What does a Navy SEAL officer do?

I'm super interested in the Navy SEALs and considering it as an option after high school. What exactly does a Navy SEAL officer do? I'm wondering about their responsibilities and the path to becoming one.

Being a Navy SEAL officer involves a diverse range of responsibilities. As an officer, you will be leading one of the U.S. military's most elite special forces units. Your duties will primarily include commanding operations and overseeing the training and tactical skills development of the team members under your leadership.

Entrance to the SEAL community as an officer requires a rigorous process. The initial journey in becoming a Navy SEAL officer begins at Officer Candidate School, a 12-week program where you are taught leadership skills, naval organization, and the fundamentals of sea and shore assignments.

Upon completion of the Officer Candidate School, you then have to pass the SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection Process (SOAS), which is an intense, multi-week course consisting of physical assessments, aptitude tests, and interviews to evaluate potential officer candidates.

Those who pass the SOAS then typically attend SEAL Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S). This training is intensely challenging and involves basic conditioning, scuba, and underwater combat skills, and land warfare instruction. The final phase of BUD/S includes an infamously grueling week known as "Hell Week," where sleep deprivation, continuous physical exertion, and extreme conditions are used to test resilience and teamwork.

Following BUD/S, candidates attend SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) where they receive specialized training in tactics, equipment, and operations. Upon completion of SQT, the candidates earn the Navy SEAL Trident, which officially designates them as a Navy SEAL.

All of these steps require exceptional physical fitness, leadership skills, and the ability to thrive in challenging environments. It's a highly competitive process with a high attrition rate, but for those who succeed, it's an opportunity to be part of one of the most elite military units in the world.