Your career counselor will verify that you meet the requirements for the SEAL or SWCC rating and submit your SEAL or SWCC application package to the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Enlisted Community Manager (ECM). Considerations are made every quarter. You're encouraged to visit the NSW ECM webpage. Your career counselor will also get your NAVPERS 1306-7 "Navy Personnel Action" initiated and completed.
When you're ready to submit your package for conversion to SEAL or SWCC use the Fleet Conversion Package Checklist. PDF SEAL or SWCC Fleet Conversion Package Checklist.
You must meet all rating conversion entry requirements. All packages will be submitted via your Command Career Counselor and the Career Waypoints (C-WAY) system for consideration by the Special Warfare Community Manager.
Schedule your official Physical Screening Test (PST) with NSWAT. When you pass your PST, NSWAT will give you a letter for your application package. If your PST was conducted in a location served by a NSWAT-approved proctor, the results must be emailed to nswat@sealswcc.com for official endorsement and a letter will be sent to you for your package. If you don't show up for your PST as scheduled, or if you fail the PST, you're disqualified from taking the test again for 45 days, so make sure you're ready to give it your all and make it count.
The interview is to screen you for a rating conversion. Contact the Naval Special Warfare Assessment Team (NSWAT) on the West or East coast to be put you in touch with the right interviewer. A list of interview questions can be found in:
Naval Special Warfare Assessment Team
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
2446 Trident Way
Building #401
San Diego, CA 92155
Open Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, closed for federal holidays.
Naval Special Warfare Assessment Team
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek (JEB Little Creek)
1820 Gator Boulevard
Naval Amphibious Base Pool
Building #3856
Virginia Beach, VA 23459
Open Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, closed for federal holidays.
If your package is approved, you'll receive orders to go to the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School (NSW Prep) located in Great Lakes, Illinois. Normally you will depart your command within six months of receiving orders. You must take and pass another PST within 30 days of departing for NSW Prep. Schedule your PST with NSWAT. Fail the PST and your Naval Special Warfare orders will be cancelled.
| ENLISTED SEAL | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Time | Rest | Average | Minimum | ||
| Swim 500 yards (breast or sidestroke) | Unlimited | 10:00 minutes | 9:30 | 12:30 | ||
| Push-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 75 | 50 | ||
| Curl-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 75 | 50 | ||
| Pull-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 15 | 10 | ||
| Run 1.5 miles | Unlimited | Event over | 9:30 | 10:30 | ||
| Use the SEAL PST Calculator to find out if you've got what it takes to join NSW. | ||||||
| SWCC | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Time | Rest | Average | Minimum | ||
| Swim 500 yards (breast or sidestroke) | Unlimited | 10:00 minutes | 10:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Push-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 70 | 50 | ||
| Curl-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 70 | 50 | ||
| Pull-up | 2:00 minutes | 2:00 minutes | 10 | 06 | ||
| Run 1.5 miles | Unlimited | Event over | 10:00 | 12:00 | ||
| Use the SWCC PST Calculator to find out if you've got what it takes to join NSW. | ||||||
SEAL candidates must be 28 or less prior to arriving at NSW Prep School. Candidates aged 29 or 30 will be considered for a waiver if they meet the needs of the community.
SWCC candidates must be 30 or less prior to arriving at NSW Prep School. Candidates aged 31 or 32 will be considered for a waiver if they meet the needs of the community.
SEAL or SWCC training is open to anyone who can meet the standards.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens.
The military has an admissions test, just like colleges have the SAT or ACT. We call ours the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB. It has several sections, each focusing on a different aspect, such as math, reading, and mechanical comprehension. This is how the Navy classifies you as competent for various jobs. A Navy recruiter will explain the details, but the standard is different for SEAL and SWCC applicants.
Navy College offers ASVAB preparation courses you can take while you arrange a re-test with your career counselor. Your Physical Screening Test (PST) scores and the strength of your overall application will be used to make a determination of eligibility.
Your Physical Screening Test (PST) scores and the strength of your overall application will be used to make a determination of eligibility. If you're already in the Navy, submit your conversion package. It will be evaluated by the Naval Special Warfare Enlisted Community Manager who will make the final determination.
Color blindness or color deficiency is disqualifying. Eyesight must be correctable to 20/25 with lenses. If your vision is worse than 20/25 but at least 20/40 in your best eye, and 20/70 in your worst eye, and you can correct it to 20/25 with lenses, then you qualify. If not, you may require eye surgery. Lasik, Lasek, or PRK are acceptable.
You may be required to provide medical documentation or submit to an examination to determine if they are waiverable.
Most are disqualifying, including food allergies.
In accordance with Naval Special Warfare policy, all candidates, regardless of gender, will maintain a 1/8" length hair cut throughout Naval Special Warfare training.
NSW operators must be of the highest moral character in order to be the Special Operations Force that America expects. As a Navy Sailor you will be required to memorize the Sailor's Creed. As a SEAL you will learn the SEAL Ethos. A SWCC will learn the SWCC Creed.