candle as we know several others are deployed even when he is not.  Blue ELECTRIC candle is a good idea as well.    

just a note that you can send private message here as well....go to someone's profile page and you'll see the link to send a private message.....those are private and CANNOT be seen by anyone but the recipient

and one more thing...this group is an open forum but can be set to be private and only seen by invited members.....just something to consider in your posts

example of you are NOT supposed to post in open forums:

150 excellent men with him when BUD/S started out. Only 22 made it

don't post failure rates

We had heard the same.  I contacted the public affairs office (phone # was on the invitation) but never received a reply.  We got part of our guys graduation ceremony recorded, but would have liked to have it from a better vantage  point.  

Hi Keith. When my son graduated, we were not told anything about a video being made or offered. Between myself, my father, and my cousin who is a professional photographer, we got some awesome shots of his graduation. You are right, it would have been great if the Navy had offered that service. I still wish I had a portrait of my son in uniform with his Trident. :-( They allow photos at the ceremony (and I assume, video as well, as most phones/cameras operate in both modes these days), but they make it very clear that any photos need to be kept off of social media. Welcome to the club, by the way. :-)

Part of the issue with the pictures may be OPSEC - With the opposition having access to internet & social media, exposure increases the risk to our guys. At the Ceremony, you are mostly looking at your guy's backside, while they are receiving their trident. You need a quick shutterfinger to get a decent side view as they move thru the presentation area.  Best part for us was after the Ceremony, being on the Grinder and being able to take family pics with the newly Trident'd guys.  Lot of leaky eyes all over.  

I've seen information on Phase 1 training showing the 'toughest week' being 2 different weeks. Know which is current, or might they mix it up to keep things unpredictable?   

Rick

My recollection of that time when my son went through is that Phase 1 was a crescendo culminating in HW.  I recall my son saying that pool comp in Phase 2 was as difficult as HW, just in a different way.  The diverse physical and mental skills required to be a SEAL are reflected and built in to all phases of this well designed training program.  Learning the lifestyle of a SEAL is a metamorphesis.  I wish your son well, Rick--you should be most proud.

How the Navy SEALs Train for Leadership Excellence...

activity includes more than just making comments...members being approved, discussions, etc. ,etc.

Anyone have a son or daughter in Ship 4, Div 819 with PIR date on Sept 2nd? I built a group for that group. Please feel free to join so we can share info...

Is this still an active site?  Heard that the site for moms changed over from the Navy to a private sector to monitor.  ??  Now it has been shut down without warning.  Just wondering if anyone has heard that this site is being handled the same way?    (I have not been active here for a long while.  Recently retired and have more time to connnect.  Son has been on the teams for a while)

Thanks.

Greg- unlike N4M, NavyDads is totally self funded and is run by a dedicated admin cadre.  We have no intentions of shutting down!

Great, thanks for the info.

Hi Greg, The Site is very low volume, I guess we are a bunch of closed mouthed guys here, OPSEC and PERSEC, and all. There is the occasional query and flurry of answers, then it is silent again. Personally, I wish there were a way for parents to connect locally.

I hear you.  This job our sons have chosen is like no other job.  We managed to have a get together last summer with west coast parents. That's another issue not only are we all over the map we are divided by coasts.  One of the groups we support  is the America's Mighty Warriors Foundation and they had a great week last July in Coronado and it was great to have so many families in the same room.