The attrition rate among enlisted personnel is significantly higher than among officers in Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, despite both groups undergoing the same training program. This is attributed to the different selection and preparation processes for enlisted personnel and officers.
Key Points:
- The selection process for enlisted personnel historically involved less stringent pre-screening compared to officers, leading to a higher number of unprepared candidates and a higher attrition rate.
- Officers face rigorous competition for limited BUD/S slots, resulting in those selected being better prepared physically and mentally for the rigors of the program.
- Officers can participate in a program called SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection (SOAS), a preparatory course that allows candidates to experience a taste of the training and helps them decide whether to pursue full BUD/S training.
- A similar preparatory program, the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School (known as BUD/S Prep), has been introduced for enlisted personnel to help improve their success rate, though it’s unclear whether this will significantly reduce enlisted attrition rates.
- Regardless of the programs in place, the BUD/S training will not lower its standards to accommodate more participants, ensuring that the integrity of the SEAL Teams is maintained.
