This is a common question that many aspiring special operations service members have. Both Army Rangers and Navy SEALs are elite, highly-trained special operations forces with a lot of similarities. However, there are also some key differences between the two that make switching between the two challenging. In this article, we’ll break down the requirements, training, and skills needed for Army Rangers and Navy SEALs to examine if it is possible for an Army Ranger to transition to becoming a Navy SEAL.
Short Answer
The short answer is yes, it is possible for an Army Ranger to become a Navy SEAL, but it is extremely difficult. An Army Ranger would still need to go through the Navy’s entire SEAL selection and training pipeline, starting with Naval Special Warfare preparation and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. Very few are able to successfully make this transition due to the different requirements and rigor of SEAL training.
Long Answer
While it is possible, there are several significant hurdles an Army Ranger would need to overcome to become a Navy SEAL. Here is a more in-depth look at what would be required:
Meet Basic SEAL Requirements
The first step for an Army Ranger would be meeting the Navy’s baseline requirements to even attempt SEAL selection and training:
- U.S. citizenship
- At least 20 years old, but no more than 28 years old
- Eligible for a secret security clearance
- Able to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) with competitive scores
- Meet physical fitness requirements, including running, swimming, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups
- Pass a medical screening and physical exam
- Hold a qualifying Armed Forces specialty, such as hospital corpsman or explosive ordnance disposal
These baseline qualifications would apply to any candidate wishing to become a SEAL, including Army Rangers. Meeting these prerequisites would allow an Army Ranger to advance to the Naval Special Warfare Prep Course.
Complete Naval Special Warfare Prep Course
The Naval Special Warfare Prep Course is an 8-week course designed to prepare SEAL candidates for the rigors of BUD/S training. The prep course focuses on:
- Physical conditioning with running, swimming, and calisthenics
- Obstacle course familiarization
- Basic water competency and skills
- Underwater knot tying and problem solving
- Teamwork development
Army Rangers would have to complete this prep course just like any other SEAL candidate. Their Army training may help with some aspects like physical fitness, but the specific conditioning and water skills would still need development.
Complete BUD/S Training
After the prep course, Army Rangers would enter into the 6-month Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training just like all other SEAL candidates. BUD/S consists of three phases:
Phase 1
- 7 weeks focused on physical conditioning and sea, air, and land orientation
- Notable for “Hell Week” which subjects trainees to 5.5 days of continuous, grueling training on less than 5 hours of sleep
Phase 2
- 8 weeks of basic combat diving skills and tactical waterborne training
- Open water conditioning swims, underwater knot tying, and other maritime skills
Phase 3
- 6 weeks of land warfare training including demolition, small arms handling, land navigation, patrolling techniques
- Core SEAL tactical instruction and simulated combat exercises
BUD/S has a notoriously high attrition rate, with typically only 20-33% of candidates making it through the full course. Army Rangers would face the same challenges and requirements as any other trainee going through this selection process.
Complete SEAL Qualification Training
After graduating from BUD/S, SEAL candidates advance to the 26-week SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) course covering:
- Weapons, demolition, and small unit tactics
- Cold weather training in Kodiak, Alaska
- 18 weeks of progressively more advanced maritime operations training
- Parachuting and military free-fall (HALO) qualifications
- 9-week pinpoint land navigation course
Only after successfully completing SQT would an Army Ranger fully qualify as a Navy SEAL. This training ratchets up their maritime and dive skills significantly beyond BUD/S.
Get Assigned to a SEAL Team
The final step would be getting assigned to one of the elite SEAL Teams stationed in Virginia or California for active operational duty. Even after qualifying, the rigorous training and selection process continues within the assigned SEAL Team. SEALs must demonstrate their skills and capabilities on real-world operations to earn the right to stay on and deploy with their Team.
Challenges for Army Rangers
As this process highlights, Army Rangers face immense challenges attempting to become Navy SEALs. Just some of the biggest hurdles include:
- Maritime skills – SEALs specialize in maritime operations, with specialized combat diving and underwater demolition skills. Most Army Rangers will not have this naval experience.
- BUD/S attrition – Historically up to 80% of SEAL candidates do not make it through BUD/S training. The grueling physical and mental demands would test even the most elite Army Rangers.
- Starting over – Army Rangers would have to go through the entire SEAL pipeline as if they were new trainees. Their Army skillsets and experience would offer some advantage, but the SEAL curriculum is very different.
- Age limits – Many Army Rangers may be too old to meet the Navy’s cutoff of 28 years old for new SEAL trainees.
Very few Army Rangers likely possess the specific maritime capabilities and mindset required to tackle SEAL selection head-on past their initial Army service commitment. It would be an extremely difficult and unlikely transition.
Has This Transition Been Done Before?
There are a few documented cases of Army Rangers successfully becoming Navy SEALs:
- In 2011, Sergeant First Class Joe Ward, a Ranger veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, graduated from BUD/S at age 29 after 3 attempts. He overcame pneumonia during training to earn his Trident.[1]
- Another Ranger veteran, Staff Sergeant David Goggins, became a SEAL in 1998 after retiring from the Army due to injury. He graduated BUD/S on just his second try.[2]
A few other Army enlisted personnel and officers have also been reported to make the transition over the years. However, this is extremely rare considering the high attrition rates and difficulty involved for candidates with no prior experience operating in maritime environments.
| Branch | Army Rangers | Navy SEALs |
|---|---|---|
| Service Branch | U.S. Army | U.S. Navy |
| Active Personnel | ~3,500 Rangers | ~2,450 SEALs |
| Primary Duties | Special operations raids, airfield seizure, reconnaissance, direct action missions | Maritime-focused operations, special reconnaissance, direct action missions |
| Training Pipeline |
|
|
| Notable Skills | Marksmanship, airborne operations, land navigation, small unit tactics | Diving, demolition, close quarters combat, special reconnaissance |
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible but extremely challenging for an Army Ranger to transition to becoming a Navy SEAL. They would have to conquer grueling SEAL training that even the most elite special operations candidates often fail. Very few Army Rangers possess the maritime skillsets or mental drive on top of their Army service to attempt the transition. Those who have successfully become SEALs after serving as Rangers achieved an exceptionally rare feat through tremendous physical and mental perseverance. So while not impossible, the reality is the cultural differences and training required makes switching between these two elite special operations forces very difficult.