Dunno about astronaut/boat skipper, but there was a Hornet guy in my air wing who was enlisted in the Teams.
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Paths to Naval Special Warfare (SEAL)
- Thread starter AllAmerican75
- Start date
There are two SEALs who became astronauts. The first one retired a few years back and is now the S&T advisor to SOCOM. The second one is still at NASA AFAIK. Don't know Hornet pilot, but know of him. A contemporary of his was a SEAL who went through BUD/S as an enlisted, got out and went to UT, played football and then was commissioned, went through flight school and flew CODs and then went to RAG and is now back at NSWG-2 as aviation liaison where I met him. There is also a NFO who redesignated, went through BUD/S and served in teams. We had a former enlisted SEAL in Tomcat RAG in 1981-2 timeframe who persihed in an unfortunate spacial disorientation episode during a FCLP sortie.
NYYanks
Tweaking off my coffee
Not a skipper, but came across this guy while doing research for orders some time back. XO for VFA 34
http://www.vfa34.navy.mil/leadership.htm
That's him, Yanks
WUBA chariot!!!!!
Wow, those guys look like some wadded balls of gristle. They've accomplished quite a bit. Thanks HJ.
It would be a gross understatement to say they've "Been there, done that" as have the other two SEAL Vice Admirals (note: NSW had no vice Admirals in their history up to 2004). Now they have their first 4 star and 4 three stars, all of whom are in very key joint positions. The trail was blazed by this very accomplished SEAL:
Admiral Eric T. Olson is the eighth commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. USSOCOM ensures the readiness of joint special operations forces and, as directed, conducts operations worldwide.
A native of Tacoma, Wash., Olson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1973 and qualified as a Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) officer in 1974. He has served operationally in an Underwater Demolition Team, SEAL Team, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team, Special Boat Squadron, and at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He has commanded at every level.
Olson has participated in several conflicts and contingency operations, and has served as a SEAL instructor, strategy and tactics development officer and joint special operations staff officer. His overseas assignments include service as a United Nations military observer in Israel and Egypt, and as Navy Programs officer in Tunisia. He served on the Navy staff as assistant deputy chief of Naval Operations (Plans, Policy, and Operations).
Olson earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and studied at the Defense Language Institute. He is a Joint Specialty officer and Political-Military Affairs sub-specialist with emphasis on Africa and the Middle East. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star.
NYYanks
Tweaking off my coffee
It would be a gross understatement to say they've "Been there, done that" as have the other two SEAL Vice Admirals (note: NSW had no vice Admirals in their history up to 2004). Now they have their first 4 star and 4 three stars, all of whom are in very key joint positions. The trail was blazed by this very accomplished SEAL:
Admiral Eric T. Olson is the eighth commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. USSOCOM ensures the readiness of joint special operations forces and, as directed, conducts operations worldwide.
A native of Tacoma, Wash., Olson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1973 and qualified as a Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) officer in 1974. He has served operationally in an Underwater Demolition Team, SEAL Team, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team, Special Boat Squadron, and at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He has commanded at every level.
Olson has participated in several conflicts and contingency operations, and has served as a SEAL instructor, strategy and tactics development officer and joint special operations staff officer. His overseas assignments include service as a United Nations military observer in Israel and Egypt, and as Navy Programs officer in Tunisia. He served on the Navy staff as assistant deputy chief of Naval Operations (Plans, Policy, and Operations).
Olson earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School and studied at the Defense Language Institute. He is a Joint Specialty officer and Political-Military Affairs sub-specialist with emphasis on Africa and the Middle East. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star.
damn.... I had something witty to say, but all I can say is damn. This Admiral has almost been in the teams since they were founded (history is a bit off right now, I believe '69) and even did what I know many strive for, DEVGRU. After reading his bio, it is no surprise he is the HMFIC over at SOCOM.
The SEALs were established in 1961 when JFK pumped a lot of money into beefing up of US special forces, the same President who gave the official okay to the long-standing unofficial practice of the US Army Special Forces to wear their Green Berets.
NYYanks
Tweaking off my coffee
Knew I brain farted the year, thank you for the correction Sir. I didn't know about JFK officially authorizing the beret for the Special Forces though, thanks for the info.
His bio is extremely modest. In fact, he did not even have a bio posted until he became USSOCOM. If the movie Blackhawk Down was entirely authentic, it would include his role in organzing the relief effort and personally leading from the front taking apart barriers of flaming tires under fire. Although he received the Silver Star for his actions, he declined to have his role portrayed in the film. As of July 2009, he is the active duty SEAL with longest tenure (ie the "BULL FROG").
BTW - He wasn't just a member of DEVGRU, he was the commander and made flag afterwards. I gave him a personal tutorial on How Pentagon Works as he took over deputy N3/5 billet (his first true assignment outside SPECWAR/SPECOPS domain). He's one of the smartest, if not the smartest, flag officers I have ever met.
There were two guys that were at OCS with me that were off-the-street SPECWAR types. Both of them were in that Discovery Channel documentary that followed the BUD/s class all the way through a few years back. One guy made it, the other didn't. I could have told you that the guy that didn't make it wouldn't. I beat him in runs at OCS. If I can beat you in a run, you have no business being in SPECWAR as I, Boomhower, have never been able to impress the ladies with my sloth-like speed on the road.
I know one guy that did it more recently than the Admirals that everyone has posted, he'd be an O-4 by now, but was a new LT when I met him. Great guy. Academy guy that did very well at the boat school, and just barely missed the selection for SPECWAR. He went SWO and absolutely kicked ass so he was able to get a spot at BUD/s. He was one of those guys that didn't think BUD/s was that big of a deal.
To the OP, the odds are very much against you if you go this route. It is very easy to be a "middle of the road" SWO junior officer. Breaking out to the point of getting a BUD/s spot is quite rare. But, don't let me discourage you from your dream. I would try the enlisted route as that seems to have the most success. Best of luck!
I know one guy that did it more recently than the Admirals that everyone has posted, he'd be an O-4 by now, but was a new LT when I met him. Great guy. Academy guy that did very well at the boat school, and just barely missed the selection for SPECWAR. He went SWO and absolutely kicked ass so he was able to get a spot at BUD/s. He was one of those guys that didn't think BUD/s was that big of a deal.
To the OP, the odds are very much against you if you go this route. It is very easy to be a "middle of the road" SWO junior officer. Breaking out to the point of getting a BUD/s spot is quite rare. But, don't let me discourage you from your dream. I would try the enlisted route as that seems to have the most success. Best of luck!
Calcutta126
Gay guitar pickers don't turn me on
^ the T in Adm Eric T. Olson stands for THOR, you can't get any more badass than that!
