A true SEAL vet or a wannabe mall ninja?

[brlau]

I wonder why people do this. Even if I met a real seal, I really couldn't care less. I guess I'd feel some gratitude simply for him being part of the military, and pity for the difficult job. But I'm impressed with people who I want to be like. I'm aware that it's shallow, but I'm more impressed with pro athletes, an innovator, rock star or someone who otherwise leads an enviable life. I only did some impromptu searching on their salary and job description, but I wouldn't want to be someone who crawls through mud and gets shot at all day for chump change.

I'm sorry but this got a song stuck in my head:
"Now look at them yo-yo's, that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on that MTV
That ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and your chicks for free
Now that ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Lemme tell ya, them guys ain't dumb
Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb"

I've only met one SEAL before, during college he was a classmate. Back then I wasn't as tuned into service as I am now. I get to work with and around sailors every day at the NSY. I have the utmost respect for what they do day in and day out, whether they are submariners (who I see for the most part), surface warfare (less often), special warfare (even more seldom), aviators, etc. At this point in life I know I probably won't ever experience what these guys get to go through in their careers, and thus I look to them with a certain amount of awe. Sure I probably get paid more than most of them who aren't at least O-3's, but I won't get to "see the world" and experience nearly as much as they do.

 

[Strings]

Ok... i did NOT read through several pages of "this is how you tell a fake SEAL". instead...

I first saw the .50 Desert Eagle at Krasne's Guns in San Diego (they had JUST gotten it in). Since I was then in "A" school, that would place it late 91/early 92. Don't think the military would've been offering it.

When I got to my ship on WestPac, the SEALs aboard (LPD-6, USS Duluth) were using Sig 226s for their sidearms...

Oh... the SOCOM? That wasn't even a concpet until after I was out...

 

[Eleven Mike]

I knew this idiot in signal once...

He was an E2, and couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag or hit the broadside of a barn with his weapon.
On his day off he would dress up in Airborne stuff and wear E4 insignia!

Hey man, I was just trying to impress the chicks. You don't have to make me out as some kind of loser.

 

[XD Fan]

Eleven Mike,

You are having way too much fun with this thread.

 

[Eleven Mike]

I'm the only one professional enough...

 

[Mr White]

If HALF the guys who say they're SEALs actually are SEALs, there'd be no one else in the Navy to operate the ships, to fix the ships, to cook the meals on the ships, to fire the guns and torpedos, or do any other job in the Navy, because everyone would be a SEAL.

Navy personnel planner #1: Maybe we should have trained people to do jobs other than SEAL.
Navy Personnel planner #2: Yeah, that would've probably been a good idea.

 

[Woodsmoke]

USS JFK

Believe it or not I was in the Navy. I was an ICmen. I worked on phones.

In 2000 I was on the JFK in the Persian Gulf and the seal detachment onboard gave a little demonstration of the weapons and gear they used. One guy was dressed up in a ghillie suit and showed off his scoped M14.

The only sidearms they showed us were a Sig Sauer and .357 S&W revolver. I was surprised at the revolver. I certainly didn't see a Desert Eagle. Then again they probably didn't show us everything they used.

I will say that the seals didn't really show off or walk around all puffed up. No braggging at all. In fact, I hardly ever saw them.

I do remember one of them was called "Jocko". This guy had eyes that would terrify you if he looked at you. One look from this guy and you knew he was all business. He didn't need to brag. In fact, that guy was the only person I have ever been afraid of just by him looking at me.

 

[Eleven Mike]

I do remember one of them was called "Jocko". This guy had eyes that would terrify you if he looked at you. One look from this guy and you knew he was all business. He didn't need to brag. In fact, that guy was the only person I have ever been afraid of just by him looking at me.

You should have been afraid, punk. I WAS carrying a .50 cal. Deagle. But don't be cute and think you can call me Jocko. You wasn't in the teams.

 

[Woodsmoke]

OH! I meant no disrespect Mr. uhh.... Eleven Mike, sir. I will never mention your ...uhhh special "code name" again.

Now I remember.... You did have that Desert Eagle. How could I forget. It just didn't look like a Desert Eagle since it was dwarfed by your Arnold Schwarzenegger physique and the fully auto bazooka you were carrying.

Sorry... uhh it won't happen again.

 

[rugerdude]

Yeah woodsmoke, he was just the only one professional enough to carry the "deagle" is all.

Sheesh, people never learn.

So ElevenMike, how many rounds of .308AP can your breifcase stop? I mean, supposing that your significant other wasn't there with the scoped Handi-rifle in 338 Laupa magnum to shoot back for you.

Oh, and woodsmoke, you'd better not test him, you may just get a ninja boot where the sun don't shine.

Seriously though, I doubt a SEAL would go yup to a total stranger and start bragging. Now if it was a Marine from Recon and there were booze within 5 miles....maybe.

J/K devildogs, I love the Corps, and I will be joining you in 2008.

 

[JWarren]

This is kinda funny.

The only SEAL I ever knew (I mentioned earlier in this thread) was on leave one time and we went out drinking.

As discussions tend to go, he talked a bit about some of his training.

He was telling me about in BUD/S, they did a lot of running on the beach carrying a large inflatable boat. Then he went on to tell me that they did a lot of swimming in the ocean on the sides of same large inflatable boat, pulling it along.

Then he got this kinda far off expression like he was deep in his thoughts. After a minute or two, he said "Come to think of it, I don't think they ever let us get IN that damned boat!

That cracked me up.


John

 

[Woodsmoke]

You know John its funny you say that. I think there must be a lot of frustration being in the teams.

When I was on the Kennedy I asked one of the Seals what it was like. He told me it was "like trainining every day for the Super Bowl, then not getting to play".

 

[bclark1]

i just handle a .50 DE for the first time last weekend...
i cannot imagine a stupider paperweight to carry into combat. just wouldn't happen. very cool, some practical application for hunting/outdoors/general fun, but i don't think many guys who'd want that on their thigh in combat would have the decision making abilities to get out of the combat. probably try to storm the capital with 2 spare mags.

+1 to small SF guys too. i've only known a couple but none were big.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've never understood the fixation on SEALs. As pointed out, it's an absolutely tiny force in military terms. Even as special operations forces go, it's not all that significant. When did people start getting fixated on them? It seems like it was back in the 80's when Ninjas were cool.

 

[JWarren]

Cosmoline,

It was when Hollywood started with the whole Rambo "Kill'em all, Let God sort'em out" thing.

Of course, we've always been fascinated with small commando units (The Green Berets, The Dirty Dozen, etc.) I just think it was the 80's before Hollywood figured out that one more unit existed.

Then they had to go off and make a movie where Charlie Sheen was a SEAL. Suddenly, I don't feel near as safe as I used to....


John

 

[Woodsmoke]

Cosmoline

I was only in the Navy and did not work with SF from the other branches. I would have to say that any fascination with them, at least on the part of us swabees with normal jobs, was that they were the tip of the spear.

Personally, I really admired them for what they did. They were the element that actually met the enemy.

Honestly, working on alarm systems and phones didn't really seem like a military role while I was in. It felt more like a bad job with long hours and little pay. In retrospect, I see how essential it was. Of course, that reflection is post college and a degree in management that helps me see how everything works together.

I think the seals represent everything we wish we could have been or done for our country, but didn't because we were either too lazy, too untalented, or simply not tough enough to accomplish.

 

[Navy joe]

Being in Norfolk/VaBch I run across lots of SEALs. I do not understand the worship factor. One I had dealings with sold me an M-1A. Was he selling it to cover up a secret op? Maybe to raise funds for a clandestine army to take over Portsmouth? No, actually his wifey wanted a new truck and him facing retirement had lots of expenses. Another one I sold a Rem 700 too. Was he off to assasinate Mickey Mouse and those damn dwarves? No, he wanted a personal bolt-gun he could get range time to practice with. However, I reject his notion that a #1.5 single stage trigger was " a little too heavy still" Normal people with a ****ty job. They are dedicated and do it very well; they are not superhuman. In fact I see new SEALs at the range all the time, they really cannot shoot all that great. I hear they get good through a mysterious concept called practice. A lot of practice. Again, human.

People who want to fake be SEELs or anything else are pathetic. You know pathetic like the local tactical gear store employee/full-time gear queer I saw at the range tonight. Peltor muffs w/ boom mike, 3-4 full size tactical pistols w/ lights and extended barrels, cool drop thigh rig, etc. The AR had a VLTOR stock, AN/PEQ-2 designator, Leupold CQT sight, Surefire light, cool sling etc. Why pathetic? The pistols all looked damn new, as much gear as possible was coyote brown, ballcap included, The cool Leupold sight was not on 8.5x11" paper at 25yds and I know for a fact this guy does not work for any of the local "contractors" Same guy who whipped out the AR with doo-dads and C-mag at one of our IPSC rifle side matches. He was roundly stomped by folks with way less cooler gear.

That said, my grand-dad thinks I am specwar because I never talk about what I do in the navy other than answer direct questions as curtly as possible. No, I'm not on black-ops, I just have a black spot in my heart for talking about the military at any family gathering where at least ten relations think that "bu****ler" is a legit word/name.

BTW, I fix airplanes and mold young minds.

 

[JWarren]

and mold young minds.

The last time I tried that they called it "Contributing to the delinquency of a minor." Go figure....

John

 

[Eleven Mike]

So ElevenMike, how many rounds of .308AP can your breifcase stop? I mean, supposing that your significant other wasn't there with the scoped Handi-rifle in 338 Laupa magnum to shoot back for you.

Oh man, it WAS .338 Lapua, wasn't it? :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: And I said .300 Winchester. I guess I'll just never be supertactical.

 

[Kali Endgame]

I lived across the hall from a SEAL team for a couple or three weeks. Nice guys, but quite. One guy made me look like a Hobbit and the rest were averaged sized, but ripped and ruthless.

They had a great collection of movies.

 

[MGB]

I did a lot of things in the Navy. I trained in Coronado on the base. I know several SEALs, I work with a couple. Even after many adult beverages they have many other things to discuss. Rule #1 Never discuss ops with someone that wasn't on it. Rule #2 Never discuss ops.

There are many story tellers in the world they aint SEALs, or Rangers, or LERPs, or Green Berets, or other SF,s and none of them carried a DE.50's, he couldn't get ammo from another team member if he needed it...... well Duhhh!

 

[Strings]

Woodsmoke: you were with NavBell too?!?!? Cool... thought I was the only phoneguy here! Don't suppose you have any sound-powered phone batteries I could get from ya?


I got to hang out with a squad from my ship one night in Thailand. I was always a smart-a**: the First Class from this crew was built like the proverbial brick outhouse (HUGE guy). Tats completely covering his arms. From a distance, he looked like a nice guy, but up close his eyes were just missing something (at a guess, I'd say it was "humanity" that wasn't there)...

Well, I was mess-cranking as we came up on the Land of Smiles. This gent would come through the line, and I'd always give him a half portion. When he'd ask for more, I'd always reply "can't... medical said I shouldn't, 'cause you're too fat!". Yes... I'd give him more... but I'd always give him greif about it. One day, he made the comment "One of these days, I AM gonna catch ya on liberty alone"...

So... we're in Thailand. I'm wandering (alone) back to the liberty launch to head back to the ship. Who do I see? Yep... my "victim"... and his entire squad. The unfortunate part is, they saw me too...

"Hey! Are you out here alone?"

"Yep... heading back to the ship"

"No yer not! Yer coming with us!"

"Now just how f8ing stupid do you think I look?"

Yes, I went with 'em... and had an absolute riot.

Nice bunch a guys. You'ld wander through their berthing space, and see a piece of equipment: if it wasn't classified, they were more than happy to tell you all about it. They were also the first time I got to shoot an MP-5 (off the flight deck... ahh, gun sex!)

Ok... I'm rambling now...

 

[Woodsmoke]

Navbell.... I haven't heard that in forever. Yeah those batteries were the only souvenir that I took when I left. I was that anxious to leave.

Those, my sea bag, and some beach pictures from St. Martin (the French side) that I don't show anybody. Unless, of course, it's to prove that I once was in shape...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The only sidearms they showed us were a Sig Sauer and .357 S&W revolver. I was surprised at the revolver.

Woodsmoke,
I mentioned the .357 back on the second page along with the other handguns that are used. Since the Stainless frame resists rusting in water (go figure, SEALs and water??) they like to carry it. The .357 is also liked because it is a very good 1 shot stopper.

 

[Woodsmoke]

1 shot stopper

Oh yeah. But you have to understand that my level of experience with firearms back in '99-'00, which was the year of that particular deployment, was next to nothing.

I remember being surprised at, what I thought at the time at least, an antiquated firearm being used by such an elite group of military fighters. Honestly, that little display may have been the spark that began my study of firearms.

To put it bluntly, I was ignorant of guns, calibers or combat. Not that I am proficient today by any means, nor do I try to pass myself off as such. I am, however, a student of firearms and personal defense today, whereas I can't even remember being that interested in it back then.

Please don't think that I didn't read your post. I did. It is the memory of being surprised that stands out in my mind. Nintendo generation images of men running around carrying M-60s with thousands of chain linked rounds draped across their bodies were quickly dispelled. The reality of hard hitting, accurate, and reliable firearms was there in front of me.

In short, I had a paradigm shift.