Like any other elite defense force in the world, the US Navy SEAL has its own terminology, which can be quite incomprehensible to a civilian. The terminology mostly used by SEALs is related to their training, courses, regimen, day-to-day work, and other aspects of Naval Special Warfare Command. Here are some of the widely used Navy SEAL terminologies:
| BUD/S | Stands for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs. This is 24 week long training at the NSWC in Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California. This training has a high dropout rate especially in week 3 also known as the Hell Week. Training is targeted at making the SEAL recruits tough and to strengthen their abilities to focus in difficult situations in any environment – sea, air or land. |
| DOR | Stands for Drop-On-Request. The Hell Week training is the toughest of all trainings that a SEAL recruit will ever face. It includes 132 hours of continuous activity, exercise, and other training with less than 4 hours of sleep/day. SEAL recruits are subjected to a high pressure environment where mental stress and physical fatigue is natural. In such a scenario, most SEAL instructors keep telling the boys, “Just ring the bell thrice and you can go to a nice place, have a bath, good food, beer, and some sleep”. Ringing the bell means a recruit has opted for “Drop-On-Request”. It takes a lot of mental strength and courage to avoid the temptation of “ringing the bell.” |
| SQT | Stands for SEAL Qualification Training. It is a 16-week training program that focuses on advanced skill training. Every recruit who passes through the BUD/S program has to attend the SQT. At the successful completion of the SQT, a recruit will receive his SEAL Trident and move on to the final phase – the SEAL Platoon training. |
| ULT | Stands for Unit Level Training. This is a 6-month training program conducted by NSWG1/ NSWG2 training detachments. NSWG stands for Naval Special Warfare Group and they provide ULT in different areas of modern warfare like Special Reconnaissance, VBSS (vessel board, search, and seize), Close Quarters Combat, Combat Swimming, Small Unit Tactics, Urban Warfare, and Rotary and Fixed Wing Air Operations among others. |
| SDV | Known as the SEAL Delivery Vehicle, this is a manned submersible that is used by the SEALs during special operations. The SDV is powered by Lithium-ion battery and is equipped with communication equipments, navigational equipments, and life support equipment. Currently the SEALs are using the Mk 8 Mod 1 SDV. |
| SIT | Known as Squadron Integration Training. This is a 6-month training program under which, 6 SEAL platoons go through advanced training. The SEAL platoons are supported by different Naval and other attachments including medical teams, special boat squadrons, cryptological support teams, HUMINT (Human Intelligence) teams, interpreters, and many others. |
| SOTIC | Stands for Special Operations Target Interdiction Course. This course trains SEAL snipers in camouflage, marksmanship, infiltration, field craft, special weapons, observation, and reconnaissance techniques. |
| CERTEX | Stands for Certification Exercise. CERTEX is conducted at the end of SIT (Squadron Integration Training) by SEAL teams. The focus area of the exercise is to synchronize various SEAL teams with platoon operations. |
These are the main terminologies used by USNS, but there are several more…
