General Discussion

haele

(13,764 posts)

67. Lol, there are apparently enough just retired Navy Seals around

Sun Nov 24, 2024, 10:01 PM

Nov 24

To crew ten entire Aircraft Carriers (average crew of 5k) to hear the barstool sitters talk. When in reality, maybe an average of 10 actually finish training every year. Means there's been just over 900 since they started in 1962...
Ya, over 50 years around the DOD, I knew about 20 'Nam era River Rats, and over 500 BUDs graduates.BUDs is the first half of Underwater Demolition (EOD or "sabotage" divers), and SEAL training; most end up being either EOD or support personnel for special operations.
I know a former SERE instructor that oversaw the live scenario training (drop you in the high Nevada Desert and see if you survived). Short, quiet guy, Native American, built like a fireplug.

Actual SEALS are a lot rarest, I officially met 2, and like the SERE instructor, they were medium height, quiet, non-descript wiry build type guys who were extremely intelligent and alert. They never would call attention to themselves, because part of their mission always require they go in, blend in, and get out without being noticed. They aren't SWAT.

Over the years I've met a lot of guys who tried to tell they were SEALS, but they looked more like no neck Gym Rats pretending to be Jesse Ventura or Arnold the Governator. Maybe they actually went through BUDs, but their attitude was pure cosplayer.

Haele

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Mr.Bill eppur_se_muova

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What's this "warrior" stuff? [View all] AverageOldGuy Nov 24 OP

The only place I ever saw my dad's (WWII vet) dog tags... dchill Nov 24 #1

My Dad's, too. He was in the US Army Corps of Engineers in WWII. TrollBuster9090 Nov 24 #61

That alleged rapist was a relatively low-ranking officer, a major, who never commanded... brush Nov 24 #2

My uncle was captured in the Battle of the Bulge. 5 or 7 months as a POW. Talked of eating cattle beets. keithbvadu2 Nov 24 #24

Major Malfunction orangecrush Nov 24 #45

Heehee. Yep. brush Nov 24 #46

My uncle was in the Battle of the Bulge, got a medal for it. Ocelot II Nov 24 #3

My grandfather was in the Bulge underpants Nov 24 #5

The real heroes have seen way too much slightlv Nov 24 #59

Mine was a tank commander in Battle of the Bulge. travelingthrulife Nov 25 #78

A Bush the Younger conceit. Trying to live down skipping out of Vietnam. haele Nov 24 #4

I hated the term "Homeland security". Americans don't call their country Homeland. Homeland is our ancestors' country Walleye Nov 24 #31

I thought I was the only one who thought the word "Homeland" sounded kinda fake patriotic. Diamond_Dog Nov 24 #51

Homeland stage left Nov 24 #53

Yes - Das Vaterland Pinback Nov 25 #85

What bothered me about it was that Fascists, Nazis, and Communists always referred to their country TrollBuster9090 Nov 24 #62

Hear Hear! OldBaldy1701E Nov 24 #6

I read every word of this OP with huge interest. Thank you, AverageOldGuy. Scrivener7 Nov 24 #7

Thanks for the insight, and your service. Much appreciated from another average old guy. Evolve Dammit Nov 24 #8

It was Dwight Eisenhower who warned us BarbD Nov 24 #9

He was right. Ike would probably be centrist Dem today. brush Nov 24 #27

Faux would call him a liberal. rubbersole Nov 24 #34

Clearly, he's a warrior against girls and women. milestogo Nov 24 #10

TSF calls even non-military females warriors. Believe I heard him use it when he first allegorical oracle Nov 24 #11

TSF''SGrand father was A German 3auld6phart Nov 24 #39

He's a Trump Team Sex Warrior Sane1 Nov 24 #12

Drugging women and then raping them. What a brave guy. Irish_Dem Nov 24 #15

After my father died, we found a big box of his medals we had never seen. Irish_Dem Nov 24 #13

My USAF dad serve in three wars too! Bobstandard Nov 24 #25

I am so glad my father is not alive to see this. Irish_Dem Nov 25 #72

Thank you for posting this HighFired49 Nov 24 #36

Yes thank you for adding the quiet pride and honor part. Irish_Dem Nov 25 #73

My hubby is a Vietnam combat veteran too. Katcat Nov 24 #14

These so-called "warriors" are all wannabes alarimer Nov 24 #16

Posers all Seinan Sensei Nov 24 #44

My father was a career Marine officer. He served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He very rarely talked about the wars. mommymarine2003 Nov 24 #17

Such a poignant tale, and one of many. Many scrapbooks and memories. Thanks for sharing! erronis Nov 24 #20

My Air-Force-veteran dad NEVER ONCE talked about it. calimary Nov 24 #21

K&R spanone Nov 24 #18

Wonderful. More play soldiers with delusions of grandeur. paleotn Nov 24 #19

They are con all the way down and up. erronis Nov 24 #22

Not much of a warrior liberalgunwilltravel Nov 24 #23

He did same heavy action but the size and the scope of the DoD is beyond him. underpants Nov 24 #26

It's just more of the same dumbass "alpha male" Republican posturing these fucking cartoon villains have been pushing... Karasu Nov 24 #28

We had National Guard in Nam? mobeau69 Nov 24 #29

Some ended up going anyway orangecrush Nov 24 #43

Bummer for them. I would've been po. mobeau69 Nov 24 #56

Man, oh man, Love this! Thank you for your service Joinfortmill Nov 24 #30

Highly recommended. sheshe2 Nov 24 #32

Years ago my doctor moniss Nov 24 #33

I found out within the last few years that the father of my best friend when I was growing up rsdsharp Nov 24 #50

Mr. Hegseth language suggests he wants the U.S. to be at war Tweedy Nov 24 #35

No one less authentic than one who brags ChicagoRonin Nov 24 #37

Those who know orangecrush Nov 24 #42

That word? It's part of his narrative coverup of his incompetence & stupidity when it comes to the ancianita Nov 24 #38

Best post ever. orangecrush Nov 24 #40

Great post. Doodles Nov 24 #41

I do not think the Sec of Defense, the Pres and so on peacebuzzard Nov 24 #47

Warriors of god and white supremacy FirstLight Nov 24 #48

Onward Christian Soldiers - Have you seen the VPs tattoo?? Runningdawg Nov 24 #65

Drumps Cabinet Tribetime Nov 24 #49

"You said rape twice!" "I like rape." *chuckles* "You'll do." DEFINITELY tsf Cabinet material. nt eppur_se_muova Nov 25 #75

This is the hangover from Iraqi Freedom and Just Cause Aviation Pro Nov 24 #52

However 90-percent Nov 25 #81

Thank you, AverageOldGuy. Diamond_Dog Nov 24 #54

My family war stories: Mr.Bill Nov 24 #55

Lol, there are apparently enough just retired Navy Seals around haele Nov 24 #67

Glad to have someone confirm Mr.Bill Nov 24 #68

Your post is one of the best I've read, drawing the line between predatory rapists & those who serve the country... Hekate Nov 24 #57

General Fortune B. Cookie says: usonian Nov 24 #58

My Grandfather is a WW2 Texasgal Nov 24 #60

These are the stories... orwell Nov 24 #63

Per Wikipedia... surfered Nov 24 #64

Be wary of loud brash people who talk big. Aussie105 Nov 24 #66

Right on right on! AKwannabe Nov 24 #69

My dad never spoke about his war experiences. murielm99 Nov 25 #70

Say it, brother! applegrove Nov 25 #71

Need to turn this into an article on one of the big media sites oldmanlynn Nov 25 #74

Hegseth is a nutjob Beck23 Nov 25 #76

It's code for "His fellow douchbags". Omnipresent Nov 25 #77

The warrior thing is weird. mn9driver Nov 25 #79

Hegseth obviously is a superhero of sorts in his own mind. NoMoreRepugs Nov 25 #80

Father in Law was a WW2 medic Lithos Nov 25 #82

It's the surface people. Seems they never "Got" ... "Don't judge a book by it's Cov..." chouchou Nov 25 #83

My Dad was career US Army Mountain Mule Nov 25 #84