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Navy Takes New Approach to SpecWar, SpecOps Recruiting

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060320-16
Release Date: 3/20/2006 9:30:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Jason Keith Pederson, Navy Recruiting District San Diego and Journalist 3rd Class Christopher Menzie, Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- The Navy is taking a new approach to recruiting potential candidates for Naval Special Warfare/Naval Special Operations (NSW/NSO) programs with the introduction of NSW/NSO program managers at each Navy Recruiting District (NRD).

NSW/NSO program managers’ sole purpose is to educate applicants on every detail about each special warfare or special operations program.

“This program will allow recruiters to thoroughly educate our applicants,” said Chief Navy Counselor Walfrido Giovanetty, NRD San Diego NSW/NSO program manager. “They will know now what they can expect from the NSW/NSO courses, what their responsibility in each community will be and understand the physical challenges they have ahead of them. It’s important they know what kind of commitment it takes to make it in the SEAL (Sea, Air, Land), SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman), EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) or Diver community.”

To better understand the needs of NSW/NSO, program managers met at the BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training facility in Coronado, Calif., Feb. 28 to March 2 and learned to administer the Physical Screening Test (PST), and attended seminars and briefs about what each program has to offer so applicants can make informed decisions about which program they would like to join, if any.

“We are not just targeting SEAL awareness, but also the SWCC and EOD programs,” said Master Chief Electronics Technician (SEAL) Victor Licause. Licause is the new NSW/NSO liaison at Commander, Navy Recruiting Command whose primary job is to help educate recruiters about what it really takes to make it in the NSW/NSO communities. “Recruiters just weren’t aware of the details – especially the physical requirements – of becoming a SEAL or a member of SWCC or EOD.”

Program managers will also be responsible for administering the PST to potential applicants.

“Most people who volunteer to be a SEAL, SWCC, EOD or Divers already know they want to do it,” said Licause. “This is about educating them on what it takes to prepare for the PST in basic training so they can make it at BUD/S. This is about setting our future Sailors up for success.”