The Journey Through BUD/S

BUD/S is the defining test of a candidate’s physical and mental limits. It is not designed to create SEALs; it is designed to see who already has what it takes deep inside. Spanning six months, this program breaks down the unprepared and reveals those who possess the resilience, grit, and sheer determination required for the unforgiving missions ahead.

First Phase: Basic Conditioning

This phase is where physical and mental barriers are pushed to their breaking points. It includes:

• Grueling daily physical training—running, swimming, and calisthenics.
• Tests of endurance, teamwork, and water competency
• The infamous Hell Week, a brutal five-and-a-half-day marathon of constant training on only a few hours of sleep

Those who survive First Phase have demonstrated a rare ability to endure suffering and refuse to quit when everything in their body tells them to stop.

Second Phase: Combat Diving

The ocean is a SEAL’s domain, and here candidates master underwater operations, including:

• Open- and closed-circuit diving.
• Tactical underwater navigation and reconnaissance.
• Combat swimmer skills essential for clandestine insertions.

Succeeding in this phase means mastering the ability to operate undetected beneath the surface—a key component of SEAL missions worldwide.

Third Phase: Land Warfare

The final stretch of BUD/S prepares candidates for direct-action missions on land, focusing on:

• Weapons training and marksmanship
• Demolitions and breaching techniques.
• Land navigation, patrolling, and mission planning.

Completion of this phase is proof that a candidate is ready for the next evolution of training—SEAL Qualification Training (SQT).

SEAL Qualification Training (SQT): Becoming an Operator

SQT takes everything learned in BUD/S and builds upon it, refining the raw capability of the candidate into a skilled operator. Over 26 weeks, candidates undergo:

• Advanced weapons and small unit tactics for real-world combat effectiveness.

• Demolitions and Close Quarters Combat (CQC) training to prepare for high-risk missions.
• Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training to withstand capture and resist interrogation.
• Cold Weather Training in Alaska, learning to operate in the harshest conditions.
• U.S. Army Airborne School, earning the static line parachutist qualification.

At the conclusion of SQT, the members of Class 365 have earned more than just an expansive skill set. They have proven they are capable of operating with the best warriors on earth.

The Few Who Make It

Not everyone can be a Navy SEAL. Those who succeed possess an unshakable drive, an indomitable spirit, and a refusal to quit, no matter the cost. SEALs are:

• Men who endure where others falter.
• Men who embrace suffering as a pathway to excellence.
• Men who put mission and team above self.

Class 365, you are now among those few.

The Trident: A Symbol of Honor, Strength, and Brotherhood

Receiving the SEAL Trident is not just a ceremony—it is the final rite of passage into an elite brotherhood. The Trident represents mastery over every domain in which SEALs operate:

• The Eagle signifies America and the SEAL’s commitment to defend its freedom.
• The Anchor represents the Navy and the maritime roots of Naval Special Warfare.
• The Trident embodies dominance in the sea, a reminder of Neptune’s power.
• The Flintlock Pistol symbolizes the readiness and lethality required in battle.

In the SEAL Teams, traditions surrounding the Trident run deep. SEALs receive their Trident in a formal ceremony with a senior SEAL affixing “the Budweiser” to their uniform. Some opt to have it pounded into their chest by a teammate, mentor, or close family member, a painful but honored rite marking the SEAL’s acceptance into the brotherhood. It cannot be overlooked that often a strong family stands behind the SEAL during his training.

Class 365: You Have Earned Your Place

You have passed where many have failed. You have become what so many wish they could be. You are now Navy SEALs, part of a brotherhood forged in adversity and united in purpose. Proven Arms & Outfitters is honored that you chose us to facilitate the production and delivery of your commemorative firearm.