Can you have a GED and still be a navy SEAL?

Answer 1

The short answer is Yes, but there's a lot more to it than that.

Whether or not you become a SEAL or not is strictly up to sheer will and determination. BUDS graduates comprise a very small percentage; it is equivalent to those who begin Martial Arts and reaching 1st Dan level. Only about 1% of those who begin will make it to the end. In some classes, there are no grads.

A GED has nothing to do with any particular job in the Navy - it does however, have to do with your qualifications to join the service. While the Navy and services do prefer a diploma for certain reasons, they will accept a GED for Enlistment. However, there are other more specific requirements for SEAL's/BUDS candidates:

1. Must meet specific vision requirements - they're not posted, but if you're color blind you won't be accepted. Same with any Electronics program - Electronics is one thing - setting and defusing bombs is another. I will say this - Medical requirement tend to get overlooked or are relaxed in wartime because of manpower shortages in all areas. For example, when I was in the Navy, only non-technical rates could be SEAL's (enlisted) - that meant either Corpsman, Yeoman, or a Cook. It has since changed - anyone who meets the qualification requirements and volunteers can apply. I was a Submarine Sonar Tech - my best friend lost one of his SEAL buddies he was with in Iraq to action in Afghanistan, in which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was a Sonarman as well. Times change, as do the requirements.

2. You must achieve a high enough ASVAB entrance score - if you're weak in Math, Science, Perception puzzles and similar things, you need to beef up on them. The higher your score is will allow you to pick and choose your career path. At one point only the Army was taking non HS grads or GED holders - about 15 - 20 years ago, they realized that even they were getting so technical they needed people with minimum skill and knowledge levels. Remember asking in school why you'll ever need a subject you were in class for? They were all more relevant than you thought.

3. Must be a MALE U.S. Citizen - though the Navy does accept some Foreign Nationals, you must be a Citizen to be a SEAL. Also, by current law, only males are allowed in the SEAL Teams.

4. Specific medical problems - aside from any vision problems as I noted above, there are certain medical problems that will prevent you from passing the screen for BUDS training. Though the screen is mostly psychological, it is similar to what I had to go through for Submarine Duty screening.

5. Though students I've had who have successfully become SEAL's listened to my advice in that the majority of the training is psychological (the whole purpose of BUDS training is to weed out quitters when it gets REALLY tough) the physical stamina required cannot be underestimated. SEAL's are Olympic athletes and are the best in any element with a gun, knife or bare hands. You cannot get to that level without mental focus and discipline. While it can be learned, it's not easy - you have to have some level of mental focusing ability to begin with. Generally the people who make it are average, but with a mental will and determination that won't let them quit. You do not have to be Arnold Schwarzenneger in muscle, but you do need to be Arnold when it comes to the mental discipline he had when training for Mr. Universe contests. They will build you physically, but they can't build a person mentally if the person doesn't have it to begin with.

If you decide to go that route and ultimately qualify, my advice is this: Whatever the task, whatever the order, no matter how long it takes, no matter what it takes to achieve an objective you're given, do not stop until you've completed it. It doesn't make any difference if you're good with something or not - they can teach you to be good with training. But if you quit, it means you don't have the mental toughness required of SEAL's to survive when things are at there absolute worst. NEVER QUIT.