pqs chapter 9 naval specwar/specops

special warfare pin

special operations

naval special warfare mission

characterized using small units w/ unique ability to conduct military actions that’re beyond the capability of conventional military forces

SEALS are

superbly trained in all environments and are the masters of maritime specops

SEALS are required to

utilize a combination of specialized training, equipment, and tactics in completion of specops missions worldwide

a tactical force with strategic impact, NSW mission areas include

• unconventional warfare

• direct acton

• anti-terrorist operations

• special reconnaissance

• foreign internal defense

• information warfare

• security assistance

• drug interdiction

• personnel recovery

• hydrographic reconnaissance

although NSW personnel comprise less than 1% of U.S. navy personnel

they offer big dividends on a small investment

SEALs’ proven ability to operate across spectrum of conflict and in ops other than war in a controlled manner, and their ability to provide real-time intelligence and eyes on target, offer decision maker immediate and virtually unlimited options in the face of rapidly changing crises around the world

most important trait that distinguishes navy SEALs from all other military forces is that

SEALs are maritime special forces, as they strike from and return to the sea

(sea, air, land) take their names from elements in and from which they operate

their stealth and clandestine methods of operation allow them to conduct multiple missions against targets that larger forces cannot approach undetected

where did modern SEAL teams first commission from

the foundation set by scouts and raiders, naval combat demolition units and underwater demolition teams

when were modern SEALs first commissioned

january 1962

by president john f. kennedy

their requirement was solidified by action in vietnam where

they advised vietnamese forces

conducted direct action missions

participated in multiple downed pilot rescues

NSW have participated in

every major conflict since then including

operation just cause in Panama

operations desert shield/storm in Iraq and Kuwait

operation restore hope and TF ranger in Somalia

other conflicts from South America to the Balkans to Haiti to operations enduring freedom/Iraqi freedom/new dawn

NSW is noted for its

execution to operations neptune spear and its continued involvement in operation inherent resolve

Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) organization

commissioned 16 april 1987, naval amphib base coronado in san diego, ca

as naval component to u.s. specops command headquartered in tampa, fl

commander, naval special warfare command provides

• vision

• leadership

• doctrinal guidance

• resources

• oversight

  ensure component maritime specops forces are ready to meet the operational requirements of combatant commanders

NSW provides a

versatile

responsive

offensively focused force w/ continuous overseas presence

the major operational components of naval special warfare command include

naval special warfare groups ONE and THREE in san diego, ca

naval special warfare groups TWO and FOUR in norfolk, va

NAVSPECWARCOM; these components deploy

SEAL teams, SEAL delivery vehicle teams, and special boat teams worldwide to meet the training, exercise, contingency, and wartime requirements of theater CO’s

with about 5400 total active duty personnel

• 2450 SEALs

  • 600 special warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC)

NSW also calls upon a

1200 person reserve of about

• 325 SEALs

• 125 SWCC

  • 775 support personnel

SEAL teams are comprised of

3 troops with 2 platoons assigned per troop (6 plts)

• command and control element

• support element that’s deployable en masse to stage overseas for extended periods of time

SEAL elements are trained to

infiltrate their objective areas by

• fixed and rotary-winged aircraft

• navy surface ships and subs

• vehicles

• underwater

• on foot

their ability to conduct clandestine, high-risk missions and provide real-time intelligence offers decision-makers excellent situational awareness and provides multiple options to conduct warfare

SEAL delivery vehicle teams (SDVT) are specifically trained to use

the Mk VIII SDV as an underwater, clandestine insertion and extraction platform

launched out of a DDS (dry deck shelter) which is attached to several navy subs

SDV teams train for

and are just as capable of the same missions as other SEAL teams

but focus specifically on insertion and extraction using this specialized platform

special boat teams (SBTs) are manned by

SWCC (“boat guys”)

although SWCCs are not SEALs,

they have extremely important role in NSW

primary mission of SBTs is the insertion and extraction of SEAL elements

they are also involved in coastal and riverine missions

platform: Mk V, 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB)

junior SEAL officers and/or SWCC chiefs often command

8 man SBT detachments like 11m MCADS (maritime craft aerial delivery system) detachment, an air-dropped boat package for quick over horizon interdiction operations

naval specwar training

BUD/S (basic underwater demolition/SEALs) is first step towards becoming a SEAL

coronado, ca

at least 6 months

officers and enlisted training together

first phase of BUD/S

highlighted by hell week and hydrographic reconnaissance

second phase, BUD/S

where students become proficient in open and closed-circuit diving

third phase of BUD/S

culmination of BUD/S w/ an emphasis on small arm, demolitions, tactics

each phase is designed to

severely test candidate’s leadership and physical and mental abilities

in addition to daily physical challenges at BUD/S

officers are expected to lead throughout training

upon completing BUD/S

grads must complete SQT (SEAL qualification training)

12+ months

extreme environment survival techniques, urban warfare, high attitude low opening (HALO) parachute training, etc.

after completing SQT

sailors will receive NSW warfare designator (trident)

new SEALs then report to their command and could be deployed overseas to combat shortly thereafter or enter troop training cycle (18month work-up in prep for deployment)

Mark VIII Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV)

mission: electrically powered designed to deliver up to 6 combat swimmers and their equipment

‘wet’ vehicle, meaning that when it submerges hull is completely flooded, swimmer’s wearing underwater breathing apparatus (UBA)

vehicle is carried in a dry deck shelter aboard a US sub

payload: equipment for up to 6 combat swimmers

crew: 2 crew + 4 passengers

Mark V Special Operations Craft

mission: used to carry specops forces (SOF), mainly SEAL combat swimmers, into and out of ops where threat to these factors is considered to be low to medium

payload: 7.62mm gatling guns, .50cal machine guns

crew: 5 crew + 16 passengers

11M NSW Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB)

mission: high speed, high buoyancy extreme weather craft used to carry SOF, primarily SEALs, into and out of maritime ops

also support coastal patrol and interdiction of enemy activities. fully interoperable with Mk V SOC combat boat

payload: 2 zodiacs, 2 heavy weapons mounts

crew: 5 crew + 8 passengers

explosive ordnance disposal mission

EODs technicians render safe all types of ordnance,

• conventional and unconventional

• improvised

• chemical

• biological

• nuclear

  to include improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and weapons of mass destruction (WMD)

EOD technicians perform

land and underwater

• location

• identification

• render-safe

• recovery (or disposal)

of foreign and domestic ordnance

EOD technicians conduct demolition of

• hazardous munitions

• pyrotechnics

• retrograde explosives

using detonation and burning techniques

EODs forward deploy and

fully integrate with the various combatant COs, special operations force (SOF), and various warfare units w/in the navy, umsc, and army

called upon to support military and civilian law enforcement agencies

EOD technicians’ missions take them

to all environments and to every climate globally

they have many assets available to help them complete their mission including

open and closed-circuit scuba and surface supplied diving rigs

parachute insertion from fixed-wing and fast-rope

rappel

special purpose insertion extraction (SPIE)

from rotary aircraft, small boats, tracked vehicles

navy eods trace their history back to

the first group of volunteers selected to work w/ the famed british UXO teams following initial German blitzkrieg attacks in early 1940

in june 1941

these veterans returned to from the first class in what was originally called mine recovery school

officers and enlisted entered 11 week school, qualifying as mine recovery personnel/second class divers

btwn june 1941 and oct 1945

19 classes graduated and deployed thruout pacific and Mediterranean theaters

divided in mobile explosive investigative units (MEIU)

they were instrumental in the clearance of explosive hazards in land and at sea

the conflict in korea

saw a return to action on various minesweepers ensuring continual clearance of shipping hazards

the now renamed explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) units took part in

inland intelligence operations and interacted w/ ground-based units in Inchon, Wonson, thruout UN theater of ops

what did vietnam see

increase in overall participation by EOD units

units from EOD mobile unit ONE

pearl harbor, HI

deployed thruout region

with an overall emphasis in sea and riverine mine clearance options,

these teams ensured continued safety for shipping and maritime ops

since the close of vietnam conflict,

the every-changing world situation and increased operational tasking have prompted expansion of EOD units in number, size, capabilities

their impressive record in recent history includes

persian gulf war where EOD techs cleared more than 500 sea mines

EOD was also critical element in eliminating unexploded ordnance from USS stark after she was hit by 2 exocet anti-ship missiles fired from iraqi aircraft

during joint operations in somalia, haiti, bosnia, kosovo

EOD provided safety and operational continuity by eliminating booby traps, weapons caches, performing mine clearance ops

EOD units are presently serving in

Afghanistan and Iraq where they are supporting the global war on terrorism by destroying post-war ordnance and reducing threat imposed by improvised explosive devices (IED) that have plagued both countries

one thing that has not changed from the beginning of EOD

the level of professionalism and dedication that has been cornerstone of the program

two EOD groups

EODGRU ONE

• san diego, ca (naval amphib base, coronado)

EODGRU TWO

• norfolk, va (naval amphib base little creek)

both groups report to the

commander, navy expeditionary combat command

each group has

readiness responsibility for several subordinate EOD mobile units (EODMU)

EODMUs are comprised of

companies with special capabilities including

• mine countermeasures companies (MCM)

• multi-mission mobile companies (MOB)

• naval special warfare companies (NSW)

• marine mammal system companies (MMS)

there are also shore detachments at various locations on east and west coasts. these units don’t deploy but are tasked w/ responding to EOD missions in U.S.

West Coast (group 1)- San Diego, CA

• Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, Pearl Harbor, HI

• EOD Training and Evaluation Unit 1, San Diego, CA

• EOD Mobile Unit 1, San Diego, CA

• EOD Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, CA

• EOD Mobile Unit 5, Guam

• EOD Mobile Unit 11, San Diego, CA

• EOD Expeditionary Support Unit 7, San Diego, CA

• Naval Special Clearance Team, San Diego, CA

East Coast (group 2)- Little Creek, VA (EOD)

• Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, Little Creek, VA

• EOD Training and Evaluation Unit 2, Little Creek, VA

• EOD Mobile Unit 2, Little Creek, VA

• EOD Mobile Unit 6, Little Creek, VA

• EOD Mobile Unit 8, Rota, Spain

• EOD Operational Support Unit 2, Little Creek, VA

EOD training pipeline starts w/

3 weeks of prep training in Great Lakes, IL

candidate will work on swim stroke development, long-range swims, physical conditioning

only enlisted members will attend this training

EOD candidates will then attend an additional

51 weeks of rigorous training

training starts w/ 9 weeks of dive school held at Naval Diving and salvage training center (NDSTC) in Panama City, FL

besides learning how to dive, candidates learn about various kinds of equipment and dive physics

after successful completion of dive school

candidates transfer to naval explosive ordnance disposal school

• Eglin air force base, fort Walton Beach, FL

this training is broken into 10 specific types of ordnance

• CORE Basic fundamentals of EOD work

• Demolition Set-up of various explosive firing trains

• Tools and Methods Familiarization with the various materials and practices of EOD work

• Biological and Chemical Familiarization with bio/chem agents used in EOD

• Ground Ordnance Projected munitions and grenades

• Air Ordnance Bombs and missiles

• Improvised Explosive Devices “Homemade bombs”

• Nuclear Ordnance Basic nuclear physics, radiation monitoring, and decontamination procedures

• Weapons of Mass Destruction EOD procedures for WMDs

• Underwater Torpedoes and other underwater explosives as well as underwater search techniques

upon basic EOD training completion,

grads will attend 3 weeks of basic airborne training (jump school) in Fort Benning, Georgia

candidates qualify as a basic parachute

after jump school

training continues at Gulfport, MS for 4 weeks

trainees undergo weapons familiarization and training w/ m4 carbine and 9mm pistol, also learn combat first aid

final phase of EOD training

3 weeks of EOD tactical training in San Diego, CA, consist of

• helicopter insertion (fast-rope, rappel, cast, SPIE)

• small arms/weapons training

• small unit tactics (weapons, self-defense, land nav, patrolling)

• tactical communications (satellite, high frequency)

after completing all EOD training

grads are assigned to EOD mobile units where they gain advanced on-the-job training and experience as members of

• mobile teams

• carrier strike group/expeditionary strike group companies

• naval special warfare companies

• marine mammal companies

new EOD officers will serve as assistant officers in charge of an EOD company

EOD techs have numerous opportunities for advanced training including

• military free fall school

• defense language institute

• jumpmaster training

• advanced improvised explosive device disposal

• EOD instructor training