BUD/S Training: Everything You Need To Know About Navy SEAL Training

What You Need to Know About BUD/S Training for Navy SEALs

BUD/S Training for Navy SEALs is the primary gateway to earning the Navy SEAL Trident — a grueling 24-week program held at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California.

Here is a quick snapshot of what it involves:

BUD/S does not get you in shape. You must arrive in shape. The program is designed to find candidates who simply will not quit — physically, mentally, or emotionally.

I’m Larry Fowler, publisher of the USMilitary.com Network since 2007, and I’ve spent nearly two decades helping servicemembers and recruits navigate complex military career decisions — including BUD/S Training for Navy SEALs. In this guide, I’ll walk you through every stage of the pipeline so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

Handy BUD/S Training for Navy SEALs terms:

• Navy SEALs BUD/S Training Requirements
• What is Navy SEAL Training 3 Phases And WHy is it so tough
• A Day In The Life Of A Navy SEAL Operator

What is BUD/S Training for Navy SEALs?

If you have ever wondered what separates the elite from the rest of the pack, the answer lies on the sandy beaches of Coronado, California. Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, universally known as BUD/S, is a 24-week selection and training program designed to test a candidate’s physical endurance, mental toughness, and emotional resilience to the absolute limit.

We often get asked: Why is BUD/S considered one of the most grueling military training programs on Earth? The answer is simple. It is not just a school to teach you combat skills; it is a systematic weeding-out process. The instructors are not there to coach you through a bad day; they are there to find the breaking point of every single person who steps onto the “grinder” (the famous asphalt courtyard at the Naval Special Warfare Center).

Historically, the roots of the SEALs trace back to the World War II Naval Construction Battalions (Seabees) and Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs) formed in the spring of 1943. These brave units cleared obstacles on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day. Later, Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) made history during the Korean War. In January 1962, the first official SEAL teams were commissioned to meet the demands of unconventional warfare in Vietnam.

Today, the mission of a SEAL is incredibly diverse, ranging from direct-action raids and capturing high-value targets to special reconnaissance and underwater demolition. To learn more about what this school represents, check out our guide on What is BUD/S Training or explore the detailed background on United States Navy SEAL selection and training – Wikipedia.

Eligibility Requirements and the Physical Screening Test (PST)

Before you can even dream of shivering in the Pacific Ocean, you must prove you have the baseline physical and mental capabilities to handle the workload. The Navy has strict entry requirements for anyone seeking a Special Warfare Operator (SO) contract.

To be eligible, you must:

1. Be a United States citizen.
2. Be between the ages of 18 and 29 (though 17-year-olds can enlist with parental consent, and occasional waivers are granted for older candidates).
3. Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
4. Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) with highly competitive scores in specific line categories.
5. Meet medical standards for diving and special operations, and be eligible for a Secret security clearance.

Once you tick those administrative boxes, you have to face the Physical Screening Test (PST). Many candidates make the mistake of aiming for the bare minimums. Let us be completely honest: if you only hit the minimums, you probably won’t get a contract, and you definitely won’t survive the first week of training.

Here is how the minimum standards compare to what is actually competitive if you want to succeed:

For more details on these benchmarks, take a look at our breakdown of Navy SEAL Physical Requirements and the career overview on Navy SEAL Training: Requirements and What To Expect | Indeed.com.

Preparing for BUD/S Training for Navy SEALs

How should you prepare before shipping out? The preparation phase actually begins long before you arrive in California. We strongly advise that you train to far exceed the competitive standards before you ever sign your contract.

Historically, candidates who have composite PST scores below 800 are three times more likely to succeed than the average student. Your goal should be to make physical fitness a lifestyle. You need to run in boots, swim with fins, and perform thousands of bodyweight exercises to build joint durability.

Once you enlist, you will attend Navy Recruit Training Command (Boot Camp) in Great Lakes, Illinois. Your primary goal during boot camp is simple: don’t get sick, don’t get hurt, and maintain your physical conditioning.

Immediately following boot camp, you will attend the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School (BUD/S Prep) in Great Lakes. This is an intensive, multi-week course focused entirely on physical preparation. You will run on soft surfaces, swim miles in the pool with fins, and learn proper recovery techniques. At the end of BUD/S Prep, you must pass a modified PST—including longer swims of 800 to 1,000 meters with fins and a timed four-mile run—before earning your ticket to Coronado. For a step-by-step roadmap of this prep journey, read our Navy SEALs BUD/S Training Requirements Guide.

The Three Phases of BUD/S Training

Once you arrive at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, you will complete a three-week Orientation phase. This is an introduction to the obstacle course, the local environment, and the daily expectations of the instructors. It is your final chance to adjust to the cold Pacific water before the real training begins.

BUD/S is divided into three distinct, seven-week phases. Each phase is designed to test and build a specific set of skills, and we have outlined them below. If you want a deep dive into why these phases are so notoriously difficult, read The Ultimate Guide to Navy SEAL Training: 3 Phases and Why Is It So Tough and check out the resources on BUD/S | Navy SEALs.

Phase 1: Basic Conditioning and the Crucible of Hell Week

First Phase is where the majority of candidates decide that the SEAL life is not for them. It is seven weeks of continuous physical training, ocean swims of up to two miles, weekly four-mile beach runs in boots, and endless hours of calisthenics on the grinder.

The absolute pinnacle of First Phase is Hell Week, which takes place during the fourth week. Hell Week is a five-and-a-half-day test of pure, unadulterated human will. Here is what candidates face:

• Sleep deprivation: Candidates receive only about four hours of total sleep over the entire 5.5 days.
• Physical volume: You will run more than 200 miles, often while carrying heavy inflatable boats (IBS) on your head or logs with your crew.
• Constant wetness: You will spend hours cold, wet, and sandy, performing physical training for more than 20 hours a day.

Hell Week is designed to strip away your physical strength and force you to rely entirely on your mental determination and your teammates. The instructors want to see how you perform when you are cold, exhausted, and hallucinating from lack of sleep. Do you still lead? Do you still support your teammates? Or do you fold? To learn more about this legendary mental test, read our detailed article on Hell Week Navy SEAL Training.

Phase 2 and Phase 3 of BUD/S Training for Navy SEALs

If you survive Hell Week and make it to Second Phase, congratulations—you have proven you won’t quit. But the physical challenges do not stop; they simply shift focus.

Second Phase (Combat Diving) is what truly separates Navy SEALs from every other special operations force in the world. Over seven weeks, you will become an expert in combat diving. You will learn both open-circuit (SCUBA) and closed-circuit (rebreather) diving.

The ultimate test of Second Phase is “Pool Competency.” Instructors will underwater “attack” your breathing apparatus, tangling your hoses, turning off your air, and ripping off your mask. You must remain completely calm, systematically solve the problems, and stay submerged. Panic means failure, and failure means being dropped from the course.

Third Phase (Land Warfare) takes place over the final seven weeks. The training shifts to weapons, demolitions, land navigation, and small unit tactics.

Much of this phase is spent on San Clemente Island, a rugged, isolated island off the coast of California. Here, you will learn to shoot, move, and communicate as a squad. You will conduct live-fire drills, learn to handle military explosives, and carry out simulated tactical missions. It is , highly dangerous, and demands absolute focus. To understand how these phases build the foundation of an operator, read our guide on BUD/S Training.

Safety Reforms and the Post-BUD/S Pipeline

While BUD/S is designed to be incredibly tough, safety and medical oversight have become major priorities in recent years. This shift was accelerated following the tragic death of Seaman Kyle Mullen in February 2022. Mullen successfully completed Hell Week with Class 352 but passed away from bacterial pneumonia just hours after securing.

A subsequent investigation revealed systemic gaps in post-Hell Week medical monitoring and command oversight. You can read the official findings in the Command Investigation Report.pdf).

In response, the Naval Special Warfare Command implemented sweeping safety reforms, including:

• Enhanced medical screenings before, during, and after Hell Week.
• Increased presence of advanced medical personnel and specialized equipment on standby.
• Strict monitoring of candidate recovery and rest periods.
• Active screening and testing protocols for Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) to protect candidate health.

Graduating BUD/S is a massive achievement, but it does not mean you get to wear the Trident yet. After graduation, candidates attend the Basic Parachutist Course (Airborne School) in Fort Moore, Georgia, followed by the 26-week SEAL Qualification Training (SQT).

SQT teaches advanced cold-weather survival, advanced tactics, maritime operations, and close-quarters combat. Only after successfully completing SQT does a candidate finally receive their Special Warfare Operator rating and earn the coveted Navy SEAL Trident. To see what this entire multi-year timeline looks like, explore the Navy SEAL Training Journey & Challenges.

What is the attrition rate for BUD/S training?

The numbers do not lie: BUD/S has one of the highest attrition rates in the military.

• The overall attrition rate for BUD/S sits between 68% and 75%.
• Hell Week alone historically eliminates more than 75% of those who manage to start Phase 1.
• Only about 9.5% of all candidates who sign an enlistment contract with the goal of becoming a SEAL actually complete the entire pipeline and earn their Trident.

It is a statistical reality that highlights why mental preparation is just as important as physical training. For an in-depth look at how this intense selection process reshapes a person, read How BUD/S Navy SEAL Training Changes Your Life Forever.

Can women attend BUD/S training?

Yes, women are fully eligible to attend BUD/S training. The Department of Defense opened all combat roles, including special operations, to women in December 2015.

The physical and mental standards for BUD/S remain exactly the same for all candidates, regardless of gender. In August 2017, the first female candidate entered the SEAL training pipeline but dropped out during the three-week Indoctrination phase. In 2019, the first woman successfully completed the rigorous screening required to secure a BUD/S contract.

Additionally, on July 15, 2021, the first woman successfully graduated from the Naval Special Warfare training pipeline to become a Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC), marking a historic milestone for the community.

What happens if a candidate fails or quits BUD/S?

If a candidate decides they can no longer take the cold, the sand, or the physical punishment, they can “Drop on Request” (DOR). This is done by physically ringing a brass bell hanging on the grinder three times and placing their helmet liner on the deck.

When a candidate DORs or is dropped for performance/academic failure, they are sent back to the fleet. Because they signed a Navy enlistment contract, they must serve out the remainder of their contract in a traditional fleet rating (such as a boatswain’s mate or culinary specialist).

However, if a candidate is performing exceptionally well but suffers a legitimate medical injury (like a broken bone or severe pneumonia), they are not forced to quit. Instead, they are placed in a medical hold unit to heal and are “rolled back” to a later class to resume training where they left off.

Conclusion

The path to becoming a Navy SEAL is one of the most demanding journeys a person can undertake. From the initial physical screening test to the cold nights of Hell Week and the tactical challenges of San Clemente Island, BUD/S Training for Navy SEALs is designed to forge the most resilient maritime operators in the world.

At USMilitary.com, we are dedicated to providing the resources, branch comparisons, and career guidance you need to make informed decisions about your military journey. Whether you are preparing to enlist, researching VA home loan benefits, or looking into military retirement options, we are here to support you every step of the way.

If you are ready to take the first step toward the ultimate military challenge, make sure you check out our comprehensive Navy SEALs Complete Guide to help you prepare. Train hard, stay focused, and remember: the only easy day was yesterday.