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CAMPUS

The Norwich Guidon
April 8, 2004

NU Naval Seal Platoon endures "Hell Week" to improve skills

By Dave Armeson
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Members of the Norwich Naval Battalion SEAL Platoon endured "Hell Week" Feb. 6, which was a grueling four-day exercise.

The weekend of Feb. 6 was just a normal weekend for most Norwich students, but for Nick Manese and other select Navy Midshipmen, it marked a time for intense Navy SEAL style training.

United States Navy SEALs are some of the world's most elite combatants.

SEAL training is extremely demanding, both mentally and physically, and produces the world's best maritime warriors.

Students in the Norwich University Naval Battalion SEAL Platoon [3rd Platoon] train physically five days a week with actual SEAL style techniques.

"We are mostly a [physical training] club, but we also get briefings on what it's like being an officer in real teams." said Nick Manese, 21, a junior history major from Indian Harbor Beach, Fla.

While not all of the SEAL Platoon members want to actually become special warfare officers, many of them do aspire to one day make it to SEAL training known as BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL). This training group is meant to help with that focus by both showing the kind of training they will see, and prepare Midshipmen for the BUD/S physical screening test.

"We do workouts they do at BUD/S, which is the base school, and we get a feeling for what the PT sessions are like and to prepare us for the physically demanding schools," Manese said.

Some training for the SEALS was outdoors.

The physical screening test to get into BUD/S is one of the toughest in the military today, and scores must be exceptional to even get a look from evaluators.

"The crew is pretty unbeatable; they are all great guys and can PT," said Paul Gillett, 20, a sophomore biology major from Orono, Maine. "They must know something about what they are doing, and I am following a good lead here; it's a good time."

Participants in this platoon have been working hard throughout the year and have seen much improvement, already, in their physical attributes. Run times, push-ups, pull-ups have improved drastically.

"Now I can actually swim; before, I would suck down major gulps of water, and now I know how to do basic strokes, and I am actually pretty good at it," Gillett said. "Students spend a lot of time in the water at BUD/S, so spending a lot of time in the water here is really going to be to our benefit."

One of the toughest and most dreaded stages of BUD/S is the third week of training known as "Hell Week."

This is four and a half days of continuous training with little sleep.

The SEAL Platoon has taken measures this year to help students have a taste of what that training could be like.

"Hell Night" was a night of training on the weekend of Feb. 6 that would introduce what training methods could be seen at such an event.

Some training for the SEALS was in Goodyear Pool.

"Hell Night was 18 hours of continuous training that started at (6 p.m.) on Friday night and went until Saturday morning," said Greg Johnson, 20, an international studies major from Yorktown, Va. "It's a taste of what Hell Week is."

Students voluntarily participated in exercise that lasted for hours with no sleep. This tested the physical and mental strength on a smaller scale and gave midshipmen an idea of their own standing on conditioning.

"It's mind over matter; within the first three hours, you are exhausted. I definitely learned a lot about myself in just that one night" Manese said. "No matter what, if you have the will power, you can keep going if you want to."

"It is great training, and I would like to continue doing this to help me get better," said Corey Howard, 18, a freshman criminal justice major from Amherst, Mass.

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.