Have You Ever Wondered – What Does it Take to Become a SEAL Officer? 

First question – Do you want to lead members of Naval Special Warfare? If not, consider the enlisted route. While senior enlisted members lead and mentor junior SEALs, the officer is responsible and accountable to the chain of command for the daily administration and operations of the unit. If you want to do this, continue:

Opinion: Let the answer to that question be whether or not you serve as an officer or enlisted. Many enlisted members with college degrees decided not to go the officer route. Being older (not a teenager) places you in a better bracket for success, versus being among the higher attrition rate of ill-prepared teenagers. Learning the job as an enlisted SEAL and then transitioning to an officer are other options for this group. However, as an Academy O, I also recommend that route, as it prepared me well. There are good and bad officers from all routes (USNA, ROTC, OCS, and even mustangs). No one way is better in my opinion.

Stats on the Difficulty to Become a Navy SEAL (officer or enlisted)

Every year, thousands aspire to wear the Navy SEAL trident. Still, the recruitment process separates the committed from the merely hopeful, selecting only 800-900 recruits to proceed to BUD/S prep (for both officers and enlisted personnel). Most SEAL recruits will choose to enlist, as the need for enlisted SEALs is greater than that of officers in the Teams. However, in a recent report, almost 80% of the enlisted will fail to graduate, and nearly 40% of the officers will fail to graduate.  The SEAL Teams need roughly 175 enlisted to keep up with community demand per year, while the junior officers entering the community are typically 50-60 each year.

The Recruitment Process for Officers is Highly Competitive

Hundreds will apply and be tested at SEAL Officer Assessment Course (SOAC), and only 50-60 will graduate and earn their SEAL trident each year. There are three paths to being commissioned and attending BUD/S: Service Academy Midshipmen/Cadets, ROTC Midshipmen, and civilian Officer Candidate School (OCS) candidates. The Academy and ROTC recruits receive college scholarships and are obligated to serve 5 years of active-duty service in the military upon graduation. OCS candidates do not owe the military money at this point, and because of that, have a few more options (see below for Advantages / Disadvantages)

*Note - lateral transfers and transfers from other services are also options for candidates who want to attend SEAL Training as officers.  This is a different process, but all candidates must attend the SOAC to be selected on a case-by-case basis.

Every boat needs a boat crew leader...Are you that guy?

For officers, the recruitment process is typically a year-long journey or longer. For many, it requires a few years of preparation; then the recruitment process can add many months to the eventual selection process. Becoming a Navy SEAL officer demands not just physical endurance but a fierce commitment to outshine your peers in an unforgiving competition.

For instance, a candidate submits recruitment paperwork, which includes a medical review, resume, college transcripts, letters of recommendation, competitive fitness test scores, and the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR) academic test. This takes time to collect and submit. The due date is typically in February of each year. The decision to attend SOAC is made in March/April; SOAC occurs in three sessions over the summer (June–July-August). The decision on acceptance or not will be made in the fall of that year, and SEAL training will occur after graduation (5-6 months later or longer). In other words, be patient and able to play the long game.

 Path #1 – US Naval Academy and Other Service Academies – The USNA makes up 70-75 of the 200 SOAC students each year. However, less than half of them will be selected in their senior year. These 70 Midshipmen attending SOAC had to endure a selection process of their own, as each class typically has 150 candidates interested in SEAL training each year.  This number is cut in half most years, as the BUD/S Screener weekend is a 36-hour event that mimics the difficult aspects of BUD/S training and is conducted by BUD/S instructors at BUD/S (new 2026) in May (after exams) of the Midshipmen’s sophomore year.  PSTs, pool skills, rucking, boats, logs, and wet and sandy events are all part of this weekend. This pre-training and selection process typically yields a 90-100% graduation rate among Naval Academy graduates each year.

Path #2 – The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) – This route has evolved over the years, with select members being invited to join the above Naval Academy Midshipmen in their BUD/S Screener. However, not all candidates can attend due to scheduling conflicts and the process of attending SOAS in the summer between their junior and senior years. Their selection to SOAS is very similar to the OCS option below, with the primary focus on reviewing resumes, paperwork, fitness, and academic test scores, and medical qualifications.

Path #3 – The Officer Candidate School (OCS) - Formerly, you had to have a college degree to attend SOAC as an OCS candidate. But now, a few candidates are pre-selected before their senior year in college to attend SOAC, like the Midshipmen from USNA and ROTC do before their senior year. The process is still the same. Each candidate must submit recruitment paperwork, including a military medical review, resume, college transcripts, letters of recommendation, competitive fitness test scores, and the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR) academic test results. This takes time to collect and submit. The due date is typically in February of each year. The decision to attend SEAL Officer Assessment Course (SOAC) is made in March/April; SOAC occurs in three sessions over the summer (June–July-August).

Part #4: Join the Navy as an Officer (any option above). Then, Lateral Transfer to BUD/S - If you want to join the Navy in any other job, you can still lateral transfer after a few years from the Fleet and go to BUD/S. You have to do it quickly as Ensigns, LTjg's are preferred, but newly frocked LTs (O-3) can attend BUD/S if they are good candidates. 

Advantages / Disadvantages Over USNA, ROTC, or OCS

The beauty of the new selection and assessment system is that all candidates are evaluated equally. Many will argue that USNA and ROTC candidates have advantages over their civilian OCS counterparts. While the knowledge of the military may be higher, there are pros and cons to all routes, in my opinion.

USNA and ROTC Candidates – After college scholarships, you will owe the military 5 years of active-duty service. If, for some reason, you do not get selected as your initial commissioning choice after graduation, do not give up. You can still lateral transfer from your current Navy position and attend SOAC again - in a few years. Just be an even better candidate than you were the first time. This is not failing. This is a learning experience that only adds time to you achieving your dreams.

The USNA has nearly a dozen SEALs on campus at any given time to mentor candidates through additional training in the pool and to teach leadership in the classroom. Exposure to active-duty and retired SEALs is a significant advantage for Academy candidates. While the Academy receives 30-35 slots to attend BUDS each year, it is highly competitive for those who try.

ROTC integrates military training with college education. This route offers graduates the opportunity to pursue BUD/S after completing their degrees. ROTC Midshipmen will also attend SOAS during the summer in between their junior and senior years, learning how they will serve in the fall of their senior year. They will attend BUDS after graduation. Competition is equally fierce, with 15 to 25 officer slots typically available each year, requiring exceptional performance in academics, sports, and leadership. 

OCS Candidates - If, for some reason, you do not get selected after SOAC, you have many options compared to USNA and ROTC. You can enlist and go to BUD/S, and after some time as an enlisted SEAL, or you can attend OCS and become an officer in another community (lateral transfer as well), if you still feel like you want to serve in that capacity. You can also opt to reapply to SOAC again. This is a huge advantage you have over your Academy and ROTC counterparts – you owe the military nothing. Many will apply and 15-20 will be selected. This route has seen approximately one in eight candidates achieve acceptance into SEAL training after OCS. Those eager to continue to BUD/S must complete a series of assessments, including SOAS, before their official training.

Under the current selection model established in 2014, all candidates from various military academies, ROTC units, and OCS (as well as lateral transfer officers) are brought together to face the challenges of SOAC. This selection process goes beyond mere training, examining psychological resilience, physical capacity, and leadership aptitude through rigorous evaluation.

Regardless of the path you choose, unwavering commitment, strategic planning, and support networks will be vital. Your journey to becoming a Navy SEAL officer is not just about meeting the minimum requirements but excelling in multiple disciplines to distinguish yourself as a leader committed to the values of honor, courage, and commitment.

Committing to the Navy SEAL officer route is just the beginning. Ensure you’re fully equipped by preparing to get TO and THROUGH SEAL Training. This is a two-phase process – make sure you are aware of the challenges ahead. Gain coaching and training experience on physical preparation, mindset development, and the selection process that will position you for success in your pursuit of becoming a SEAL officer. Don’t just dream it—prepare for it!

Make Sure You Focus on the PST PLUS SOAC Events

You will take another PST when you show up for SOAC. Make sure these scores are better than your previous submission 5 months earlier. A simple side-by-side comparison can speak volumes about how serious you are with your preparation and training.

Recommended Scores to be Competitive (My opinion)

The following are my recommendations, not the Navy's. I have seen people with much better than these scores get/not get selected and people with worse scores get/not get chosen to attend SOAC:

PST: 
500yd swim 8-9 minutes (or faster)
Pushups 80-100+
Situps 80-100+
Pullups 15-20+
1.5 mile run - 9 minutes (or faster)

Tread water with clothes 15-20 minutes

Run 4 miles timed under 28 minutes

Ruck 9 miles timed (45- 50 lbs) - be able to hit 10 min miles or faster

Swim with Rocket fins 1 mile 30-32 minutes

Have a foundation of strength and durability to handle boats and log PT introduction.

Other non-physical events that will be tested:
- Prepare for an interview 
- Short verbal presentation
- Psychological tests

These are all competitive events that will rank you among your peers. But it also comes down to how badly you want it when your will is being tested.

Never Let Fear of Failing and Doubt Own You Again

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