Blue stood waist deep in the chilly water of the Pacific Ocean. His core temperature was plummeting. The incessant waves were pounding down on his shivering body. Blue and the rest of Navy SEAL recruit class #86 was standing in what is commonly referred to as the “Surf Zone”.
Theo and six other recruits struggled to hold a telephone pole log above their heads. A Navy SEAL instructor paced the sand in front of the men with his deep voice bellowing, “ Its mind over matter people, if you don’t mind it don’t matter”. Blue’s teeth were chattering as the instructor asked the group if they were cold. The answer to that question was obvious as the recruits fought to stand against the icy waves. The Navy SEAL instructor’s piercing eyes looked right through the recruit class as he stated sarcastically “ You think you are cold now, people you don’t know what cold is”. The rumbling voice continued to motivate the recruits to endure by saying” The only easy day was yesterday. You are striving to become a member of a Navy SEAL team. Pull together right here and right now because failure is not an option”.
The team of recruits holding the log next to Blue fell forward into the surf. One by one the seven men rose from the water and took hold of their log. Just as they began lifting the log one of the men detached from the group. He stumbled forward and collapsed on the beach in front of the instructor. With a wavering voice and tear filled eyes the recruit looked up at the instructor and announced his decision to quit. The instructor told the recruit to ignore the pain and the cold and fall back in with his squad. This recruit was unable to comply and SEAL training claimed another victim. He slowly rose from the sand and took one last look at the formation of grizzled recruits. He knew that his leaving was going to leave his squad to absorb the weight of the waterlogged telephone pole without him. Guilt consumed him as he searched for internal reserves that were absent. With his mind, body and spirit broken the trainee stumbled to the main compound where he rang the big brass bell outside of the instructor’s office three times. This ringing out signified that he no longer had what it took to continue SEAL training. The instructor’s eyes scanned the cold wet recruits as he growled “Anybody else want to quit? Navy SEALs don’t ever quit. Remember people if you want to wear the name you have to play the game. You don’t have to like it, you just have to do it”. The recruits were tired and hurting but stood ready for his next command.
The instructor ordered the recruits to keep the log up above their heads and to stand still. A resounding Hoo-Yah from the group ensured that the directive was understood. While Theo’s team of recruits faltered they did not fail in their task to keep the log aloft. Blue was learning a valuable lesson in teamwork as the men struggled to do together what none of them could have accomplished alone. Blue was experiencing log physical training, one of the many training “Evolutions” that must be endured to become a United States Navy SEAL.
Theo kept a daily journal during BUD/S. Let’s begin our look into Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training through the eyes of Blue the Black Fish.
The Journey of Tadpole
Seaman Theodis Springer
here is a glimpse into pre training
4 Sep 75
Today was my first day to check in at BUD/S. I was treated very nice; I didn’t expect to be treated so well. The BUD/S compound is separated from the rest of the Amphibious Base. Our barracks is located right on the Pacific Ocean. I can see mountains and everything. California is a beautiful place. There are quite a few black guys in my class. I think that the instructors have a negative attitude about all of us making it. I’m going to do my best to help all of them with their swimming. The instructors seemed to be impressed with the time I got on my swim. I went swimming in the ocean this afternoon. The water was very cold. Tonight five other guys and I went to downtown San Diego. We first checked things out. You can’t even buy a beer if you are younger than twenty-one. That SUCKS!! I’m asking God to be with me all the way through BUD/S.
5 Sep 75
Today was my first day to have PT, and it was tough. I’ve got a long way to go. I ran to break in my boots and we went swimming down to the base pool. Everyone was under the impression that I was an Officer today. I’m starting to eat a good balanced meal now. The food here is a lot better than Little Creek. My body is very sore, so I just stayed in tonight. Here at BUD/S, you have to run everywhere you go. No walking is allowed. Everyone on base knows we are BUD/S trainees because we are always running as a group or even when we are alone. I’m going to see Chicago and War next Sunday. I’m willing to pay any price to see them...
here is a look at Blue's journal during October
22 Oct 75
We had a mile Bay swim today and used fins and mask. I had a little difficulty with the fins. Tonight we had stealth and concealment training on the beach. While we were hiding near some rocks, The Senior Chief spit tobacco on us for twenty minutes. He was talking to another instructor about how well we were hiding and that he could not see us, yea right! That was a trip… After he grew tired of his game with us he told us all to get wet and hide better next time because our lives would depend on it. We had to hit the surf. My swim buddy and I were the last two to come in. We got goon squad that night for being last.
here is a look at Hell Week
It’s the 4th week of training and “Hell Week” began. There were no entries in Blue’s journal between Sunday November 2nd and Saturday November 8th 1975. Of the six blacks that started training only two were left including Blue. The others were either dropped or rang out. Most SEAL recruit classes lose the majority of their class during hell week. The recruits were extremely nervous about what to expect. They were used to getting a weekly schedule of evolutions so they could prepare both physically and mentally for what was expected.
There was no schedule for hell week; all the recruits knew was to be in the barracks by 9:00 PM Sunday evening. The instructor smirked and advised the recruits to get some sleep because they would need it. The SEAL instructor turned off the lights as he exited and the barracks was immersed in darkness. Blue was unable to sleep so he tossed and turned in his bunk trying to imagine what lay in store for him. The quiet in the barracks was eerie as the recruits awaited their fate. This was the calm before the storm and Blue finally dozed off.
At the stroke of Midnight all hell broke lose. The instructors barged into the barracks firing machine guns and lighting explosives. The noise was deafening and the bright lights from the explosions was disorienting. An instructor barked orders for the recruits to get dressed and assemble outside in an impossible 30 seconds. A few moments later the group mustered in the chilly California darkness. The SEAL instructor was staring at his watch. He raised his head and his deep voice resonated” Its hell week people and you are late for my formation. All of you go get wet”. The group sprinted the 1/4 mile to the ocean and dove into the frigid water. They returned to the instructor soaked and cold. Each team was told to grab their IBS. The six to seven man teams were advised to keep the IBS on their head for the remainder of the week.
The entire book will be available Spring of 2010
