The Making Of A Navy SEAL

Evening News Exclusive: How The Navy Is Re-Tooling Its Approach To Recruitment For The Toughest Training In The World

(CBS)  "Hell Week" for soldiers training to be Navy SEALs is five days and nights of the most grueling military training ever devised.

CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier reports SEALs specialize in high-risk operations, like Sunday's daring rescue of cargo ship captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates. Whenever an American is taken hostage, the SEALs immediately start planning for action.

But the training's so tough the SEAL command had been falling behind, failing to produce enough new SEALs.

They've been ordered to grow from roughly 1,800 now to 2,500 by the year 2012.

Explains Navy SEAL Lt. Rorke Denver, "Since, you know, post-9/11 operations kicked off, the amount of successful operations has just been staggering. So I think everybody looked at that and said, 'Wow, we need more of these guys.'"

Only 20 to 30 percent of men are expected to make it through SEAL training. Commanders want to raise that pass rate to 50 percent -- but without lowering standards. So they're targeting new candidates who may not have even considered a career in the military.

They're looking at young athletes who excel in sports requiring endurance and discipline, like rugby, wrestling, swimming and water polo.

Terry Schroeder coaches the U.S. Olympic water polo team. He's helping get the word out to top high school swimmers that the Navy SEALs are looking for young men like them.

"I think there's a lot in common," Schroeder says. "We learn to battle, we learn to work hard."

Swimmer Jonathan Imbert has signed up. "It's putting yourself on a team with maybe 10, 11 people and doing what an entire army might have to go and do," Imbert says.

Imbert's next stop is a new two-month Olympic-style pre-SEAL training program: from workouts, to sports visualization, to a psychological screening test.

Recent Hell Week inductees did the pre-training before they arrived, and something's working. Out of a 111 who started, 75 survived Hell Week -- one of the largest classes ever to make it through.

[maria2jj]

To all those who r talkin bad about these guys shame on you. They are the ones who are gonna fight for us. Im proud of all these guys especially my brother. we should be grateful to them for doing this cause their not just doing it for themselves their doing it for AMERICA. To all the guys in training i wish u the best you all will be in my prayers. NAVY SEALS U ARE THE BEST THERE IS OUT THERE. Keep working hard dont give up. I LOVE YOU BRO

[vicjones4]

A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT PREVIOUS POSTS.

GI JANE WAS CRAP.

MEMBERS OF OTHER BRANCHES CAN BECOME SEALS IF THEY CROSS-COMMISSION INTO THE NAVY.

WHILE DELTA FORCES ARE AMONG THE BEST WARRIORS IN THE WORLD; NAVY SEALS HAVE BROADER CAPABILITIES - HENCE the name SEAL: SEa-Air-Land

[vicjones4]

A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT PREVIOUS POSTS.

GI JANE WAS CRAP.

MEMBERS OF OTHER BRANCHES CAN BECOME SEALS IF THE CROSS-COMMISSION INTO THE NAVY.

WHILE DELTA FORCES ARE AMONG THE WARRIORS IN THE WORLD; NAVY SEALS HAVE BROADER CAPABILITIES - HENCE the name SEAL: SEa-Air-Land

[rational_1]

U.S. Navy a liar -- Three pirates executed in cold blood
Look at the facts:
Posted by Alabama_John at 12:29 PM : Apr 14, 2009

There is only one fact that needs to be looked at here: those dirtbags were holding that Captain at the point of a gun. That in of itself is reason enough to shoot them. If you point a gun at someone, you shouldn't be at all surprised by a violent response. Everything else you wrote is completely irrelevant; if the pirates didn't want to risk getting shot, all they had to do was give up.

[sean1z]

The Navy Seals executed Somalis in a humane and effective way. They meant only to end the piracy situation. Threats from paranoid Somalis will not stop their effort.

[bigpappa160]

I just want to clarify something about this article that is stated in the 1st sentence about Hell Week. Navy Seals are not soldiers. Soldiers with a capital S are found in the Army. Navy personal are the ones that apply for Navy Seal training. It is like for the Army personal can apply for Special Forces Training. Now if everyone is thinking about the movie GI Jane, well, folks, there isn't a unit like that, that is made up of different personal from branches of the military services to make up a special unit. That is a movie!!!

[tuckerman1]

My eighteen year old son was a high school swimmer and runner. He is graduating from Navy Boot Camp next week before heading to his next school, pre-SEAL training! He has found his passion in life and is thrilled to be able to support himself in this economy. I am amazed more young people aren't taking advantage of the opportunity the military has to offer.

[Dgunner]

Life savers , liberty makers, patriots. and last but not least just simply amazing to watch work.

[rational_1]

They need to get Demi Moore. She was tougher than all the men in that "GI Jane" movie.
Posted by daffy64 at 5:20 PM : Apr 13, 2009

LOL - ya all 5' 5", 105 dripping wet pounds of her! Raaawwr!!! As soon as she can pass the test of benchpressing a couple of 3L Coke bottles, she'll be shipped off to Somalia.