Tadpoles (pre-trainees) must first attend either Navy Boot Camp (for enlistees) or an Officer Selection program such as Officer Candidate School, the Naval Academy or Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). It is at this indoctrination phase of your Navy career that you must volunteer to undergo the initial screening for acceptance into BUD/S training. The initial requirements are as follows:

  1. Pass a diving physical exam

  2. Have eye-sight no worse than 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other and correctable to 20/20 with no color blindness (pretty strict on this one)

  3. Minimum ASVAB score: VE + AR = 104, MC = 50 (for enlistees)

  4. 28 years old or less (pretty strict on this also, though I know guys who pursuaded the powers that be to ignore the cut-off)

  5. Only men are eligible - sorry ladies, this is no place for a respectable woman to work.

  6. Pass the Physical Fitness test (this is a cinch guys - remember it is Maximum effort they are looking for - not the minimums!

Piece of Cake gents. I highly recommend that you be able to demolish the above times and minimums or you will not cut it in training. Having met all of the above qualifications you must successfully complete the indoc program, complete a follow-on school called "A" school for enlisted, which further qualifies you in your specialty (called a rate - fireman, electrician, weapons technician etc.). Then you wait for a billet to open up - at which time you can report to Coronado, Ca. for BUD/S training (if your Commanding Officer lets you transfer - so you don't want to make yourself too indespensibe at your first command or they may keep you - you want out and fast because the only place for you now is in your newfound hell called Fourth Phase!

Naval Special Warfare Recruiter Points of Contact:

1. BUD/S Recruiter
Naval Special Warfare Center
2446 Trident Way
San Diego, Ca. 92155-5494
(619) 437-3641

2. Dive Motivator
WS/PT Division Bldg. 116
Recruit Training Command
Great Lakes, IL 60088
(708) 688-4643