ISSUE 18

DIVINGDIVING takestakes centercenter stagestage AsAs the war inin AfghanistanAfghanistan drawsdraws down,down, traditionaltraditional NSWNSW trainingtraining andand operationsoperations movemove toto thethe forefront.forefront. ISSUE contents The NSW Legacy 18 From a historical perspective, 2012 is a banner year for the Navy and Naval Special Warfare. Celebrations and ceremonies mark the anniversaries of the Battle of Midway, the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and Oct. 13 we will celebrate the Navy’s 237th birthday, recognizing that date in 1775 when the Continental Congress passed legislation authorizing the construction and purchase of America’s first Naval ships. And, of course, we continue to celebrate 50 years of Navy SEALs. All are historically significant dates, but at the time, the people involved were focused on the work and On Our Cover Navy Divers play a significant the challenges at hand. They likely thought little about how they’d be remembered for their efforts a role in NSW operations and half century later. Those SEALs who went before us operated with honor, courage and commitment. training throughout the . It was who they were. It IS who we are today. As Rear Adm. Pybus puts it in describing our identity. Photo by: MC3 Megan Anuci “We are THE TEAMS.” We must remember our history, our Character, our Ethos and the sacrifices that were made to get us where we are today. We must earn our Trident every day. To that end, I’d like to reiterate here in our magazine “Ethos,” Rear Adm. Pybus’ message to the FEATURES Force that was promulgated in early September: “Naval Special Warfare, 6 NSW Navy Divers 24 A look at the critical role NSW Divers ‘We do NOT advertise the nature of our work, play within the force. NOR do we seek recognition for our actions … .’ NSW Ethos In recent months, a number of people associated with Naval Special Warfare have violated this part of our Ethos. As the Commander of NSW, I am disappointed, DEPARTMENTS 71 Days of Dedication embarrassed and concerned. Most of us have always thought that the privilege of 9 A retired Navy SEAL bikes across working with some of our Nation’s toughest Warriors on challenging missions would America for country, teammates and self. be enough to be proud of, with no further compensation or celebrity required. Today, we find FORCE NEWS former SEALs headlining positions in a Presidential campaign; hawking details about a mission against Enemy Number 1; and generally selling other aspects of NSW training and operations. For an Elite Force that should be humble and disciplined for life, 2 News from Around the Force Coastal Campus we are certainly not appearing to be so. We owe our Chain of Command much better than this. Annual blood drive, Joggin’ for 12 NSW’s plan to expand west- At risk with irresponsible disclosures is NSW’s reputation and security. In Special Operations, trust and reputation are Frogmen 5km, “Extortion 17” coast assets to meet growing everything. Senior Leaders in SOF and the Department of Defense cannot be given reason to doubt NSW’s ability to operate memorial and more. requirements. successfully and maintain secrecy always. Dive Safety is No Accident The security of our Force and Families is also put at risk by the release of sensitive information. Our real or potential adversaries FOCUS 18 NSW’s diving protocols and safety ON THE accumulate information about the U.S. Military, including NSW, and unauthorized personal forays and activities into the Public 14 FORCE precautions breed sucess. Domain that propagate NSW details expose us to unnecessary danger. 14 Surface Mobility We must immediately reconsider how we properly influence our people in and out of uniform NOT to seek inappropriate A look at the evolution of SEALs monetary, political, or celebrity profit from their service with NSW. This is a challenge to both the Active and Former NSW and the surface craft and men that Force—we all have much to gain or lose. In the weeks ahead, we will be taking actions to meet this challenge, and I appreciate your helped shape the future of the Rise of the SWCC Master leadership and support of our community in this effort.” NSW community. 21 The SWCC community looks to overhaul qualification standards. This issue of Ethos devotes its pages to remembering our history, On page 6 you will find “Behind the Mask and ,” an article

ONYOURYOUR honoring our fallen and highlighting not only the here and now but plans highlighting Navy Divers and their support of NSW below the surface and a MIND aimed at supporting the future of NSW more than a decade from now. related article on NSW dive training safety and the importance of operational A Day of Rememberance Two news-features in Ethos issue 18 focus on how a group and an and good safety practices (page 18). 28 Reading about War 24 Seven years to the day since Operation individual chose to memorialize our fallen. “A Day of Remembrance” on Lastly, page 12 includes an article on NSW’s Coastal Campus Initiative, Retired SEAL officer Bob Red Wings, the command honors the page 24 details the 5km run that honors the men who were lost seven a proposed land-use plan, which if approved, will address our need for new Schoultz discusses the need fallen with a ceremony and a “Run to years ago during , and “71 Days of Dedication” on facilities to support and future logistics, operations, training and for Operators to not only be Remember.” warriors, but scholars. page 9 highlights retired Navy SEAL Evin Thompson’s personal story of his administration requirements. The initiative is based on SOCOM’s 10-year, 6 4,638-mile journey across America, in part, to honor the men with whom he $700 million, 21+ MILCON project plan for NSW. This singular project, served. one of several being worked in the Southern California region to support There are two articles chronicling the evolution of the Navy’s boats that NSW, has been many years in the planning, will continue to take significant COMMANDER > Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus ASSOCIATE EDITOR > Ms. Mandy McCammon have supported SEALs (page 14) as well as the development and evolution effort by hundreds of dedicated personnel over the next decade to fully FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER > Capt. William Fenick PRODUCTION MANAGER > MC2 (SW/AW) John Scorza DEPUTY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER > Ms. Patricia O’Connor STAFF > MC2 (SW) Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas, MC2 (SW/AW) Dominique of the community of sailors (SWCC) who operate the mobility platforms in execute and have a lasting impact on the future of NSW. Remember Honor, ASST. PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER > Lt. Cmdr. David McKinney Canales, MC3 Megan Anuci, MC3 Geneva G. Brier support of maritime special operations missions (page 21). Courage, Commitment because history is being made today. EDITOR > MCCS (SW/AW) Michael Raney ISSUE 18 > July - September 2012

STAFF Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli, Ethos is an official production of the Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs Office, 2000 Trident Way, San Diego, CA 92155-5599. Deputy Commander, NSW Command Send electronic submissions and correspondence to [email protected] or call (619) 522-2825. STAFF

ETHOS 1 Personnel Specialist 1st Class Joshua highest number of U.S. killed during a FORCE Delong has given blood more than a dozen single event in support of Operation Enduring times in his life and advocates the importance Freedom. Guest speakers included Army NEWS of donating. Ranger Sean Parnell, John Kelsall, father “It saves lives. It’s that simple,” said of fallen SEAL Jonas T. Kelsall and ultra Delong. “It is just an easy and good way to marathon runner Mike Rouse who all offered help out.” memories and motivation. Naval Special Warfare Hosts “One donation can save three lives,” said Rouse ran for 24 hours non-stop prior to Annual Blood Drive Rekoksi. “We have saved thousands upon the start of event in honor of his close friend, thousands of lives both at home and in Jonas. CORONADO, Calif. – Naval Special forward deployed areas over the years.” “Those men made the ultimate sacrifice so Warfare Command (NSW) hosted a Naval “Everyone should donate because it’s we could enjoy ourselves today,” said Rouse. Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) blood such a small price to pay for the possibility “We didn’t do this for ourselves or for our donor drive July 24 to support service of saving someone’s life, especially for our own profit, but to those who we want to thank members around the globe. troops,” said Yeoman 2nd Class (AW) Linda and support.” MC3 Geneva G. Brier NSW donors answered the call for Barriga. The main sponsors for the event were the MC3 Megan Anuci MC3 Geneva G. Brier potentially lifesaving blood, as Sailors and Veterans United Foundation, Navy SEAL Personnel Specialist 1st Class Joshua Delong donates blood during a blood Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (FMF) Eugene Lewis carries a flag to honor his best civilians joined in the effort and contributed Foundation, Special Operations Warrior drive conducted by the Naval Medical Center San Diego Blood Donor Center friend, Special Warfare Operator 3rd Class Denis Miranda, while running in the more than 30 pints that will benefit military Foundation, USO and Navy Federal Credit at WARCOM. Joggin’ for Frogmen 5k at San Diego State University. members and their families around the world. Joggin’ for Frogmen 5km Union. “We are a military blood donor center Run Honors Fallen Troops “We raised a lot of money for our heroes,” said Lewis. “We’re going to continue the mission, the men, and “Bart” the dog of ombudsmen, family support personnel and and our mission is to help the military,” foundations and that was our main goal,” to build his legacy with word of mouth and Extortion 17,” said Pybus. “We are a military spouses of senior leadership from all over the said Doreen Rekoski, NMCSD blood donor SAN DIEGO – More than 900 runners and said Trisha Snelgrove, Joggin’ for Frogmen our organization ‘Team Denis Miranda.’” organization. We exist only because our country in an effort to improve the way they recruiter. “We do that in a few ways; our volunteers converged on San Diego State creator and race director. “This year we ran in Volunteers gave their support by cheering nation comes under threat from others. At help NSW Sailors and their families. blood goes to military treatment facilities, University (SDSU) July 29, for the inaugural honor of the 31 heroes and next year we’ll run on the runners and directing them through the end of any day or night only our warriors “It is through the annual NSW Ombudsman deployed Navy ships and weekly troop Joggin’ for Frogmen 5 km run, a memorial for another group of warriors.” the course around SDSU. The U.S. Navy stand between us and those who would harm Conferences that we are able to focus on the shipments which sends blood out to military event honoring 31 American warriors who Some participants, like Hospital Corspman Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap us. The 30 American Soldiers and dog (Bart) unique challenges within our community treatment facilities all over the world. gave their lives in a helicopter crash Aug. 6, 2nd Class (FMF) Eugene Lewis, ran to honor Frogs, performed an aerial demonstration to memorialized here today join the long and as well as introduce and update on new and Military blood donations are limited due 2011 in Afghanistan. fallen best friends. His best buddy from high conclude the event. hallowed roll of warriors killed in action evolving programs we are offering,” Damaris to federal restrictions stating that military Twenty-two men associated with Naval school, Special Warfare Operator 3rd Class MC3 Megan Anuci fighting on our behalf.” Wilson, NSW’s family support senior analyst. collections must be performed on military Special Warfare (NSW) forces, including Denis Miranda, was one of nine military Pybus also spoke of the level of experience Navy Family Ombudsmen are a group of installations. Although anyone can donate, 17 SEALs, were among those killed. NSW personnel killed when his helicopter crashed that was lost that day, as well as the bravery dedicated volunteers who are trained to assist they must have base access to participate. men were part of a joint and combined team in Zabul Province in Southern Afghanistan NSW dedicates memorial to and fighting spirit of the men. Navy families in successfully navigating the “Donating blood saves lives,” said Rekoski. of U.S. Army aircrew, U.S. Air Force para- Sept. 21, 2010. “Extortion 17” fallen “Extortion 17 was years of combat challenges of the Navy lifestyle. “There is no substitute for human blood and rescue and combat controllers and an Afghan “Denis and I grew up together. I buried experience; men and teams that knew only During the conference, ombudsmen the lives of many combat troops have been security element. my best friend and now I plan on honoring SAN DIEGO – Naval Special Warfare success – who conducted the most difficult engaged in lectures, round table discussions saved due to a ready supply of available The event kicked off at 7 a.m., just over a his memory with running races and gaining Command (NSW) commemorated the missions, who loved defending our freedom. and held an awards ceremony. They also spent blood when injuries occur.” week shy of the one-year anniversary of the support for his family and the other fallen men of Extortion 17 by unveiling a new These particular men would fly again into a a portion of their time communicating with memorial located at the command on the first fight if called upon,” he said. each other through team building exercises anniversary of the helo crash Aug. 6, 2012. At the conclusion of Pybus’ remarks, he and aimed at helping them better understand their More than 150 service members, civilian NSW Force Master Chief (SEAL) Stephen jobs, as well as the NSW community. employees and distinguished guests gathered Link lifted a cloth covering the memorial “This conference really helps us talk with in front of the command to pay their respects which consists of a three-ton boulder with a the other wives and see how they are dealing to the fallen heroes who perished while bronze plaque inset containing the names of with things,” said Julie Dawson, LOGSU 3

Extortion 17 MC3 Geneva G. Brier conducting critical special operations combat the fallen. ombudsman. “The team building exercises in Afghanistan. The bugler soon began to play “Taps” and are very effective and we are able to get Memorial Opening remarks were delivered by Capt. salutes were rendered to honor the brave men together and resolve the problems we all are (SEAL) Jason Ehret, serving as master of to conclude the ceremony. facing.” ceremonies, who spoke of the men lost in the At the ceremony’s conclusion, the NSW At the conclusion of the conference, tragedy. staff took turns visiting the memorial and participants were presented certificates of MC3 Megan Anuci “Today marks the anniversary of Extortion reading the names of the fallen heroes. appreciation and listened to closing remarks 17, an operation in Afghanistan that claimed MC2 John Scorza from Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus, commander

Mandy McCammon MC3 Megan Anuci the lives of 17 Navy SEALs, five NSW Naval Special Warfare Command. Sailors, eight U.S. Army aircrew and U.S. Pybus spoke about stress on the force, On the one-year anniversary of the “Extortion 17” helicopter crash, WARCOM NSW hosts 6th Annual held a ceremony and unveiled a memorial in front of NSW Headquarters to Air Force para-rescue and combat controllers the importance of ombudsmen, deployment honor the men. On July 25, workers lowered three-ton boulder into place and as well as eight members from an Afghan Ombudsman Conference rotations, and answered questions. shortly after began chipping, grinding, cutting, and cleaning the rock to inset the security element.We are gathered here to “Ombudsmen have been and will remain an bronze plaque bearing the names of the fallen. On the day of the anniversary, mark this time in rememberence to reflect on SAN DIEGO – More than 35 ombudsmen essential part of the NSW community,” Wilson more than 150 people attended the ceremony to pay respects to the brave men their courage and their sacrifice,” he said. gathered for the sixth annual Naval Special said. “Their outreach and communications on who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command and Force Master Chief Steven Rear Adm. Sean Pybus, commander, Warfare (NSW) Ombudsman Conference the homefront enable the service members to Link lifted a cloth covering the memorial after the names were read during the NSW, approached the podium shortly after held in San Diego Aug. 1-3. focus on the mission and fight the fight.” ceremony. Afterward, the attendees lined up one by one to see the memorial and to deliver remarks about the courageous men. The conference helped ombudsmen MC3 Geneva G. Brier pay their respects. The memorial was placed parallel to the Operation Red Wings “Today we are dedicating a memorial to get acquainted with other community memorial and designed in its image. MC3 Geneva G. Brier 2 ETHOS MC3 Megan Anuci ETHOS 3 Navy SEAL Foundation Hosts last year and on Aug. 19the Sailors aboard NSW Teen Camp Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. MC3 Geneva G. Brier Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE) honored their

JULIAN, Calif. -- The Navy SEAL sacrifice by holding a fitness challenge that MC2 Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas Foundation sponsored a Teen Camp for 23 focused on the use of teamwork to achieve a Naval Special Warfare (NSW) teenagers Aug. common goal. 5-10 at “Camp Marston.” The challenge, called 31 Heroes was held The teen camp provided a six-day venue in memory of the 30 troops and one dog that for NSW teens to come together for fun, were killed in Wardek Province Afghanistan team-building, and an opportunity to build when a CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot and develop resiliency skills. down attempting to reinforce an engaged unit NSW families piloted the same camp of Army Rangers Aug. 6, 2011. concept last year and has offered three The dog was a Belgian Malinois, military additional camps this summer, including a working dog named Bart and handled by Gold Star camp, designed for the children Master-at-Arms 1st Class (EXW) John of NSW’s fallen. The purpose of the camp Douangdara. Douangdara was the lead dog Rear Adm. Sean Pybus, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, speaks to NSW ombudsmen at the is to instill aspects of resiliency, leadership, handler for the SEAL squad and was one of sixth annual NSW Ombudsmen conference in San Diego, Calif. confidence building and is designed to be a those killed in action. A MK IV special operations craft sits on a truck bed at Naval Air Station North Island in preparation for place for NSW kids to come together and The 31 deaths, most of whom were Navy decommissioning at Naval Air Station North Island located in Coronado, Calif. The MK IV crafts are slated relate to one another. SEALs, represent the largest loss of US to be used for anti-submarine warfare missions, and will be replaced with other special operations crafts in “The community realizes that the kids lives in a single incident since the war in also take on the burden for being at war for Afghanistan began in 2001. 10 years,” said Steve Gilmore, NSW Family “This challenge was created to honor the on her.” went on to advanced training. He has served

MC3 Geneva G. Brier Support Program director. “The kids are 30 men and one dog that gave their lives For the memory of the 31, the IKE Sailors with a West Coast-based SEAL unit since dealing with things that most kids don’t have for our country,” said Aircrew Survival sacrificed their strength and stamina knowing May 2008. to worry about.” Equipmentman 2nd Class (AW) Christina there is no comparison to the sacrifice of life. His awards and decorations include the The camps are staffed by professional Gonzalez, a coordinator for the event. “Each “We realize no physical sacrifice made Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), counselors assisted by Families Overcoming workout is 31 minutes long, one minute during a workout can come close to the Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Under Stress (FOCUS) personnel and for each hero and relies on teamwork to sacrifice our brave heroes made,” said Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism military family life counselors (MFLCs). complete.” Gonzalez. “This is how we can honor those Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (2), “As the counselors we try to focus on fun 31 Heroes Project is a non-profit that gave all in the name of freedom.” Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Sea and camp activities,” said Jewlz Romulado, organization that created the challenge to MC3 Rob Rupp Service Deployment Ribbon(3). Feeks is a Camp Marston counselor. “The kids deal raise money for the families affected by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Affairs survived by his parents, Thomas and Virginia, with the military and war every day; this is a Chinook crash. and his wife, Emily. worry-free getaway for them.” The first events took place four weeks Warsen enlisted in the Navy March 10, Each day the camp’s itinerary included a after the crash. In that time more than 430 Two Navy SEALs Killed in 2009 and graduated from boot camp at team-building exercise, an adventure activity, gyms hosted an event and raised more than Helicopter Crash Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, A Navy SEAL answers questions before a weapons demonstration during the six-day NSW teen camp, and a friendly competition. Each day before $300,000. Now, 31 Heroes Project raises Ill., in May 2009. In March 2010, Warsen sponsored by the Navy SEAL Foundation. The camp provides a venue for NSW teens to come together for ‘lights out,’ the campers participated in a money for programs that support all surviving CORONADO, Calif. -- Two SEALs died completed Basic / fun, team-building and to develop resiliency skills. reflection session which allowed them to families of personnel killed in action. in a helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, SEAL School in Coronado, Calif. and then speak as a group about the pros and cons Although IKE has no affiliation with the 31 Afghanistan, Aug. 16. went on to advanced training. He has served throughout the day. Heroes Project, Sailors showed their support Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick with a West Coast Based SEAL unit since “This camp is all about the kids, each by hosting their own fitness event that mimics D. Feeks, 28, of Edgewater, Md., and Special October 2010. day we just try to focus on them and make 31 Heroes. Warfare Operator 2nd Class David J. Warsen, His awards and decorations include the MC3 Rob Rupp each day better than the previous one,” said Thirty-six Sailors, making up 18 teams, 27, of Kentwood, Mich., were among seven Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Romulado. participated in the event and utilized U.S. service members killed in the crash. Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism The camp concluded with a presentation equipment in the hangar bay to show their Feeks and Warsen were assigned to a West Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign of honorary certificates making each camper support. Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Medal and Sea Service Deployment a plankowner, meaning they were present “The challenge made us appreciate the “Our hearts go out to the family, friends, Ribbon. Warsen is survived by his parents, during the first year of the camp’s origination. 31 heroes,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd and teammates of Petty Officer Feeks and David Warsen and Patricia Frank, and his “Everyone who has been associated with Class (SW) Richard Heckler, a challenge Petty Officer Warsen during this extremely fiancee Karlyn Deveau. the planning and coordination of the NSW participant. “The heroes didn’t quit for us.” difficult time. They were great warriors, “We are all truly blessed that men like Feeks Teen Camp including the camp staff, NSW The challenges included thrusters, running teammates and friends to many of us in the and Warsen answer the call to serve their Family Support, and the kids and parents can with a vest, pull-ups and high jumps. Naval Special Warfare community,” said nation at the highest levels of professionalism only be described as amazing,” said Gilmore. The repetitions were 8-6-11 to honor those Capt. Collin P. Green, Naval Special Warfare and capability,” said Green. “We are deeply “It really is an amazing opportunity and troops killed in action. Team members took Group One’s commander. “Although they are saddened by their loss, and so I would ask program for amazing kids.” the load from each other providing support no longer with us, they will not be forgotten.” for your thoughts, prayers and support for MC3 Geneva G. Brier and relief to ensure completing the event Feeks enlisted in the Navy March 21, NSW, our families, the special operations together. 2006, and graduated from boot camp at community and all of our Armed Forces.” Hospital Corpsman 2nd class Joherto Delrio lifts during the 31 Heroes Challenge aboard Nimitz- “My partner is not a quitter,” said Aviation Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).The challenge was held in memory of the NSW 31 Heroes Honored On IKE operators that were killed in Wardek Province Afghanistan Aug. 6, 2011. Electricians Mate 2nd Class (AW) Tabitha Ill., in January 2007. In October 2007, Feeks NSWG-1 Public Affairs ARABIAN SEA – Thirty-one heroes Kirkland, a challenge participant. “She can completed Basic Underwater Demolition/ made the ultimate sacrifice for their country push through anything and I know I can rely SEAL training in Coronado, Calif., and then

4 ETHOS ETHOS 5 Click to view Navy Diver video Photo Illustration by MC3 Megan Anuci Photo Illustration by MC3 Megan

TheThe NSWNSW Underwater and Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) candidates. During the seven weeks of 2nd Phase, BUD/S students learn dive physics, dive medicine and pool skills with various diving apparatuses. In the first week NavyNavy DiverDiver of BUD/S 2nd Phase, candidates receive a standard Navy test. This is to ensure they are able to dive to a depth Navy divers are trained in many areas of expertise ranging of 60 feet without incident. from, but not limited to ships husbandry, expeditionary and “Our DMTs ensure the students are medically fit and monitor traditional salvage, harbor defense force protection, search and them all the way through the program to make sure they stay recovery, and rescue missions. They are also trained in many healthy,” said Lt. j.g. (SEAL) Mim Warlick, Naval Special Warfare aspects of combat, including small unit tactics, convoy movement, Basic Training Command (NSWBTC) 2nd Phase diving officer. “I communications, weapons handling and explosives. Their ability to could go on and on about all the good stuff the Navy Divers do. We’d operate without support is one trait that makes them unique. be lost without them. There’s no end to their capabilities.” “NDs are the supporting pillars of NSW and Special Operations Forces The NSWCEN divers perform these tests using a hyperbaric (SOF) diving,” said Chief Warrant Officer Troy Roat, NSW force , or recompression chamber. This chamber is operated from the officer. “Whether it’s monitoring readiness, pressing safety, preparing outside and is color coded to simplify all the levers, buttons and valves. forces, administration, training, maintenance, logistics, unit augmentation, or There are also additional features on the chamber, such as a carbon national level and international missions; NDs are there,” he said. monoxide indicator, communication system and video monitors. All Of the 1,308 NDs fleet wide, 203 are assigned to Naval Special Warfare these components ensure the safety of BUD/S candidates and high risk (NSW). These dedicated, hard working Sailors perform a wide range instructors who enter the chamber for tests or treatment. of duties for the NSW community. Diving is one of the cornerstones of The chamber treats a variety of illnesses including SEAL training and NDs are the foundation that trains and supports the sickness and arterial gas embolisms (AGE). NDs and DMTs are trained fundamentals that safeguard and augment operations for NSW and SOF to know the proper treatment for various dive related illnesses. forces worldwide. They provide instruction during training, provide medical “We use the chamber because it’s a controlled environment,” assistance on most all diving related injuries and facilitate and maintain said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Eric Stuart, a DMT attached to SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV) and dry deck shelter (DDS) operations. NSWCEN. “Cold water isn’t a factor and if something were to happen, the candidate is already in the chamber and can be treated.” Medical and Safety Safety and medical readiness are critical to successful Maintenance operations. All NDs and Dive Medical Technicians (DMTs) are Dive patients aren’t the only thing NDs treat. Diving gear trained in these areas to ensure immediate response and mission maintenance is extremely important and requires constant readiness. vigilance. All the gear is kept in dive lockers, which NDs maintain Within NSW, 34 DMTs provide medical assistance and at each command. The NSWCEN dive locker is the second training. They train with NDs the first 14 weeks of the biggest diving training facility in the Navy behind the Naval 20-week ND training and then break off into a more Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) dive locker in specialized six week curriculum focused on dive Panama City, Fla. Yet only a handful of NDs manage the medicine and physics. NSWCEN dive locker. At the Naval Special Warfare Center “They understand the maintenance and material (NSWCEN), ND’s and DMTs teach and management of dive systems,” said Warlick. “This is BehindBehind thethe MaskMask andand SnorkelSnorkel perform tests for the 2nd Phase Basic the second most active dive locker [in the Navy]. The “We dive the world over,” is the motto used by the men and women of the last 50 years. Men and women from all walks of life have marveled over Photo Illustration by MC3 Megan Anuci U.S. Navy’s most elite dive operators, the Navy Diver (ND). NDs can be the courage and accomplishments of the community through the years. found below the surface of the planet’s deepest oceans, lucid lakes and “Nor must Uncle Sam’s web-feet be forgotten. At all the watery margins maritime ports conducting diving, salvage, recovery and repair operations. they have been present, not only on the deep sea and the broad bay, but up Thanks to their missions over the generations, NDs hold a special place the rapid river and down the narrow muddy bayou.” in the maritime world. They operate in an unforgiving environment and by This quote was spoken by President Abraham Lincoln as a tribute to the necessity, evolved into a tough-minded community of underwater specialists divers of the era. Since then, the Navy diving community has expanded to – the elite operators of the deep. Thanks to their unwavering competence include three distinct ratings: Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD), SEALs while submerged, they take on the most daunting of tasks. With the Navy and NDs. The ND’s capabilities have become unique over time and they diving community’s growth and development has grown a very specialized support the fleet in ways that no other Navy community is capable of. technology. Advances over the past century have come slowly, most over

6 ETHOS ETHOS 7 They are the deep subject matter experts on divingdiving principals,principals, theory,theory, and practices.practices. Days “ of Dedication it the way ... No oneunderstandsunderstands they do. 71 -Lt. j.g. (SEAL) Mim Warlick NSWBTC 2nd Phase diving officer For Country, Teams, Self Warfare Group 2 (NSWG-2), the NDs maintain more than 500 rigs or and enhances interoperability with our allies. “ diving apparatus’ and support more than 1,500 Sailors assigned to 11 “Engagement does a lot of things for us,” said Warlick. “It gives us some Capt. (Ret.) Evin Thompson poses for a photo at The construction of America’s different commands. These rigs are what divers use to breathe while cultural exchange, allows us to teach foreign forces how to do things more Raven’s Roost Overlook in underwater for an extended period of time. professionally and helps us build relationships with critical partner nations. Charlottesville, Va. transcontinental railroad, a rail In addition, there are NDs at every Logistical Support Unit (LOGSU) Sometimes we learn we need to step up our game.” within NSW, all to maintain and distribute the equipment needed for the “It’s a good way to meet and greet and learn how we do things and train line connecting the U.S. Pacific variety of missions SEALs encounter. our allies to see how they operate,” said Navy Diver 1st Class Ryan Todd “We take care of all the gear that all the teams use,” said Navy Diver 1st Langley, DDS Platoon 1 leading petty officer. coast with the Atlantic coast, is Class Christopher Bildzukewicz, NSWG-2 LOGSU leading petty officer. “We considered one of the greatest have a large amount of gear and are one of the biggest within NSW. The SEALs know that if they have questions, they can come here for answers.” Force Future American technological feats of Along with maintenance, NDs also instruct, train and facilitate the SEAL’s NDs are a critical asset to the NSW mission. They are the pillars of all combat swimmer courses, requalification dives, dive physics and dive things related to diving and if there is one weak pillar the entire program is the 19th century. By the early medicine. As a part of SEALs proficiency, they are mandated to complete a vulnerable. Equality of program oversight is critical for stability. As diving 1900s automobiles were being requalification dive every six months. SEALs are instructed by the NDs on becomes more technical and progressive, NDs stand ready to assist, these specific areas, because of the knowledge base the NDs have. operate, manage and train NSW forces for the future. mass produced as interstate “They are the deep subject matter experts on diving principals, theory, “As technology moves forward with diving so has NSW,” said Roat. “But and practices,” said Warlick. “If I have a diving question I go to a ND, we have kept up with trends, although not biting on the cool trends; we have highways began to pop up, because no one understands it the way they do.” kept up with technology while maintaining fiscal responsibility. eventually stretching from “When it comes to our equipment limitations,” continues Roat. “Our only Multinational Engagement restriction is anatomical.” coast to coast and border to MC3 Megan Anuci NDs and SEALs work with partner nations to improve diving skills. Their border, making travel across multinational engagement help hone diving skills for participating countries America’s vast landscape equally easy and convenient.

Senior Chief Navy Diver Seth

Weeman, top middle, an Evin Thompson instructor assigned to Naval

Special Warfare Center, observes MC3 Megan Anuci Second Phase Basic Underwater and Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) candidates during a scuba gear or cycling enthusiasts, 4,000 miles in the saddle of a bicycle while 4,639 miles later in Yorktown, Va.. The trail is known as the greatest and familiarization evolution. battling winds, rain and snow, traveling through 10 different states, most used route crossing America, offering a variety of scenery, terrain, MC3 Megan Anuci over and across four different time zones doesn’t quite fall into weather and out-of-the-way towns that still serve some of the best home- the effortless and expedient travel category. For one retired Navy cooked meals and fresh-baked pies around. SEAL who pedaled his way across America in memory of his “After serving 33 years and 10 months in the Navy, I am finally going to fallen brethren, the trip was a physical, mental and charitable feat. be able to do a bike ride that I have wanted to do since I was 15 years old,” FCapt. Evin Thompson, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and recently said Thompson. “I am doing this ride not only because I want to do it, but I retired Navy SEAL has met, served with and befriended many SEAL Team am hopeful that maybe some people may desire to contribute to the Navy members who left lasting impressions on him over the years. After hanging SEAL Foundation or any other charity that benefits our warriors.” up his uniform for the last time, Thompson wanted to do something that Thompson dedicated each day of his ride to a SEAL who laid down his not only would bring him a sense of accomplishment, but also honor the life for America and the values it embodies – many men who were not yet extraordinary sacrifice made by the men he has served with. alive when Thompson began his Navy career. While planning his journey, he Thompson decided to dedicate a solo bike ride across the country to sadly realized almost as many SEALs have died since 9/11 as the number of his fallen brothers and experience America with nothing but a bike, some days that it would take him to cycle across the country. supplies and an open mind. “After you retire you reflect on what’s important to you. I was able to work The journey Thompson chose to undertake is not for the faint-hearted. with my best friends for years, so to honor everyone I served with, especially The Transamerica Trail was established for Adventure Cycling’s celebration those who were sacrificed, I will dedicate each new day to another brother,” of the U.S. bicentennial in 1976 which begins in Astoria, Ore., and ends said Thompson.

8 ETHOS ETHOS 9 a local diner, a generously offered home cooked meal, quick bites from gas as blizzard condition snow dumped on him. Thompson realized he was in trouble when stations or convenience stores and his final option - ready-to-eat meals. he saw three men with large snowmobiles race pass him. A simple ride was instantly “I was able to work with my After consuming morning carbs and caffeine, Thompson would hit the turned into a battle against the snow, wind and numbing . He managed road, taking breaks for sightseeing, refueling and making new friends in to get to the bottom of the mountain, escaping injury or death and quickly realized and best friends whatever town his route took him through. Thompson typically averaged 64 appreciated the importance of a “swim buddy.” and to honor miles a day and would try to find a place to call home for the night before “There is nothing like a good swim buddy,” said Thompson. “While I never would trade sundown. my adventure of traveling across country solo, on that day, coming down the pass into especially those who Not one to take himself too seriously, Thompson kept his audience a blinding snowstorm, I realized the value of what I lived with for 30 years in the SEAL gave their lives, entertained by referring to his bike as Max, a nod to Mel Gibson’s character Teams … a swim buddy is important and at times comforting.” in the “Mad Max” movie trilogy and calling his trailer the Sea Hag, named While Thompson rode to pay respects to fallen teammates while completing a bike everyone I served with A photo of a lost warrior is fastened to A hand - written dedication on Memorial after one of Popeye the Sailor’s arch enemies in the cartoon “Popeye.” His ride worthy of most bucket lists, his ride and log also reached a large cross-section of Thompson’s bike trailer throughout his Day to everyone that has given their life blog updates focused on the best thing he ate that day, the people he met Americans. day’s ride. for our country. I will dedicate and photos he took to capture those magical moments. In the observation While riding through Missouri, a day dedicated to the memory of Senior Chief Special each new day portion of his journal, Thompson went into detail about the life lessons he Operator Thomas Ratzlaff, who was killed in combat in Afghanistan when his helicopter Thompson made his trek with nothing more than his bike and a small learned along the Transamerica Trail. was shot down taking his life and those of 17 other Navy SEALs aboard. Thompson trailer that followed in tow with a sleeping bag, tent, clothes, emergency A recurring theme throughout his blog was the loyal and kind Americans was taking a water break when he saw a truck driver trying to get his attention. The to another brother.” ready-to-eat meals, water and a collection of photographs. he met along the way. gentleman’s name is Joe Miller, father of Elliot Miller, a Navy SEAL who was severely While every day of the trip offered its own unique events, varied distances -Capt. Retired Evin Thompson “Americans in the small communities across the nation are great, friendly injured by an improvised explosive device. Miller, who had traveled miles to try to find U.S. Naval Academy Graduate traveled and fickle weather trends – there was an unchanging constant in and patriotic people,” said Thompson. “They still don’t lock their doors. They Thompson, wanted to thank him for what he was doing and to lend support to his trip. Thompson’s morning routine. For 71 days, before throwing his leg over fly their flags with pride and they open their lives to complete strangers. If Thompson, humbled by Miller’s enthusiasm, thanked him and continued his ride the frame of his bike and pedaling East, he dedicated the day’s ride to the you ever are concerned about the spirit of America, get out of the city and for about 25 miles until again, was pulled over by Miller. This time Miller surprised tomorrow.” memory of one of his fallen teammates by fastening the warrior’s photo, visit a small town.” Thompson with lunch, a meal he drove out of his way to get for the two of them. Throughout his once in a lifetime journey, Thompson complete with his name, rank, and the year he was killed, to his rig. In his online journal he mentions America is far from urbanized and “I believe that most SEALs come from families that give them a strong moral encountered amazing sights and wonderful people who Thompson decided to document his journey every step of the way with describes amazing forests, pastures, grazing land and parks across conviction and Joe Miller is just one more example of that belief,” said Thompson. helped stoke his passion for honoring fallen SEALs and the an online journal - writing and posting photos of the day’s events. Like his America. In addition to all the support he received along the way, Thompson was motivated and families left behind who miss and celebrate them. He hopes morning photo ritual, he prefaced each blog entry with an explanation of who Thompson explained the random acts of kindness he encountered touched by notes posted on his online journal, where dozens of people left comments his ride will not only make people realize how many have he was riding for that particular day and a photograph taken with his cellular along the way; strangers took him out to dinner, others shared their yards offering kind words and support. given their lives, but inspire them to continue their support phone of his bike cover displaying the picture of the honored SEAL. as campsites, while new friends offered free room and board to the weary Mark from Virginia posted, “Evin, I just realized you will be going right by my through an organization that benefits service members and Thompson began his journey May 2, departing Astoria, Ore., straddling bicycle traveler. Thompson’s online journal offered curious Americans a hometown. If you need any support from Meadowview, Va., to Roanoke, Va., let me their families. the coastline and gritting his way through hills, wind and rain. glimpse of his expedition and many kept track of his trip, offering their own know. It has been a real pleasure reading about your adventure and I’m learning new “I have completed a personal journey of over 4,600 miles; Although Thompson’s ride was dedicated to honor post 9/11 fallen homes as sponsored pit stops of support along the way. things every day.” I rode, I wrote and I enjoyed this journey. Along the way, I SEALs, he dedicated the first day of the ride to SEALs killed prior to that Although the route brought him through some of America’s most beautiful Another post from John Huges read, “Your ride epitomizes those who gave so much remembered all the SEALs and our combat enablers that I fateful day in 2001. The first day of his ride went smoothly, but it was not an sights, including Yellowstone National Park, the Rocky Mountains and to enable us to celebrate the 4th, and enables us to continue celebrating it year after served with over the years,” said Thompson. “I ask that you indicator of what a typical day would bring throughout his adventure. the Appalachian Mountains, it also brought him through some challenging year. Today I went to New York City and visited the 9/11 memorial. It was an awesome keep the SEAL’s, their enablers and their families in your Each morning, Thompson would wake up from wherever he had set up circumstances that he had no choice but to face alone. and sobering site. Your service and those who you have honored over the past 64 days thoughts and prayers.” camp – in some cases a local campground, a borrowed front yard, the spare Thompson re-lived what could have been a horrible day as he told the meant everything to those whose name we saw on the edge of each of the two towers’ MC3 Geneva G.Brier bedroom of a kind local or a hotel paid for by a grateful supporter. Before story about one of his highest climbs during the trip - biking up Togwotte footprints. Thank you for what you are doing for the SEAL community, but also for those prepping for the road, he fueled up for the daily ride. This meant breakfast at Pass, near Jackson Hole, Wyo. He was about 9,658 feet up the mountain who innocently sacrificed on 9/11. All the best to you Shipmate, and have a safe day

Starting Point Astoria, OR Best Tobey Keith Best Beer Ace Saloon Cow fish Council, ID Lander, WY Hardest Hill Whitebird, ID Best Pie Best Burger Marion Cafe Effie’s Place Marion, KY Ending Point Rush Center, KS Williamsburg, VA

MONTANA COLORADO KENTUCKY OREGON MISSOURI ILLINOIS WYOMING IDAHO KANSAS Click here to read Capt. (ret.) Evin Thompson’s VIRGINIA Blog

10 ETHOS ETHOS 11 approach that promotes security and allows for evaluate environmental impacts to resources would include the design and construction of frequent encounters between citizens, in sharp such as land use, use of transportation systems, logistical support buildings; equipment use contrast to sprawl. existing infrastructure and facility space, traffic and maintenance training facilities; classroom In coordination with the U.S. Green Building and circulation, socio-economic benefits, and and tactical skills instruction buildings; storage Council, the Congress for the New Urbanism well as noise, public access, natural and cultural and administrative facilities; utilities; fencing, and the National Resource Defense Council, resources, and air and water quality. Data is roads; and parking. The plan also calls for the Farr was the founding chair for Leadership in analyzed to determine how proposed actions may incorporation of sustainable design for all facilities Energy and Environmental Design Neighborhood change current environmental conditions, and when practicable. Development, a rating system for developments issues most likely to be of concern to the public “Alternative 2,” referred to as, SSTC-South that incorporate green and sustainable elements are identified and addressed. Where findings Design II Expanded Footprint Alternative, is Coastal in their site selection. indicate that there might be significant impacts, similar to Alternative 1. It would include all the Farr Associates will develop the final lay-out of the EIS identifies ways to reduce or minimize same infrastructure requirements as Alternative the NSW Coastal Campus and develop concepts those impacts. Necessary permits, consultations, 1 but would analyze the entire SSTC not just the and life cycle analysis of high performance and approvals will also be identified during the northern portion as in Alternative 1. facilities and infrastructure. Strategies will be environmental planning process. “Alternative 3” involves a completely different Campus developed to minimize net energy and water The specific arrangement of built assets, concept from the first two alternatives. The consumption, optimize energy performance number of buildings and required space would be third alternative, know as the “Multi-Installation and employ innovative techniques to reduce developed and refined during the NEPA process Alternative,” involves sitting the necessary NSW Navy, NSW Searching for wastewater. Expectations are that the NSW based on scoping, impacts analysis and results of facilities at several different locations to include Coastal Campus will be laid out to take resource surveys. NAB Coronado, NASNI, NOLF and SSTC-South. to Accomodate a Growing Force advantage of and preserve natural features and In July, the Navy hosted two public scoping The plan also calls for incorporating sustainable apply urban design principles which will create meetings, one in Imperial Beach and one design into new and existing facilities when There is little question in the SOF community master plan which, if approved, will support the other SOF component facilities, touring the a sense of peace and facilitate more personal Coronado, to introduce the plan to the public. practicable. and DOD at large that Goldwater-Nichols community’s growth well in to the future. Marine Corps Special Operations Command interaction which will increase organizational These public involvement meetings required The last alternative is the “No Action Alternative.” legislation, the establishment of an Assistant According to Gary Alchin, NSW’s Military at Camp Lejeune, N.C., the Army’s 7th Special synergy.” during an EIS ensure that local residents, The alternative is a consideration like any of the Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Construction (MILCON) Program Manager, most Forces Group at Eglin AFB, Fla., and the interested groups and elected officials are previously discussed alternatives, but it does Intensity Conflict, and the subsequent Nunn- of NSW’s west coast facilities are too small, too Army’s Combat Action Group at Fort Bragg, fully aware of the proposal and have had the not come without challenges for the future of Cohen Act, which ensured funding for SOF, were scattered or functionally obsolete. N.C. Interviews with operators and planning and NEPA Process opportunity to ask questions and express their NSW. Under the proposal, NSW would maintain transformational. Over time, they paved the way “Most of the programmed growth is already engineering staffs provided valuable information The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), concerns or ideas about the project before any existing land uses and training facilities currently for a very different, much improved U.S. special here now, so NSW has had to rely on interim and lessons learned that led N44 to aspire to passed by the U.S. Congress in 1969, ensures particular course of action is decided. at NBC. No new improvements would occur. operations force; one that was postured to meet to meet facility requirements until design and build a high-performance, “Green” that federal agencies consider environmental Current programmed levels of use including the challenges immediately following the terrorist a Military Construction (MILCON) can be campus, compact with everything within walking impacts of actions in their planning and decision requirements for planned force growth would attacks on American soil in 2001. programmed and built,” Alchin said. “We have distance for NSW. making, and establishes national policy and The “Alternatives” continue. NSW would continue to have limited In decade or so since 9/11, USSOCOM basically half of what we need.” Referred to as the “NBC Coastal Campus,” the goals for the protection of the environment. To The EIS proposed by NSW includes four space for current and future training support, as manpower has nearly doubled, the budget In some cases, personnel working at the proposed plan would provide the required facility comply with NEPA, the Navy will prepare an alternatives, including a “No Action Alternative.” well as an inability to cope with Congressionally- nearly tripled, and overseas deployments have same command have been located, not only in space and functionality within a college campus- Environmental Impact Statement to support the The alternatives have been designed to study mandated expanding training needs. Without quadrupled. Prior to 9/11 the NSW force strength separate buildings, but on different bases. NSW’s like setting to support the west coast SEAL NBC Coastal Campus. land use patterns, existing infrastructure, and consolidation of classroom and support facilities, was 5,900. Today it is roughly 9,000 and is personnel in Coronado are located in 60 different Teams, Logistics and Support Unit 1, Support During this study, NSW will evaluate resource impacts as a baseline for future NSW NSW personnel would continue to transit expected grow to a little more than 10,000. For a facilities on Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) alone; Activity 1, Mobile Communications Det 1, Training • current land use and available facilities; military construction program projects. Each between SSTC-North/NAB Coronado, SSTC- “man, train and equip” organization such as Naval and it is split by a state highway, State Route 75. Detachment 1, NSWG 1 and NSWG 11 HQ and • design and construction of new facilities to alternative differs by location and or footprint. South, and NOLF. The alternative will be studied Special Warfare Command, growing the force Personnel are also located at Naval Air Station the Naval Special Warfare Center’s Advanced support logistics, storage, equipment use All four alternatives will be evaluated with equal as a baseline of current land and means much more than simply increasing the North Island (NASNI), Naval Outlying Landing Training Command. and maintenance training, and classroom consideration in the EIS. use facilities number of operators. For every operator on the Field (NOLF) and Silver Strand Training Complex- and tactical skills instruction; and “Alternative 1” consists of consolidating most ground, there are mission specialists including South (SSTC-South), both in Imperial Beach. • build-related site improvements that may NSW facilities at one location on the northern half NEPA Timeline SEABEES, mobile communications specialists, NSW’s facility inventory in Coronado is a mix Sustainability include utilities, fencing, roads, and parking. of SSTC-South and constructing a new controlled The Navy’s public notice of intent and divers, EOD technicians, meteorologists and of WW II era temporary facilities, functionally “This is the largest and most important To prepare this EIS, biologists, engineers, entry point that would provide immediate access subsequent scoping meeting are just the start of the like, along with civilian personnel stateside obsolete facilities built decades ago for a very MILCON planning initiative at NSWC to date planners, and other technical professionals will to SSTC-South from SR 75. Additionally, it the NEPA process. Over the next year, the Navy working to ensure that they (the operators) different force, modular facilities, tension fabric and a once in a lifetime opportunity to achieve will develop a Draft EIS and complete numerous have what they need to successfully complete structures and pre-engineered buildings, Alchin primacy, privacy and proximity on the west technical studies that support the EIS. There will their missions. With NSW’s personnel growth said. coast,” Alchin said. “It’s difficult to achieve that be a traffic analysis, utilities capacity analysis, have come increased and expanded training USSOCOM took note and approved a $700 with southern California’s congested urban visual impact analysis as well as a variety of requirements and a need for more facilities to million, 25 MILCON project investment strategy installations. We are all excited about the “ This is the historical, biological and cultural surveys. By July house personnel, equipment and platforms. for the West Coast that will span the next 10 opportunity to start with a clean slate instead of of 2013, a Draft EIS will be complete and there As the Force grew and reshaped itself, years.Collaboration with NRSW ensured NSW building where ever we can find the space. “ largest and most will be another round of scoping meetings where elements of the WARCOM staff (N4 facility plans were synchronized and in support of its Naval Special Warfare Command reached the public will again be allowed to comment on planners, civil engineers and staff; and N8 Regional Integration Plan, one that is examining outside the local planning and architectural important MILCON planning initiative the plan. resources and requirements personnel) gathered NAB as a Center of Excellence for small craft community to obtain expertise in the development at NSWC to date and a The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the and analyzed data to determine the best long- and amphibious operations. It also resulted of its Coastal Campus and hired Doug Farr, once in a lifetime opportunity Navy for installations & Environment is expected term solution to meet NSW facility requirements. in the exploration of installations other than a prominent sustainable architect and New will make a final decision about the Coastal WARCOM has worked diligently with NAB, such as SSTC, to meet NSW facility Urbanist from Chicago. New Urbanism is a to achieve primacy, privacyand Campus project in August 2014. USSOCOM and NSW component commands requirements since NAB does not have the space design approach that promotes walkable, human For more information, visit the official website and coordinated with Navy Region Southwest to accommodate all of NSW’s planned growth. scale “neighborhoods” in which shared space is on the west coast,” at www.nbccoastalcampuseis.com. (NRSW) over many years to develop a facility N44 planning and engineering staff also visited the organizing element of the community. It is an proximity -Gary Alchin, NSW’s Military Construction (MILCON) Program Manager WARCOM Public Affairs

12 ETHOS ETHOS 13 FOCUSON THE ON THE FORCE FORCE CelebratingCelebrating 5050YearsYears 0f SURFACE MOBILITY

HAZE GRAY AND Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) reflect on the history UNDERWAY of Naval Special Warfare’s surface mobility capability from World War II to the present.

hile NSW celebrates 50 years of SEALs this year, SEAL support raft, commonly known as the ‘Mike boat.’ another celebration is on the horizon. In 2013, NSW According to Larry “Doc” Hubbard, a combat medic who served within “black berets to being SEALs... will celebrate 50 years of surface mobility history, the SEAL Teams during Vietnam, during that time SEALs carried out most Just about every time we made a honoring the men that helped pave the way for of their missions by boat. The drivers wore black berets, which became good hit, you could expect them WNSW’s modern day sea and undersea capabilities. Surface mobility boats dangerous, because Viet Cong often targeted them, assuming they were to try and ambush the boats the from as far back as the Vietnam era are prominently displayed at Council SEALs. International Sport Military (CISM) Field in Coronado, Calif., and diligently “The Viet Cong had attributed the black berets to being SEALs,” said next night. These guys would get taken care of by the men who operated them. However, NSW’s surface Hubbard. “We arrived by boat, we left by boat, so [they thought] the SEALs shot up for something we did.” mobility roots date back further than Vietnam. must be the ones who beat us up. Just about every time we made a good -Larry “Doc” Hubbard “Probably the most prominent or easily discernible root is that which hit, you could expect them to try and ambush the boats the next night. These Vietnam Combat Medic reaches down to the old Patrol Torpedo(PT) boats of WW II, principally in the guys would get shot up for something we did.” Pacific,” said Capt. Todd Veazie, Commodore, Naval Special Warfare Group In 1967, a project to train members deploying with SEALs was launched. According to James Born, a Boatswain’s Mate 3rd class assigned to MST 4. “These warriors had incredibly capable, very fast, heavily armed craft and to operating in the blue water Navy. time with fleet Sailors who were not as physically fit or as cohesive as [the 2 in 1967, Project Zulu provided Naval Support Group Pacific, SEAL Team were legendary Sailors working against the Japanese in the Pacific.” “The boat units were a strange bird for reporting SEALs and surface SEAL’s] closed loop enlisted men who were used to independent command 1 and BSU 1 personnel with a first generation, organic, tailored flotilla of PT boats or “devil boats” were primarily used to attack and sink Japanese personnel alike,” said Phil Garn, who served as an officer in the SBUs for six and action.” fighting support craft. ships. Armed with torpedoes and .50 caliber machine guns, they would years. “Despite three major wars of waterborne insertion and extraction, the In 1987, SBUs deployed to the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Earnest “MST 2 was originally called ‘Project Zulu,”’ said Born. “The members engage Japanese ships, usually under the cover of night. These small and emphasis on air and submarine operations became the glamour ops for the Will and continued to operate in the Gulf to curtail Iranian maritime terrorism were hand-selected and trained with SEAL Team 1 for six months before agile craft were also effective at laying mines and smoke screens, at sea generation of SEALs after Vietnam. against oil tankers in the northern Persian Gulf until 1989. going into combat together. Every man was swimmer qualified, sent to rescue operations, destroying Japanese suicide boats and floating mines as According to Garn, SEAL officers assigned to the units had to work According to Chuck Chaldekas, NSW Range manager and former SEAL, marine engineman’s school, survival, evasion, resistance and escape well as carrying out intelligence or raider operations. Later in the war, three with Sailors from the surface Navy, an entirely different culture and with this deployment was also referred to as the “Tanker Wars.” training, weapons school and a host of additional SEAL training. This was PT boats were stripped and reloaded with weapons to serve as gunships. the complicated and sometimes antiquated equipment that came with the “Basically the Tanker Wars were a development courtesy of the Iran- the first time that the SEALs trained and allowed someone other than their One of these converted gunships was captained by a young Lt. John F. surface mobility craft supplied by the Navy. Iraq war, where Iran threatened to cut off oil supplies to the U.S,” said own to go into combat with them.” Kennedy, future 35th president of the United States. “It was a huge step,” said Garn. “Then there were many issues at the Chaldekas. “The Navy used PT and patrol craft fast (or swift) boats through Vietnam, In 1971, the Navy restructured, renaming the Boat Support Units as when boat support units operated alongside SEALs for surface operations Coastal River Squadrons (CRS) and organized them under the newly throughout the country,” said Veazie. “In that time, many of their missions established Naval Special Warfare Group 1. Although the name changed, required them to have SEALs on the back of those boats and provided the craft and Sailors assigned to the command continued to play a role in firepower, mobility and extraction capabilities to the SEALs that were then UDT and SEAL operations. After the war, the divisions of some squadrons serving alongside them in Vietnam.” remained deployable assets with craft and personnel deploying on Boat Support Units (BSU) were established in 1964. According to a Amphibious Assault Ships with UDTs and SEALs. history compiled by retired Master Chief Gunner’s Mate (SWCC) Jim Gray, In October 1978, the name changed again to Special Boat Squadrons who converted to a Special Boat Operator after the establishment of the and their units were called special boat units (SBU). Mission tasking rate, the first BSU missions incorporated the Patrol Torpedo Fast (PTF) Boat changed and their primary job was to support simulated ship attacks, UDT/ program in support of NSW operations. These missions were primarily used SEAL support and the evaluation of special boat projects. in conjunction with Underwater Demolition teams and SEAL units. Broken Fourteen years and three name changes later, the relationship between down into mobile support teams (MST), they later utilized surface craft such the surface mobility community and NSW had evolved and strengthened. as the medium SEAL support craft, light SEAL support craft and the heavy However, the Sailors and SEALs assigned to the squadrons had to get used

14 ETHOS ETHOS 15 Click to view Surface Mobility video ANCHORS “In the course of a AWEIGH few decades, The Navy has engineered a number of craft that literally packed tons of stealth and fire power. Here is a watching it timeline of the boats that have paved the way for Naval Special Warfare’s surface mobility capabilities. just became this highly PT Boats were used during professional World War II and were used group of to lay mines and smoke screens, search and rescue, surface and carrying out intelligence or raider operations. mobility pros...

They’re SEAL Teams were supported by the Navy’s increasing Boat Support Units during the Vietnam War. The units used small boats like Boston Whalers, their skill patrol boats, and Mike Boats, to move SEALs sets and in and out of enemy territory. getting better every day.”

-Adam Curtis Boat Support Units evolved into Coastal Capt. (SEAL) Ret. River Squadrons. Coastal River Squadron Sailors continued to work with SEALs as a sub command of NSW Group 1.

Capitalizing on this, several Special Operations Craft (SOC) initiatives boat driving navigational skills needed by the NSW community. By 1994, it were launched in 1989. These efforts resulted in the testing and use of with became official that an active duty Sailor could make a career as a SWCC high-speed boats and 24 to 30 foot rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) and in 2001, the Navy and NSW made the Special Boat Operator (SB) which later were successfully used in Operation Desert Shield and Desert rating official. Storm. It wasn’t until 2002 when NSW established Naval Special Warfare Group “We did an experiment with seven different types of [RHIBs], in order to 4 did the surface mobility community get restricted and renamed to Special Coastal River Squadrons made another change, this time into Special Boat Squadrons. replace the steel hulled and fiberglass hulled personnel light craft that were Boat Teams. Today, SEALs, SWCCs and the boats they travel in go hand in With the new change came the commissioning on board the ships at the time,” said Chaldekas. “[The craft] was just too hand in the NSW community. This combination of operators and high speed of three boat units. Their mission was to difficult to maintain.When we got the RHIBs, they were a lot less costly to stealth craft act as a key part of the maritime aspect of NSW’s mission. support simulated ship attacks, SEAL support, maintain, it was a lot easier to replace different portions of the boats. The According to Veazie, these teams assist in anything from humanitarian and evaluate special boat projects. engines also didn’t wear out nearly as quickly because it was pushing a lot missions to covert operations worldwide. While future craft and technology smaller craft.” developed, officers like retired Capt. Adam Curtis who served in SBUs, can’t NSW involvement in real world conflicts provided lessons learned and help but recognize how far the surface mobility community has come. leadership soon realized that they were losing their trained Sailors and “In the course of a few decades, watching it just became this highly subject matter experts from SBU’s to the fleet. They began developing a professional group of surface mobility pros,” said Curtis. “They’re terrific at In 2002, the boat community revamped itself into Special closed loop career path for the crewmen. In 1990, the first Special arfareW what they do. They’re increasing their skill sets and getting better every day.” Boat Teams. With operators, Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC) class was convened. This closed loop and state of the art technology, training for enlisted Sailors combined aspects from both SEAL training with MC2 Dominique Canales “boat guys”, or Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, play a key role in NSW’s maritime operations mission.

16 ETHOS ETHOS 17 “Everything is here at the site Illistration by MC2 Dominique Canales to recall, extract, treat an injury or transport a student in the case of an emergency.” - Chief Special Warfare Operator Ben Oleson NSWBTC Dive Chief

to the bay. Hucker explained that instructors keep students in a controlled environment as much as possible, ensuring they don their equipment Exceptional properly and remain focused on safe diving operations. It also helps instructors because of the number of students per class. Large class sizes mean more equipment and students to manage safely. “Class sizes have at least doubled since I went through,” said Oleson. “We have had as many as 87 students in a class and trying to manage more than 40 buoys becomes a safety problem. We try to keep the training as close to base as possible for safety. If we get closer to Naval Base San Dive Safety Diego or by North Island, it gets harder to manage.” is no Prior to a dive in the bay, the instructors and operations department at NSWC use operational risk management (ORM) to assess risks and plan Click to view for the evolution. BUD/s Second Phase “The ORM process is key when it comes to high risk training,” said video Hucker. “In this case the training is away from Naval Base San Diego, because of the ships that go in and out of the bay.” The center carefully coordinates to ensure that boat support is available and sends notice to mariners in the area that there will be divers in the water. Boat support can be limited, so SEAL Qualification Training Accident instructors and BUD/S instructors meet weekly to eliminate conflicting dive schedules and ensure that safety boats are available for all the training learn to dive using a closed circuit dive system. Without proper training on evolutions that week. ualifying as a combat swimmer is one of the cornerstones of According to Lt. j.g. Mim Warlick, Basic Training Command Diving officer, the system, its risks can be deadly. Prior to the start of an event, an evolution sheet is filled out by the SEAL history and training. It is the main capability that separates instructors mitigate the magnified risks for students by using the “crawl, “The closed circuit system uses pure and comes with additional instructors, which contains the details of the training evolution and QSEALs from other special operations forces (SOF).With most walk ,run” method during dive training. This helps to ensure that safety risks over and above the risks of mixed air systems used by professional instructor assignments for that event. populations and possible targets near bodies of water, their ability to reach precautions and principles are ingrained in their memory. divers,” said Doug Hucker, NSWC high risk training officer. “This is basically an extensive pre-dive check list that is filled out and targets underwater has proven to be an invaluable asset over the SEAL’s 50 The students begin with classroom work which, includes diving laws and Instructors review the students in class and discuss the minimum followed by the instructors prior to any student getting in the water,” said year history. Their abilities allow them unrivaled access to non-permissible principles, medical briefings and a proficiency exam. While briefs are a amount of oxygen that is needed to dive with the UBA. They also review all Oleson. “It has the names of the dive officer and dive supervisor for that environments throughout the world and helps solidify their reputation as an staple for most training, it’s a critical safety tool during dive training. necessary signaling and protective gear. evolution. We annotate that we have called to ensure that the primary elite force. “In addition to being part of the curriculum, the briefs also cover critical “Anytime a student dives they run the risk of touching something they decompression chamber is up and running or make preparations if it is not. Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command (NSWBTC) is home to safety information for each particular training evolution,” said Chief Special shouldn’t and need to be protected,” said Oleson. “There is a signal device It also has the procedures and a timeline to follow in case there is a dive the second most active dive locker in the Navy, performing more than 10,000 Warfare Operator Ben Oleson, NSWBTC Dive Chief. attached to the rig so that if there is a problem, they can signal. They mishap.” dives a year. This is where Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Oleson explained that instructors try to build on what students have start with hand signals, then a use whistle, or if needed, smoke or flares. After briefing, students file onto the grinder, get into their gear and wait students learn the essential physics, dive skills and medical skills needed to already learned. After providing a good foundation of basic skills, instructors Students should do anything they need to do to get our attention if there is a for an inspection from the dive supervisor. This is the second of three become combat swimmers. Risk is inherent to combat swimmer training and emphasis on what students have already learned and place less focus on problem.” equipment checks for the students before getting into the water. this risk is magnified at NSWBTC, since all dives are occurring for entry level new skills or what in the scenario has changed. Students are equipped with a and a watch to monitor dive The final check is purging. This is where students purge all the regular combatant dive trainees. The instructors also use quizzing methods and demonstrations to ensure time and ensure they don’t exceed the excursion limits of the apparatus. breathable air in the tubes and begin pure oxygen for two The closed rig, MK 25 underwater breathing apparatus (UBA) is used the student know what is expected of them. “This UBA is only certified to a certain depth.” said Hucker. “The only minutes prior to entering the water. This process is refered to as “going on by SEALs so that their presence can go undetected during dive missions. “We try to reach every type of learner,” said Warlick. “We tell them, reason why a dive student would need to go beyond the limitations of the air,” where all the principles that the students learned in the classroom start While the idea seems harmless, the unit has a longer list of risks than other we quiz them, we use illustrations and we have them demonstrate newly closed circuit system is if they are in the bay and a large cruiser passes to apply. open circuit units. Time, depth, water , stress and even oxygen acquired skills in front of the class. It’s a safety precaution to train them through. Then they would have to ‘eat mud’ or dive to the bottom of the bay “When the students go on bag, this is where they start to look for can all work against a diver using the rig. Knowledge of the risks and how that way. We have a very compressed schedule and these students are and wait for the ship to pass. On the off chance they reach that limit in the symptoms such as light headedness, dizziness and incoherent behavior to to mitigate them is the key to safe UBA operators and proper use begins in expected to know a lot in a small amount of time.” bay and go too deep, they would need to surface and terminate their dive.” name a few,” said Hucker. Phase II of BUD/S training. It is especially important to maintain this level of safety while the students The class wears all their gear in a controlled environment prior to moving

18 ETHOS ETHOS 19 (Left) A second-phase Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL(BUD/S) candidate checks his underwater breathing

apparatus for ventilation and MC2 Dominique Canales

safety before participating in MC2 Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas dive training in Coronado Bay.

(Right Bottom) A Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/s) candidate waves a flare during a simulated dive casualty drill during second phase.

(Right Top) Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/s) candidates wait in ranks before RISE OF THE SWCC MASTER having their dive gear checked. MC2 Dominique Canales

Extra medical equipment is on standby and at the site in case of over swimming, stressed and begins breathing too hard, the efficiency of emergency. A standby diver is also present on the end of the pier ready to the scrubber can be overwhelmed. By learning to move efficiently through go. the water, a student has less potential of overwhelming the rig and suffering “Everything is here at the site for the instructors to recall, extract a student carbon dioxide buildup, which are potentially deadly. from the water, treat an injury on site or transport a student in the case of an According to Hucker, these principles and safety techniques are uniform emergency,” said Oleson. “We are never without it.” throughout the NSW community. SEALs will dive with different partners For the first few dives, the students work on and pace. throughout their careers, so students learn the same dive safety and “During the first dives they are learning how to trim their bodies to move practices used at the Team level. efficiently in the water,” said Oleson. “This is so they don’t potentially “Safety is a way of life here,” says Hucker. “These are uniform practices overwork themselves because they are swimming inefficiently.” across the board; the same safety practices are used at the Teams. Having According to Oleson, the students want to avoid constantly changing the same practices ensures that everyone knows the way we dive and is depths because they’re not neutrally buoyant. The constant changes in able to dive with anyone.” pressure can cause an arterial gas embolism and uneven swimming can The safety practices learned at the NSW Center remain etched in a cause the MK 25 to malfunction because is overworking SEALs mind. According to Hucker, the basic training is like , his body. so a SEAL will never forget the basics of safety practices learned here. By design, the rig contains a scrubber designed to remove carbon dioxide “I have been retired from the Teams for years,” said Hucker. “I could still from the closed breathing loop at a certain level of efficiency. If the diver is probably suit up and dive safely with any one of the SEALs today.” MC2 Dominique Canales

Being a master of the Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC) rating is no easy task and now, the requirements are changing for basic, senior and master qualifications.

20 ETHOS ETHOS 21 MC2 Kyle D. Gahlau fter nearly two decades and undetectable on the water, are becoming personnel. According to Master Chief Special on the craft they operate. SWCC CHANGING of service, one of Naval obsolete and expensive to maintain. Leadership Warfare Boat Operator Douglas Brown, a career “The whole perception of the SWCC Special Warfare’s (NSW) opted to retire the reliable craft at the end of manager at NSW’s Center for SEAL and SWCC, community is that the boat is special,” Andre said. WITH TIMES most versatile war fiscal year 2012. NSW will add two new boats to this was a huge change. “It’s the people who are special. The idea is that fighting combatant- its inventory, while continuing to operate other “Years ago, OPNAV owned all the pins,” said as a guy goes from team to team, he’s operated Naval Special Warfare’s modern surface mobility history can be crafts will be craft already in its arsenal. Brown. “The new OPNAV instruction states every craft in our inventory.” traced to what was known as the “brown water” Navy, which were deactivated and “NSW will still be running 11-meter Rigid-hull that each warfare sponsor had to establish and Master Chief Special Warfare Boat Operator riverine forces serving on PT boats during the Vietnam conflict. removed from its Inflatable Boats (RHIB) and Special Operations maintain a separate instruction that defined Patrick Battles, WARCOM’s command master “In that time, many of their missions required them to have inventory. Combat-Riverine (SOC-R) detachments,” strict prerequisites and formal procedures for chief, agrees with Andre. SEALs on the back of the boats and provided fire power and The MK said Mike Brinkerhoff, a logistics specialist at qualification, re-qualification, disqualification, “The main thing is that the qualification mobility and insertion and extraction capability to the SEALs V special Naval Special Warfare Command (WARCOM). and failure to qualify within their specific warfare process is ongoing,” Battles said. “It’s a that were then serving alongside them in Vietnam,” Veazie operations According to Brinkerhoff, the MK V will be program.” continuous learning process and you always said. “The marriage was made there and has continued to this craft was replaced with two other boats. When NSW Group 4 received the OPNAV have to work at making yourself a better SWCC.” day in a more formal way, until we finally brought special boat acquired by According to Tom Carlson, a WARCOM message, SWCC leadership began working on a According to Battles, although the new teams officially underneath naval special warfare and that’s the NSW on Sept. 4, 1995 and made its maiden surface craft programs acquisitions resources new instruction that would improve the operator’s qualification levels have been established, relationship we have today.” deployment with a special boat team the following manager, the MK V will be replaced by 30 technical knowledge, while helping him acquire there are no warfare devices or NECs assigned year.A Its mission was to insert and extract Combatant Craft Medium (CCM) MK 1 boats new qualifications essential to his career field. to them. This is an issue that SWCC decision But the relationship the Navy’s “boat guys” shared with their community and the Navy was a different story. special operations forces in low to medium threat and 24 High Speed Attack Craft-Theater boats. According to Brown, the new instruction has makers plan to change. According to Carpenter, the creation of the SWCC rating environments and conduct limited coastal patrol “We’re replacing the MK V crafts with other boats already been signed by Rear Adm. Sean Pybus, “If you look at the Explosive Ordinance generated a cultural shift between the Fleet Navy and Naval and interdiction. Originally, only a limited number in order to fill our capability gaps and to continue NSW’s commander. As the governing document Disposal pin, it changes with the different Special Warfare. Carpenter said that the Navy didn’t share a of MK Vs were in use and strategically located in to sustain a Special Operations Command for the SWCC warfare insignia, it states that qualifications, and ours does not,” Battles said. close relationship with “boat guys”—the men who operated Stuttgart, Germany. When mission requirements requirement,” Carlson said. special warfare boat operators must maintain “What we want is a unique warfare device that riverine and PT boats during and after Vietnam, but before called for a MK V, it was flown from Germany to The first installment of CCM craft will arrive in basic, senior, and master level qualifications changes with the qualification; from SWCC basic, the establishment of the SWCC rating. The disconnected wherever operators needed it, limiting the number 2015, and by 2020, all new CCM acquisitions will commensurate with their pay grade. to senior, to master. relationship meant that boat operators would often times be sent of hours it spent on the water and increasing the be in place. “The three designators (basic, senior, Battles said that the boat captain and patrol back the regular fleet after a boat unit tour. service life of the hull. After 9/11, the increased Although SWCC will no longer operate the and master) identify where the person is in officer qualifications will undergo the same “We would go to the boat units and receive expensive training pace of operations was not lost on the MK V, as MK V—the same boat emblazoned on their their career,” said Chief Warrant Officer Ron changes in criteria. and then be forced to leave the job we loved after our tour was the vessel was used to fill operational voids and warfare devices—it doesn’t mean the end of the Carpenter, training officer at NSW Group 4. NSW leaders have been discussing new pins up,” Carpenter said. “SWCC school helped standardize the remained in use seven years past its original life SWCC community. In fact, it’s a new beginning “There are deadlines tied to the qualification that delineate basic, senior, and master level processes and killed the stereotype of boat guys being out of expectancy, which ended in 2005. that allows SWCC operators an opportunity levels, so if a person doesn’t want to advance in qualifications. At press time, no new pins have shape and unable to operate their craft. We are now called “The craft is aging,” said Capt. Todd Veazie, to upgrade their boats and focus on career their career field, they could lose their NEC, be been selected by the Navy Uniform Board and tactical athletes and we are now able to remain at NSW our commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group progression. put on probation and possibly lose their rating.” the community is still discussing various designs. entire careers. This move benefited the country, our Navy and 4. “The technologies that were envisioned for The temporary gap in craft came at a unique Chief Warrant Officer Michael Andre, a Regardless of the new SWCC qualification NSW. Because of the long term continuity in the SWCC ranks, the craft’s operational environment when it was time. In 2010, the office of the Chief of Naval WARCOM surface programs analyst, said that levels and warfare pin discussions, Carpenter NSW was able to save thousands of tax payer dollars and gave developed 15 or so years ago have changed.” Operations (OPNAV) sent an instruction to the instruction will help the Force, because it believes that NSW’s boat operators have to credibility to our capability.” Veazie says that some of the electronics on the Fleet that gave each warfare community allows operators to focus more on technical continuously evolve. “Tactics never change. Only Since the creation of the Special Warfare Boat Operator rating the MK V, which allow operators to stay hidden control over the warfare devices issued to their knowledge and who they are as Sailors and less technology changes,” he said. in 2006, NSW has placed SWCC pins on more than 545 men MC2 Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas graduating from Crewman Qualification Training. Carpenter says that as the community grows, the men joining the Force today will continue to strive for excellence and be the best maritime operators in the world. “That pin is tied directly to our creed and that’s the bottom line of who we are, ‘On Time, On Target, Never Quit,’” Carpenter said.

PLAN YOUR SWCC CAREER LIKE AN ENGINEER

3 THINGS

You will have plenty of time to methodically plan your rise TO KNOW ABOUT to SWCC master . For more information on career planning GETTING SWCC tools in accordance with the new SWCC instruction, visit BASIC, SENIOR, AND log into NKO and the Center for SEAL and SWCC Portal by MASTER QUALIFIED clicking the hand. There is an oral and written test at every SWCC basic and senior boards are chaired by Transferring personnel will not be required to qualification level. the training leading chief petty officer and master requalify for Basic, Senior, or Master SWCC ETHOS 23 ETHOS 22 boards are chaired by the commanding officer. qualifications, even if he changes platforms. The Mission

MC2 John Scorza The goal of 2005’s Operation Red Wings, named for the professional hockey team from Detroit, was to gather reconnaissance and capture or kill al Qaeda leader Ahmad Shah, famous for his anti-coalition militia activities in Afghanistan. Deep behind enemy lines East of Asadabad in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush, a four-man team of SEALs, including Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class , Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class and Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Matthew Axelson were (Left) Members of a inserted via helicopter. Hawaii-based SEAL The mission was compromised when the SEAL squad was spotted by anti-coalition sympathizers, who Team gather around the Operation Red immediately reported their presence and location. Shortly after, they came under heavy enemy fire. During Wings Memorial at the firefight, a helicopter containing an extraction team of Navy SEALs andArmy Night Stalkers was shot Operation Red Wings down by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing all 16 onboard. After a long firefight, three members of the four Medal of Honor Park man reconnaissance team were killed. Luttrell, the only survivor, made his way to a local village where in Diamondhead, the villagers protected him until could be extracted two days later. Nineteen Americans gave their lives in Hawaii. Operation Red Wings. (Below) A SEAL assigned to a Hawaii- based SEAL Team A “Run to Remember” takes a knee to read the inscription on the Participants gathered and lined up four abreast in preparation for the reasons that go beyond individuals visiting the memorial on their own. Opertation Red Wings formation run. Few words were spoken as the group solemnly walked “We, just like any other Navy unit, experience a considerable degree Memorial and pay his through the grass to a police escort waiting at the park exit. Lt. Cmdr. of turnover. It’s important to do things like this because as years pass respects to his fallen Stephen Fortmann, executive officer of a Hawaii based SEAL command, by, the individuals who are carrying the torch of the collective memory brethren. led the run and signaled its start. The group ran from Ala Moana Park and of what happened in Afghanistan in 2005 can go to other places and through downtown Waikiki as spectators, tourists and locals looked on. other commands and pass it along. The traditions we create, like the “This is an attempt to create a tradition that we can continue here at run, is something that will endure personnel turnover and that’s really the the Team year after year, recognizing the importance of this day,” said importance of creating an event,” he said. Fortmann. “This is the first one, but we don’t want it to be the last one. eW The run ended in Diamond head at Operation Red Wings Medal of Honor want it to continue on.” Memorial Park, where a memorial dedicated to the men of Operation Red “The pace of the team is very high and sometimes I speak to people and Wings is located. find out that they’ve never been to the park,” said Fortmann. “A year could After arriving at the park, runners formed a semi-circle around the go by, two years could go by and you can be so busy that there is not time memorial and took a knee to pay respects to the fallen. Sailors from the to stop and reflect on something like this. It is important on this date to command, led by Fortmann and Yeoman 2nd Class Megan Wiley, event really stop what we were doing and take the time to come out here, show organizer and president of the Junior Enlisted Organization (JEO), laid everyone the park – show them what is out here, what it stands for and wreaths and flowers on the memorial and held a moment of silence. properly recognize the day.” Emotions ran high as Sailors, family members, and friends read the names Fortmann explained that the “Run to Remember” is important for several of those killed and a description of the events that took place that day in

ADayof MC2 John Scorza Remembrance Like most mornings on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, the sun crept over the rim of the Diamond Head crater on June 28. As the rose and islanders began their day, an entire Hawaii-based SEAL command memorialized the seven year anniversary of a day the special operations community lost 19 of its most elite warriors, by gathering at Waikiki’s Ala Moana Park to pay their respects. More than 150 Sailors, family members and friends donned matching shirts emblazoned with red wings on the back and set off on the “Run to Remember,” a 5km event honoring the men who perished during Operation Red Wings. The run was followed by a formal ceremony held at their command.

Members of an Hawaii-based SEAL Team run the “Run to Remember,”, a 24 ETHOS 5 km event, to honor the men who perished during Operation Red Wings. EETHOSTHOS 25 MC3 Kristopher Kirsop Following Wiley’s remarks, a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” was played as the painting was unveiled. Afterward, Fortmann stepped to the podium to deliver remarks. “In preparation of this event, I had an opportunity to communicate with the families of the fallen. Often, they expressed regret in not being able to come and be a part of what is going on. When I told them that, ‘If you can’t come back this year, you can come back any year because we will never stop this memory from continuing,’ I could sense that there was a comfort in knowing that their children and grandchildren could come and observe these events when they were ready to do so and when the time was right.” After Fortmann’s remarks, one by one, special warfare operators stepped up to the podium to read the description of the events of the operation and the biographies of the fallen before placing garland across the command’s memorial plaque. As the last piece of garland was laid, the honor guard marched into position with accuracy and precision, rendering three volleys of shots fired in honor of the fallen heroes of Red Wings. MC2 John Scorza Honoring their Legacy Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Fortmann, excutive officer of a Hawaii-based SEAL Team lays Regardless of coast, country, Team or mission, Naval Special Warfare a wreath on the memorial at Operation Red Wings Medal of Honor Park located in Diamond head, Hawaii on the seventh anniversary of the tragic event that claimed operators are committed to duty, no matter how dangerous or difficult it the lives of 19 NSW operators. might be. They are equally committed to honoring and remembering fallen teammates by finding inspiration in and learning from their past deeds.The Afghanistan. The legacy of patriotism and selflessness of Operation Red heroes of Operation Red Wings leave behind a legacy of honor, bravery, Wings warriors and their families was not lost on the crowd that gathered to dogged determination, and highly trained professionalism. pay respects to the brave men. “You can’t have an operation like Red Wings happen and not learn from “The theme that stayed with the Red Wings event here is “Never Forget,” the event,” said the officer in charge lieutenant. “It makes it very real.You said Fortmann. “Those words can be seen on the coins and on a lot of the can’t just go through the motions when you’re training. You have to know items that commemorate what happened that day. The most important part what’s at stake and Red Wings is a constant reminder to us that we are not about remembering is focusing on the families of those who have lost. We just training for some hypothetical mission or that our missions don’t have want them to know that we will never, ever forget what happened and we will potentially serious consequences.” never forget their sacrifice.” The planning for next year’s event is already underway. Wiley has already “There is not a day you can walk in and not see the heritage on the walls,” started the paperwork for the permits and shirt designs for next year’s “Run said a lieutenant who serves as officer in charge of a Hawaii based SEAL to Remember,” which will officially make the run and ceremony an annual platoon. “There is a constant reminder of the significance of Red Wings event. here. It’s a part of who this team is and the history here. It’s important to “We plan on doing this again next year, hopefully with more people, to pause and take the time to remember those who have fallen, as well as the keep the memory of the sacrifice that these men paid alive,” said Wiley. families, to let them know that we haven’t forgotten them and that we’re in it MC2 John Scorza with them until the end. They are as much a part of our history as the service members who lost their lives that day.” For many of the operators, the run and visiting the memorial gave them a new perspective on the sacrifice made by their SEAL predecessors. Two Sailors assigned to a Hawaii-based SEAL Team present a painting of Lt. “We see the memorial wall at work every day, but to actually go out and (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and participate and actively show my appreciation for those guys really hits Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson to the command. home,” said an operator. The painting is by Phil Taylor, a renowned artist who has painted many portraits After paying their respects, the participants scoured the park to collect of fallen servicemembers through the American Fallen Soldiers Project. trash and debris and then returned to the command for a formal ceremony. Commissioning The Ceremony Oct. 6, 2012 The ceremony began promptly at 1400 with parading of the colors followed by a presentation of a special gift to the command. Two Special Warfare Operators walked down the center isle carrying a covered object and set it down just left of the official party. The object unveiled was a painting by Phil Taylor, a renowned artist who has painted New York many portraits of fallen service members through the American Fallen Soldiers Project. The painting of Murphy, Dietz and Axelson was created for their families and donated to the command’s JEO. Wiley thanked Taylor and the American Fallen Soldiers Project for their support and for “creating a painting that will warm our halls – giving us MISSION: the opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifice of our fallen brothers and their The Arleigh Burke class destroyer is a guided missile destroyer designed to counter threats from the air and from the sea, from aircraft, example of honor, courage, and commitment every day.” MC2 John Scorza ships and submarines. USS Michael Murphy will be capable of executing a wide variety of both peacetime and warfighting missions.

26 ETHOS ETHOS 27 ONONYOURYOUR MINDMIND t a c t i c a l Reading decision The following is a Tactical Decision Exercise – a role playing drill in About which you will be asked to make a combat decision in a limited amount of time. The goal is to improve your tactical decision making, pattern recognition and communication skills. There is no right answer. SEALs and SWCC WARare practical men. And war is one of the most ‘practical’ of human activities. In war, that which works overview saves lives and civilizations; that which doesn’t costs lives (often thousands of them, sometimes millions) and risks national In each issue of Ethos, the reader’s position in the patrol will change. However, the independence. Results of decisions, good and bad, are dramatic and often immediate. specified title does not exclude others from completing the exercise – every leader in Warriors, therefore, are conditioned to be very practical, and the closer one gets to the actual CO’s have created professional reading groups within the patrol should be familiar with all levels of command. Additionally, the scenarios are killing and dying in war, the more ‘practical’ war becomes. their commands, leading by example, with monthly or intentionally vague so make any assumptions that are essential to complete the exercise. That is why warriors are men of action – training is never over, you can always train bi-monthly meetings to discuss a book all had read or to Read the situation as many times as needed before moving on to the requirement. harder, you can always be more ready. In the stress of combat, when the bullets are flying, share different books that each had read. I am aware of As stated previously, there is no right or wrong answer. After completing the exercise, muscle memory and well-trained automatic response is what wins fights and saves lives. innovative and intellectually curious JOs creating their own click the “play” button below to view one possible answer. The answers submitted are from There is little wonder that warriors often have an aversion to military theory and academic reading groups and once the initiative had been taken, SEAL officers. Good luck. study. Indeed most of our warriors are too busy honing their practical skills to have much others – officers and NCOs – requested to be included. time for books. They are men of action, and reading is…well….passive. There is no shortage of well written and easily accessible situation And yet, there is a well-known quote from the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, one books very relevant to the Naval Special Warfare of the first great writers about war: “The nation that makes a great distinction between its profession. But don’t forget, being a Naval Special Warrior You are a SEAL squad commander deployed to a remote region of eastern Afghanistan. scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by is a subset of being a military professional and professional From a small fire base, your platoon combat advises an Afghan National Army (ANA) fools.” reading about the experiences, challenges and cultures battalion against a violent anti-government insurgency. This particular area of Afghanistan No doubt, many of our thinkers are cowards, and some of our fighters may be fools, of the conventional forces not only expands a special is an extremely high threat area and all of your operations during the past month have but his point is that the best warriors are also thinkers, and the best thinkers are also operator’s perspective, it opens doors. Every career resulted in exchanges of fire with the enemy – typically small arms and rocket propelled courageous. The early years of a warrior’s time in the military MUST be spent intensely Marine has read “Rifleman Dodd”, “With the Old Breed”, grenade attacks by squad-sized Taliban elements. focused on mastering the practical and tactical skills necessary to fight, survive, and win in and “First to Fight” – great books for every Naval Special With the Afghan soldiers and your squad of SEALs, you plan a daylight multi-village combat. But sooner or later, our best Naval Special Warriors realize that in order to truly Warrior to read. Every career Army officer I know has cordon and search of a valley 20 kilometers south of your fire base in order to confirm the excel as leaders and warriors, they need to tap into the breadth of experiences and ideas read “We Were Soldiers Once”…and “Young”, and “Killer presence of home-made explosive production facilities. During the period of darkness that others have written about and include in their professional repertoire perspectives that Angels”. For more current literature, consider Bing West’s before the operation, you depart with your 12-man element in six Light Tactical All-Terrain come from the literature of their profession. “The Wrong War”, or “Into the Fire”, or Sebastian Junger’s Vehicles (LTATV) to establish overwatch of the valley before the ANA company arrives at I realized after several years in the Teams that I had unconsciously decided to make the “War”. For the more thoughtful among you, I’d recommend daybreak. military my profession and career. With that realization came the commitment to understand Karl Marlantes’ “What It Is Like to Go to War” or J. Glenn Five kilometers from your objective rally point, one of your LTATVs develops a my profession and learn as much about it as possible. I began by reading accounts of Gray’s The Warriors. catastrophic engine malfunction while traversing the rough terrain. Your engineer works special operators in combat, either first person or in biography, and was surprised to find a The mind is like a muscle – when you exercise it, it gets on the vehicle for 30 minutes before determining it must be towed and your chief goes great body of literature in this area. Great stories of special operations-like combat, with stronger. Exercising the mind, just like exercising the body, to work reorganizing the patrol. You look at your watch and see that morning twilight is lessons learned very relevant to today’s conflicts, are available from nearly all wars, from the is best done with others. So I’d suggest that you get some in three hours and you are at least two hours from your fire base. Even with the towed U.S. Civil War and before, to a tremendous body of literature from World War 2 and Vietnam, of your buddies to agree to read a particular book (I say LTATV, you determine that you will have enough time to establish your positions over the and increasingly from more recent conflicts. I learned how others struggled and rose to ‘some,’ because I’ve found that most who say they will, valley and continue as planned. meet enormous challenges, how they dealt with their own uncertainties and mistakes, how don’t) and then set a date to meet, drink a beer or two, they managed leadership issues with difficult people up and down the chain of command, talk about the book and how it applies to you and your requirement under the stress of combat or the struggle to survive. Though I had never been to war, I profession. It may be an important step toward making you began to get a better understanding of fighting in war of the scope of warfare itself. I also a well-rounded military professional, as well as a better In two minutes, write down the actions you would take as the squad commander. Provide learned about myself, as I tried to put myself into some of the situations I read about and all-round warrior. the rationale for your plan of action. questioned whether I would have been ready to do what needed to be done. The training This Tactical Decision Game does not intentionally represent any previous, current, or moment in “book learning” happens when we ask ourselves, “What would I have done?” and planned United States military operations. then answer that question with BRUTAL honesty. The idea that SEALs should read and study their profession had never been emphasized Have an idea for the next TDE? Send your input to [email protected]. to me or my colleagues during our professional development. Our leaders didn’t stress it Click to view Bob Shoultz’s Blog with us, because it had never been stressed with them. The NSW community has made progress in this area. But I suspect more can be done. During my final command tour, I had an offsite that began with each leader – CO, XO, Bob Schoultz retired after make CMC – sharing with the entire group a brief summary and lessons learned from a book they spending 30 years as a NSW your had read. Some resisted; professional reading had not been part of their lives. But most officer. Schoultz can be reached choice solution were pleased to be ‘forced’ to read a book they’d heard about from their colleagues. Other at [email protected]

28 ETHOS ETHOS 29 FirstFirst BasemanBaseman Yonder Alonso readsreads

Do you?