Navy SEALS

[ajoiner]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but after a search of the forum yielded nothing, I decided to post.

A friend of mine decided to join the Navy. He met every single requirement to become a Navy SEAL except for one, red/green colorblindness. After he talked to several people, he was told that if he joined the Navy with a different job, he could get a waiver and become a SEAL.

Well, he signed on the dotted line and took the oath. After all of this, he was informed that he would not be able to obtain a waiver, ever. His dreams of being a SEAL has been crushed and he is heart-broken.

Is there anything he can do to get out of his contract?

[CAPSmith]

Originally Posted by ajoiner

Apologies if this has been asked before, but after a search of the forum yielded nothing, I decided to post.

A friend of mine decided to join the Navy. He met every single requirement to become a Navy SEAL except for one, red/green colorblindness. After he talked to several people, he was told that if he joined the Navy with a different job, he could get a waiver and become a SEAL.

Well, he signed on the dotted line and took the oath. After all of this, he was informed that he would not be able to obtain a waiver, ever. His dreams of being a SEAL has been crushed and he is heart-broken.

Is there anything he can do to get out of his contract?

Be an absolute dud at basic, wash-out and get an administrative discharge, I suppose. Doesn't look very favorable though. I would question his desire to serve if something that small changed his mind of serving though.

[ajoiner]

I asked him what he wanted to do and he replied that he doesn't want to be "behind a desk" for his term. He really is an athletic person and loves being 'out and about'. He is considering trying to get into the U.S.M.C. to become an Infantryman.

[FeelinFroggy]

Originally Posted by ajoiner

After he talked to several people, he was told that if he joined the Navy with a different job, he could get a waiver and become a SEAL.

Exactly who told him this?

[ajoiner]

Hm, I'm not sure. I will ask him this afternoon when I see him and I will be sure to let you know.

Until then, if it was a recruiter or someone at MEPS?

[wukong]

Originally Posted by ajoiner

He met every single requirement to become a Navy SEAL except for one, red/green colorblindness. After he talked to several people, he was told that if he joined the Navy with a different job, he could get a waiver and become a SEAL.

Wrong! In order to become a SEAL or any other specialty one has to complete training for that specialty. Medical, physical, educational requirements to enter training for a job specialty does not constitute "every single requirement." If your friend is not motivated to be a sailor, I doubt he has the motivation to survive SEAL training.

The Navy as well as the other services offer many not so obvious opportunities for skills acquisitions such as weapons maintenance or parachute rigging (will get you to jump school in several services) that are marketable in the other services when an opening for a transfer is available. EOD is not a "behind the desk" type of job and entails both high risk and equally high respect among professional of all services. With a little looking around you and your friend might be surprised to find that there are a great many job specialties that will get your nose down deep in the dirt. Those of us who have made a career know that every job is essential to the mission.

[FeelinFroggy]

Wukong is right, and offers some good advice. That oath he took means everything, more than becoming a SEAL. And if he's willing to take CAPSmith's advice and "be and absolute dud" at basic, then he's not worthy of the title.

If that's not the case, and he does well at basic, tell him the world is not over and his athletic abilities can be tested in many ways, with many different jobs.

[JohnP]

Originally Posted by wukong

Those of us who have made a career know that every job is essential to the mission.

Well put my brother.

This is from the Navy.com web site:
As a SEAL, SWCC, EOD Technician or Navy Diver, you may be called upon to dispose of ocean-borne mines or conduct combat operations in any environment throughout the world. To qualify for special warfare/special operations, you must complete an intense physical and mental conditioning program. The competition to become a member is fierce, but if you're motivated, self-disciplined, in excellent physical condition and have the passion to perform under pressure in extreme environments, the Special Warfare/Special Operations field might be the perfect place for you. Typical missions include gathering enemy intelligence, performing covert reconnaissance or conducting counterterrorist operations and performing long-range maritime transit in support of a variety of Special Operations.

I agree with Wukong, if he’s not motivated to press on with his original decision, no matter what a recruiter says, he’s not the type needed in our service.

Follow this url for more information on what careers are in the US Navy:

http://www.navy.com/careers/

I originally enlisted in the US Air Force for an opportunity to qualify for Pararescue. I was not selected. It didn’t deter me from finding other opportunities. I went from being a regular Security Policeman to Air Base Defense SP to Emergency Services Security Police to Tactical Air Control Parties. Each and every job I had was important for the overall mission of the US Air Force and our Great Nation. Quit whining about not getting a chance to be an operator. Grab what you have, make the best of the situation and drive on.

The brother of one of my employees attempted SEAL school 4 times before succeeding. I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it until my voice can no longer be heard, “It is the internal qualities not the external that make a man.”

[DaveIn3D]

Originally Posted by wukong

The Navy as well as the other services offer many not so obvious opportunities for skills acquisitions such as weapons maintenance or parachute rigging (will get you to jump school in several services) that are marketable in the other services when an opening for a transfer is available. EOD is not a "behind the desk" type of job and entails both high risk and equally high respect among professional of all services. With a little looking around you and your friend might be surprised to find that there are a great many job specialties that will get your nose down deep in the dirt. Those of us who have made a career know that every job is essential to the mission.

Wrong!!

Being a red/green color-blind person myself, I can tell you that EOD wont even look at you. TACP,CCT,PJ wont look at you.The Air Force wont even let you go to airborne school if you have red/green color issues. I tried to be gung-ho in the Air Force and they said no. So I joined the Marines where every one is given their fair chance to kill someone.

Now your friend could try the brown water navy and go to a river boat unit. You get to play with big guns and support raiding parties. Dont know about the color-vision requirments though. But it doesnt really matter what branch you are in, red/green color blindness will dis-qualify you from nearly all spec-ops fields.

-3D

[ajoiner]

@Wukong: With respect, we both know that EOD isn't a "behind the desk" job. However, red/green colorblindness dis-qualifies him [as per 3D and my friends father, a retired CPO.]

@3D: To transfer from one service to another, you have to wait for a slot to become available?

@JohnP: He is going to press on with his decision to join, he is just trying to figure out his options from this point. As it stands, he's in DEP and the job he has selected is a CTI.