1. Naval Special Operations Forces (NAVSOF)
Welcome to the Introduction to Special Operations Forces course lesson on Naval Special Operations Forces. U.S. Naval forces designated as special operations forces are assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Command abbreviated (NAVSPECWARCOM). It is often abbreviated even further to simply WARCOM. The United States naval Special Warfare Command is the United States Special Operations Command’s Naval Special Operations Forces component. In this lesson we will discuss the lineage of Naval Special Operations Forces along with the current structure, locations, missions, and capabilities.
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2. A basic understanding of the different USSOCOM service component capabilities along with the core activities and functions assigned to them by USSOCOM is essential to acquiring a complete and well rounded understanding of US Special Operations Forces. USSOCOM assigns its service components specific core activities and functions through USSOCOM directive As you might imagine Naval Special Operations Forces are particularly well suited for maritime, littoral, and riverine Special Operations. Understanding what those activities are and how Naval Special Operations Forces are organized and equipped to accomplish those assigned activities is essential to your education of US SOF.
Lets take a quick at NAVSOF in action before we discuss the specific units, capabilities and structure of NAVSPECWARCOM.

4. SEAL Lineage
Naval Special Warfare SEALs (which stands for Sea, Air, and Land) and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen can trace their origins to the scouts and raiders, Naval Combat Demolition Units, Office of Strategic Services Operational Swimmers, Underwater Demolition Teams and Patrol Torpedo (PT) and Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons of World War II. Within the U.S. military, these units pioneered flexible swim fins and facemasks, closed-circuit diving equipment, swimmer submersibles, and combat swimming and limpet mine attacks. While none of those early organizations have survived to the present times, their pioneering efforts in unconventional warfare are mirrored in the missions and professionalism of the present Naval Special Warfare warriors.

5. SEAL Lineage
The Special Boat Teams can also trace their history back to WWII. Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three rescued General MacArthur and later the Filipino President from the Philippines after the Japanese invasion and then participated in guerrilla actions until American resistance ended in the Philippines with the fall of Corregidor. PT Boats subsequently participated in most of the campaigns in the Southwest Pacific by conducting and supporting joint and combined reconnaissance, blockade, sabotage, and raiding missions as well as attacking Japanese shore facilities, shipping, and combatants. While there is no direct line between the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons of WWII and current day Special Boat Teams, Naval Special Warfare’s embracement is predicated on the similarity in craft and missions. The development of a robust riverine warfare capability during the Vietnam War produced the forerunner of Naval Special Warfare Command’s current surface mobility platforms and the modern Special Warfare Combatant Crewmen warrior. Mobile Support Teams provided combat craft support for SEAL operations, as did Patrol Boat Riverine (PBR) and Swift Boat sailors. As the Vietnam mission expanded into the riverine environment, additional craft, tactics, and training evolved for riverine patrol and SEAL support.

6. SEAL Lineage
Responding to President Kennedy’s desire for the services to develop an Unconventional Warfare capability, the U.S. Navy established SEAL Teams One and Two in January Formed entirely with Underwater Demolition Team personnel, the SEALs were immediately involved in the Vietnam War, where they became legendary by conducting counter guerilla warfare and clandestine operations in jungle and riverine environments.
In May 1983, all Underwater Demolition Teams were re-designated as SEAL Teams or SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams. SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams historical roots began during WWII with Italian and British combat swimmers and wet submersibles. Naval Special Warfare entered the submersible field in the 1960’s when the Coastal Systems Center developed the Mark 7, a free-flooding submersible of the type used today, and the first SEAL Delivery Vehicle to be used in the fleet.
Naval Special Warfare warriors have participated in every major combat role since Vietnam, including URGENT FURY (Grenada 1983); EARNEST WILL (Persian Gulf ); JUST CAUSE (Panama ); and DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM (Middle East/Persian Gulf ). More recently Naval Special Warfare units have conducted missions in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Philippines, and Afghanistan during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

7. Relationships SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (SOCOM) CHIEF OF NAVAL
JOINT
SPECIAL
AIR FORCE
WARFARE
ARMY
MARINE CORPS
Naval Special Warfare Command is the Navy service component command assigned under the combatant command authority of the Commander, United States Special Operations Command. NAVSPECWARCOM is a two-star admiral command. Although assigned under the combatant command of USSOCOM, NAVSPECWARCOM retains a coordination and supported relationship with its parent service.

8. NAVSPECWARCOM Mission
Navy Component Commander for USSOCOM.
Located at Coronado, CA.
Primary core tasks:
Direct Action
Special Reconnaissance
Foreign Internal Defense
Counterterrorism.
Secondary core tasks:
Unconventional Warfare
USSOCOM lead component of ten assigned functions: maritime Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance, Foreign Internal Defense, mobility, special operations; combat swimming/dive operations, undersea operations, riverine operations, littoral/urban littoral/coastal operations; maritime training and operations-Combat Rubber Raiding Craft .
Organize, train, man, equip, educate, sustain, maintain combat readiness, and deploy assigned Active Component and Reserve Component Naval Special Warfare Forces to accomplish special operations missions assigned by CDRUSSOCOM or GCC employing SOF.
Like USSOCOM’s other service component commands, Naval Special Warfare Command has a Title 10 type mission. It is not a deployable war fighting headquarters but rather a headquarters focused on manning, training, and equipping naval special operators and operational units for worldwide deployment in support of the geographic combatant commands.

9. Component Comparison USASOC WARCOM AFSOC MARSOC US Army US Navy
US Air Force
Spec Ops Wing (SOW)
Spec Tactics Squadrons (STS)
WARCOM
US Navy
SEALs
Special Boat Unit (SBU)
USASOC
US Army
Special Forces
Rangers
Spec Ops Aviation
MISO
Civil Affairs
MARSOC
US Marine Corps
MSOR
MSOSG
MSOS
31,551
9,480
15,236
2,428
With a total active duty and reserve personnel strength of approximately 9,480 personnel, WARCOM represents approximately 16 percent of the current US Special Operations Force and just less than two percent of the US Navy’s manpower. Additionally, only about 40 percent of the personnel are actual operators. The remaining 60 percent are active duty or civilian support personnel.

10. NAVSPECWARCOM Structure
NAVAL
SPECIAL WARFARE
COMMAND
NSW
GROUP
TWO
ONE
SEALs
SEAL
TEAM
1, 3, 5, 7
LOGSU 1
NSWU 1, 3
TRADET 1
2, 4, 8, 10
LOGSU 2
NSWU
2, 4, 10
TRADET 2
Undersea
NSW
GROUP
THREE
SDVT 1
DET
LTL CRK
TRADET 3
Surface
NSW
GROUP
FOUR
SBT 12
SBT 20
SBT 22
NAVSCIATTS
Cross- Functional
NSW
GROUP
TEN
SUPPACT 1 2
MSC
Reserve
NSW
GROUP
ELEVEN
SEAL
TEAM 17 18
Test & Evaluate
NSW
DEVELOPMENT
GROUP
TAC D & E
Training
NSW
CENTER
Basic
Course
Advanced
The Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned 6 April 1987 at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, California, and is the naval component of the United States Special Operations Command.
The command is organized into a number of subordinate Groups. Each Group is commanded by an O-6, which is a captain in the Navy.
The Groups are organized by specific functions. Groups One and Two contain the active duty SEAL teams, Group Three contains the undersea capability, and Group Four is the surface or special boat teams. Naval Special Warfare Group Ten is a functional command and Group Eleven contains the Reserve SEAL teams. In addition to these numbered Groups there is a test and evaluation Group and Training Group.

11. NAVSPECWARCOM Structure
NSW
GROUP
TWO
ONE
SEALs
SEAL
TEAM
1, 3, 5, 7
LOGSU 1
NSWU 1, 3
TRADET 1
2, 4, 8, 10
LOGSU 2
NSWU
2, 4, 10
TRADET 2
Undersea
THREE
SDVT 1
DET
LTL CRK
TRADET 3
Surface
FOUR
SBT 12
SBT 20
SBT 22
NAVSCIATTS
Cross- Functional
TEN
SUPPACT 1 2
MSC
Test & Evaluate
DEVELOPMENT
TAC D & E
Training
CENTER
Basic
Course
Advanced
Reserve
ELEVEN 17 18
NAVAL
SPECIAL WARFARE
COMMAND
Naval Special Warfare Groups One and Two contain the SEAL teams. Each Group has four SEAL Teams. Group One is located on the US West Coast and contains the odd numbered SEAL teams (1, 3, 5, & 7) while Group Two is located at Little Creek, Virginia and contains the even numbered SEAL Teams (2, 4, 8, & 10). The SEAL Groups also have forward based Naval Special Warfare Units. These forward deployed units exercise operational control and provide logistical support of Naval Special Warfare assets deploying from CONUS. The SEAL Groups and Teams are regionally orientated East and West for deployment and employment. Part of that regional orientation includes language and cultural awareness training. However, when required they can surge to operate in the opposite region. A good example of this is how Naval Special Operations Warfare Command has provided surge forces from both SEAL Groups in support of operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM in the Middle East.
As a comparison, a SEAL Group is comparable in size to an Army Special Forces Group.

12. What is a SEAL Team? SEAL Platoon 2-3 Officers 1 Chief 13 Enlisted MenCO
SEAL Platoon
2-3 Officers
1 Chief
13 Enlisted Men
CMC XO
OPS
OPS MC
Troop 1
Troop 2
Troop 3
Troop 4
Each SEAL Team is commanded by an O-5 or Navy commander. He has a command master chief for a senior enlisted advisor, executive officer and an operations section. Underneath the Team are the Troop commands. Troops are commanded by an O4 or lieutenant commander and typically have an E-8 (senior chief) as the troop senior enlisted advisor. Each Troop contains two SEAL Platoons for a total of 8 SEAL platoons per SEAL team.
A’ PLT
B’ PLT
C’ PLT
D’ PLT
E’ PLT
F’ PLT
G’ PLT
H’ PLT

13. The SEAL Platoon SEAL Platoon 16 Individuals 2 Officer 1 Chief (E-7)
13 Enlisted (E-6 and below)
Weapons
Communications
Dive/Jump/Demo
Language
8 Platoons per Team
Total of 64 Operational Platoons
Platoons are the basic building block of the SEAL groups. The authorized strength of a SEAL Platoon is 16. However, this number can be modified or tailored for a specific mission or task but does not typically go below 14 or above 20.

14. Squad 1 Squad 2 CDR O-3 POINT E-5 (Sniper) AW COMM LPO E-6 MED (~18D)
Rear
Security
E-4
Squad 2
ASST
CDR
O-1
POINT
E-5
(Sniper)
Rear
Security
E-4 AW
MED
(~18D)
COMM
CHIEF
E-7
Of the 16 members there will normally be two to three officers, a Chief or E-7, and 13 enlisted sailors, E-6 and below. The SEAL Platoon has functional redundancy built in so that the Team can split into two squads, which depending on the mission, can also be split into four, four-man sections. The SEAL Team functional areas of expertise include sniper, weapons, medical, communications, intelligence, engineer, diver master, jumpmaster, joint terminal attack controller (JTAC), and breacher.

15. SEAL Training Pipeline
8 months
PREP
COURSE
8 weeks
BUD/S
TRAINING
6 months
JUMP/SERE
SCHOOL
OFFICER’S
COURSE
4 months
SEAL
Qualification
Training
The training to become a SEAL is considered to be some of the toughest in the world. The SEAL qualification pipeline begins with an eight-week preparation course where the applicants receive indoctrination, pre-conditioning, and psychological testing. The preparation course is followed by six months of BUD/S, Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training. BUD/S is an extremely intense course meant to push the limits of SEAL candidates’ physical and mental abilities and stamina. The dropout rate from a BUD/S class will be about 70 to 80 percent. Some candidates’ drop out from injury, but the vast majority of dropouts are at the SEAL candidate’s request. After completing BUD/S, SEAL candidates will attend some required qualification schools such as an airborne qualification course and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape or SERE course prior to attending a four month SEAL qualification training course. Upon successful completion of the Skill Qualification Training course the SEAL candidate is awarded the Special Warfare insignia also known as the ”SEAL Trident” and assigned to an operational unit. The process of training and education is continued throughout their careers through a combination of formal and informal processes including on-the-job skills training, attendance at various service or SOF training courses, and civilian courses of instruction. Once qualified, an enlisted SEAL can expect to spend the remainder of his career in the special operations community.

16. NAVSPECWARCOM Structure
NSW
GROUP
TWO
ONE
SEALs
SEAL
TEAM
1, 3, 5, 7
LOGSU 1
NSWU 1, 3
TRADET 1
2, 4, 8, 10
LOGSU 2
NSWU
2, 4, 10
TRADET 2
Undersea
THREE
SDVT 1
DET
LTL CRK
TRADET 3
Surface
FOUR
SBT 12
SBT 20
SBT 22
NAVSCIATTS
Cross- Functional
TEN
SUPPACT 1 2
MSC
Test & Evaluate
DEVELOPMENT
TAC D & E
Training
CENTER
Basic
Course
Advanced
Reserve
ELEVEN 17 18
NAVAL
SPECIAL WARFARE
COMMAND
Naval Special Warfare Command’s undersea capability resides in Group Three and consists of the SEAL Delivery Vehicles or SDV and the dry deck shelters. The Group headquarters and subordinate commands are located at Peal Harbor, Hawaii.

17. Dry Deck Shelter (DDS)
Allows for the launch and recovery of an SDV or combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) with personnel from a submerged submarine.
Consists of three modules constructed as an integral unit: hangar, transfer trunk, hyperbaric recompression chamber.
Provides a dry working environment for mission preparations.
Typical operation the DDS hangar module is flooded, pressurized to the surrounding sea pressure, and a large door opened to allow for launch and recovery of the vehicle.
Transportable by C-5 and C-17 aircraft, rail, highway, or sealift.
The SDV is a wet submersible, meaning that the occupants are constantly exposed to the seawater in which they are operating. The SDV can be launched and recovered from either a surface ship or submarine. The dry deck shelter is used to house the SDV when operating from a submarine and provides a dry environment for the SDV during transit. The dry deck is then flooded to launch and recover the vehicle.

18. SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV)
SEALs can infil/exfil using free-flooding submersibles
SDVs can operate from surface or sub-surface platforms
There are some key advantages to operating the SDV from a submarine rather than off a surface ship. A submarine can maneuver unseen closer to a target than a surface ship can, especially during daylight. Additionally, launching from a point closer to the target area reduces the transit and water exposure time of the operators.
Naval Special Warfare Command and USSOCOM are working on the next generation shallow water combat submersible to replace the current SEAL Delivery Vehicle in the next four to eight years.

19. NAVSPECWARCOM Structure
NSW
GROUP
TWO
ONE
SEALs
SEAL
TEAM
1, 3, 5, 7
LOGSU 1
NSWU 1, 3
TRADET 1
2, 4, 8, 10
LOGSU 2
NSWU
2, 4, 10
TRADET 2
Undersea
THREE
SDVT 1
DET
LTL CRK
TRADET 3
Surface
FOUR
SBT 12
SBT 20
SBT 22
NAVSCIATTS
Cross- Functional
TEN
SUPPACT 1 2
MSC
Test & Evaluate
DEVELOPMENT
TAC D & E
Training
CENTER
Basic
Course
Advanced
Reserve
ELEVEN 17 18
NAVAL
SPECIAL WARFARE
COMMAND
Naval Special Warfare Command’s surface craft and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen are in Naval Special Warfare Group Four. The Group Four headquarters is located at Little Creek, Virginia. It’s four subordinate units Special Boat Teams 12, 20, and 22, along with Naval Small Craft Instructional Technical and Training School are located at Coronado, California, Little Creek and Stennis, Mississippi.
Naval Special Warfare operates three primary special operations craft, the Mark Five, 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat or RHIB and the Special Operations Craft- Riverine or SOC-R. Group Four is also conducting operational test and evaluation of a new low profile craft called the Sea Lion. The future of the Sea Lion within Naval Special Warfare Command is unclear at this point but it does have a number of desirable qualities that support the Naval Special Warfare core activities. Another project currently underway is the Combat Craft Medium. This project is designed to replace the aging fleet of Mark Fives and 11-meter RHIBs.

20. Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewman (SWCC)
Volunteers are screened and selected
Indoctrination (3 Weeks)
SWCC Basic Training (5 Weeks)
Crewman Qualification Training (20 Weeks)
12 weeks language
13 weeks SWCC Core Skills
The Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen are not SEALs but are Special Operations Forces. They are all volunteers and go through a screening and selection process like most Special Operations Forces. They conduct Special Operations, such as over-the-beach and other insertion/ extraction of Special Operations Forces, waterborne guard post, maritime interception operations/visit, board, search and seizure, coastal patrol and interdiction, special reconnaissance, and foreign internal defense, with or without SEALs or other Special Operations Forces.
Training to become a combatant-craft crewman begins with a three week indoctrination course which, like the SEALs’ eight week preparation course, focuses on physical and mental conditioning. The program trains, develops, and assesses SWCC candidates in physical conditioning, water competency, teamwork, and mental tenacity. This is followed by the Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman basic training course. The focus of the basic training course is on basic seamanship for small craft and navigation. The candidate that successfully completes both the indoctrination and basic training courses moves to the Crewman Qualification Training Course. The Crewman Qualification Training Course includes training in weapons, seamanship, first aid, maritime navigation, communications and small unit tactics in waterborne patrolling techniques. The candidate is also introduced to the Naval Special Warfare mission planning cycle. The physical training requirements are also increased during this course.

21. MK-V Special Operations Craft
FEATURES
50+ KTS
600 NM
MK 38 25mm Gun
Multiple machine guns and grenade launchers
CREW
6 Crewmen
16 Passengers
4 CRRCs
MISSION
Medium-range insertion and extraction of SOF
The Mark Five is an open water medium range infiltration and extraction craft. It is approximately 80 feet in length. It has a range of 500 nautical miles and its twin engine jet propulsion system gives it a capability of speeds in excess of 50 knots, depending on the sea state. It is operated by a crew of six and can mount up to five weapon systems for self-defense, to include machine guns and grenade launchers. The Mark Five can transport a full 16-man SEAL Platoon and four combat rubber raiding craft that can be launched and recovered of the stern of the boat.
Over the next few slides we will look closer at the capabilities of each SWCCs craft beginning with the Mark-V.

22. Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB)
FEATURES
35+ KTS
Range 150 NM
Two mounts, one fore and one aft, capable of holding .50cal., M60 or grenade launcher
CREW COMPLEMENT
3 Crewmen
8 Passengers
MISSION
High speed, high buoyancy, extreme weather craft primarily used for ship to shore insertion and extraction of SEAL tactical elements.
The 11-meter, rigid hull inflatable boat is a twin-engine, high speed, high buoyancy, extreme-weather craft. Its primary mission is ship to shore or ship to ship insertion and extraction of SEAL tactical elements. It has a range of 150 nautical miles and is capable of speeds in excess of 35 knots. The RHIB has a crew of three and can carry up to eight passengers. This craft is also air droppable from a C-130 or C-17 aircraft using the Maritime Craft Aerial Deployment System or MCADS. The Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen and SEAL element will follow the boat out of the aircraft in either a freefall or static-line airborne operation. The tactical situation will drive the airborne means chosen. The 11-meter RHIB is also air transportable and can be inserted or extracted by sling load from the Army MH-47 helicopter.

23. Special Operations Craft Riverine
(SOC-R)
FEATURES
40+ KTS
Range 195 NM
Armament
Five mounts, two fore and three aft, capable of holding .50 cal., M240N, MK 44, MK-19
CREW COMPLEMENT
3 Crewmen
8 Passengers
MISSION
Mobility for Special Operations Forces in a riverine environment.
The final boat operated by the Naval Special Warfare Command is the Special Operations Craft- Riverine or SOC-R. The SOC-R is specifically designed for the clandestine insertion and extraction of Navy SEALs and other Special Operations Forces along shallow waterways. With a draft of a mere two feet, it is well suited for riverine operations. The SOC-R is approximately 33 feet in length, has a range of 195 nautical miles and is capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots. It can mount a total of five weapon systems for self-defense. Like the 11-meter RHIB the SOC-R operates with a crew of three, can carry eight passengers and can also be carried as a slung load under an Army MH-47 helicopter. One of the unique characteristics of the SOC-R is its ability to reverse thrust the jet propulsion giving it the capability to go from a top speed to a complete stop in just a few boat lengths.

24. NAVSPECWARCOM Structure
NSW
GROUP
TWO
ONE
SEALs
SEAL
TEAM
1, 3, 5, 7
LOGSU 1
NSWU 1, 3
TRADET 1
2, 4, 8, 10
LOGSU 2
NSWU
2, 4, 10
TRADET 2
Undersea
THREE
SDVT 1
DET
LTL CRK
TRADET 3
Surface
FOUR
SBT 12
SBT 20
SBT 22
NAVSCIATTS
Cross- Functional
TEN
SUPPACT 1 2
MSC
Test & Evaluate
DEVELOPMENT
TAC D & E
Training
CENTER
Basic
Course
Advanced
Reserve
ELEVEN 17 18
NAVAL
SPECIAL WARFARE
COMMAND
Naval Special Warfare Group Ten is the command’s cross functional Group. The Group headquarters is located at Little Creek, Virginia. Group 10 has three subordinate units, two support activities, and a mission support center. Following in the tradition of the SEAL Teams, Support Activity One is on the West Coast at Coronado, California and Support Activity Two is at Little Creek, Virginia on the East Coast. The Mission Support Center is also located in Coronado.

25. Group 10
Naval Special Warfare Development Group Ten coordinates NAVSPECWARCOM’s Unmanned Aerial Systems and underwater systems requirements and activities in support of the operational units. The two support activities operate the different aerial and underwater systems. The mission support center coordinates support requirements for the rest of the force and conducts the analysis, production and product dissemination.

26. NAVSPECWARCOM Structure
NSW
GROUP
TWO
ONE
SEALs
SEAL
TEAM
1, 3, 5, 7
LOGSU 1
NSWU 1, 3
TRADET 1
2, 4, 8, 10
LOGSU 2
NSWU
2, 4, 10
TRADET 2
Undersea
THREE
SDVT 1
DET
LTL CRK
TRADET 3
Surface
FOUR
SBT 12
SBT 20
SBT 22
NAVSCIATTS
Cross- Functional
TEN
SUPPACT 1 2
MSC
Test & Evaluate
DEVELOPMENT
TAC D & E
Training
CENTER
Basic
Course
Advanced
Reserve
ELEVEN 17 18
NAVAL
SPECIAL WARFARE
COMMAND
Reserve forces are a vital part of the US total defense force. Naval Special Warfare Command has two reserve SEAL Teams organized under naval Special Warfare Group 11. The Group headquarters is located at Coronado. The teams, designated as Teams 17 and 18 are located on the West and East coasts respectively. The reserve teams can deploy as Squadrons or provide individual or team augmentation to the active duty units.

27. NAVSPECWARCOM Structure
NSW
GROUP
TWO
ONE
SEALs
SEAL
TEAM
1, 3, 5, 7
LOGSU 1
NSWU 1, 3
TRADET 1
2, 4, 8, 10
LOGSU 2
NSWU
2, 4, 10
TRADET 2
Undersea
THREE
SDVT 1
DET
LTL CRK
TRADET 3
Surface
FOUR
SBT 12
SBT 20
SBT 22
NAVSCIATTS
Cross- Functional
TEN
SUPPACT 1 2
MSC
Test & Evaluate
DEVELOPMENT
TAC D & E
Training
CENTER
Basic
Course
Advanced
Reserve
ELEVEN 17 18
NAVAL
SPECIAL WARFARE
COMMAND
The Naval Special Development Group is located in Norfolk, Virginia. The command is organized into subordinate tactical development and evaluation teams.

28. NSW Development Group Testing New Equipment
Developing New Tactics & Procedures
Testing New Concepts
Researching New Technologies
Equipment Ensuring interoperability
The Naval Special Warfare Development Group develops Special Operations requirements and techniques, including the testing and evaluation of technology applicable to Naval Special Warfare. The Development Group also ensures interoperability and equipment standardization within Naval Special Warfare, while developing maritime, ground, and airborne Special Operations tactics, techniques, and procedures.

29. NAVSPECWARCOM Structure
NSW
GROUP
TWO
ONE
SEALs
SEAL
TEAM
1, 3, 5, 7
LOGSU 1
NSWU 1, 3
TRADET 1
2, 4, 8, 10
LOGSU 2
NSWU
2, 4, 10
TRADET 2
Undersea
THREE
SDVT 1
DET
LTL CRK
TRADET 3
Surface
FOUR
SBT 12
SBT 20
SBT 22
NAVSCIATTS
Cross- Functional
TEN
SUPPACT 1 2
MSC
Test & Evaluate
DEVELOPMENT
TAC D & E
Training
CENTER
Basic
Course
Advanced
Reserve
ELEVEN 17 18
NAVAL
SPECIAL WARFARE
COMMAND
The Naval Special Warfare Center is the Naval Special Operations school house. The Center headquarters is located in Coronado, California but has subsidiary training sites at numerous locations throughout the continental United States along with both Alaska and Hawaii. The Center is responsible for a number of training courses but their biggest effort goes into the SEAL and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman qualification training courses in Coronado.

30. NSW Squadron RIB Detachment SEAL Platoon MK-V Detachment
Naval Special Warfare utilizes a two year training and deployment cycle which is divided into four, six month phases. NSW deploys as a Naval Special Warfare Squadron. The core of the Squadron is a SEAL team. Since there are four SEAL teams on each coast there is a team on each coast in one of the four cycles. Due to current overseas contingency force requirements, typical deployments run closer to nine months and reduce the training cycle to months.
RIB Detachment
SEAL Platoon
MK-V Detachment
GLOBAL maritime warriors who operate on or under the SEa, from the Air, and on the Land (SEAL)
SOC-R Detachment
SDV Task Unit

31. NSW Squadron Cycle SEAL Team NSW Squadron Individual Training
Individual Training
Unit-Level
Training
Interoperability
Training
Deployment
The cycle begins with a professional development phase where the emphasis is on individual training and education. The second phase is the unit training phase where the focus is on team and platoon level training. In the third phase a SEAL Team becomes a Squadron with attachments from Navy EOD and Special Boat Teams (RHIBs and Mark Fives). They will also receive tactical combat service and service support attachments such as communications, ground mobility, Seabees, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance units.
The third phase is followed by the actual six month deployment phase into the theaters. While deployed, the Naval Special Warfare Squadrons are under the operational control of the Theater Special Operations Command which is exercised through the permanently assigned Naval Special Warfare Unit.
Upon redeployment the Squadron is dissolved and the cycle begins all over again.
Form Up
Boats, SDVs, Comms, Intel, EOD

32. Conclusion NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE COMMAND
SOCSOUTH
SOCAFRICA
SOCCENT
SOCPAC
SOCEUR
SOCKOR
This concludes the lesson on Naval Special Operations Forces. As a short review,
Naval Special Warfare Command is USSOCOM’s Navy service component. It is a two star admiral command, organized into a number of Naval Special Warfare Groups.
The core unit of WARCOM is the SEAL Team. There are eight SEAL Teams, four on each coast. Each SEAL team has eight Platoons. Odd number teams are on the West coast with even number teams stationed on the East coast. A SEAL Platoon is comprises of 16 highly trained, physically fit, and extremely motivated individuals.
In addition to the SEAL Teams, NAVSPECWARCOM has both undersea and surface maritime capabilities.
WARCOM deploys forces into the theaters as Naval Special Operations Squadrons. While in theater, the Squadron conducts operations under the operational control of the Theater Special Operations Command, (TSOC).
Before moving to the next lesson you will need to complete the learning check on the primary lesson page.