Navy SEALs, United States, are highly trained special forces troops in the U.S. Navy. Special forces troops work in small groups, usually in secret. The name SEAL stands for SEa, Air, and Land. Navy SEALs are trained to fight in all three areas. SEAL missions include scouting and intelligence (information) gathering, hostage rescue, and counterterrorism activities. SEALs also fight in direct combat missions. There are about 2,500 SEALs. They are organized into nine active duty SEAL teams that are publicly acknowledged by the Navy. There are also two reserve teams and several support teams.
Training.
A person must train for a year and a half to become a SEAL. According to the Navy, only about 20 percent of people who attempt the training complete it. The training includes extreme physical exercise, such as swimming in cold surf, with limited food and sleep.
History.
The SEAL teams developed from underwater demolition teams created during World War II (1939-1945). They were officially organized in 1962. SEALs have taken part in every war the United States has fought since then, as well as a number of secret missions outside of wars.
The most famous SEAL operation was the nighttime helicopter raid on Osama bin Laden’s secret compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011. Bin Laden, who was shot and killed, was the leader of al-Qa’ida, the terrorist organization responsible for the September 11 terrorist attacks.
See also Navy, United States (The Operating Forces); Navy, United States (Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan).
