What is the Naval Academy BUD/S program like?

I've heard about BUD/S in relation to the Naval Academy, and I'm curious about what it involves. Is it a program that students can participate in while attending the academy, or is it something different?

BUD/S, which stands for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL, isn't a program you participate in during the Naval Academy. Instead, it's a separate training program that individuals undergo after graduating from the Naval Academy (or another commissioning source) if they want to become a Navy SEAL, which is a special operations role.

It's an extremely challenging program known for its rigorous physical and mental demands. It is divided into three phases: Basic Conditioning, Combat Diving, and Land Warfare. These phases put trainees through intensive physical conditioning, underwater skills development, and fully immerse them in land warfare tactics respectively. The whole BUD/S program lasts for approximately six months.

Not all Naval Academy students will go on to BUD/S training. Only those who pass a Naval Special Warfare Physical Screening Test, which includes swimming, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and running, are considered. Then they must be selected, as there are more applicants than there are available spots within the SEAL program.

Once in BUD/S, it's a highly competitive environment with a high dropout rate, but if you pass, you'll enter SEAL Qualification Training, which leads to becoming a Navy SEAL. Just remember, it's a significant commitment and not something to be entered into lightly.