I wanted to share with everyone some of my experiences and what you’re going to encounter when you get to BUD/S. I was in class 249, it was a winter class and we started BUD/S Indoc in November of 2003. The first couple of weeks at BUD/S is very uneventful. Everyone is reporting at different times and the class is just beginning to form. All the basic requirements have to be gone over again by BUD/S Medical. Once everyone is checked out and re-checked basic gear issue and supply is the next stop. While the class is taking care of these duties during working hours the current Indoc class and other members of the new class stand watch at the BUD/S compound and barracks. These duties are 24 hours a day; usually the watches are broken up into 4 hour watches. If you’re stuck with the 2200-0200 watch in Indoc it can suck the next day. There are some days in Indoc where you don't get any sleep, good pre-training for Hell-Week! Once the current Indoc class starts Phase One it will be time for the pre-Indoc class to start BUD/S Indoc. The only draw back in pre-Indoc is the lack of group PT. The best thing to do is train as hard as you can after 1600 hours with a small group of fellow classmates and help each other as much as possible. If you can start a core group with your classmates early it can only help to build on that brotherhood and team-member motivation abilities. NOBODY goes through BUD/S alone!
BUD/S Indoctrination is very unique in its own way. It is very similar to Phase One with less intensity. The goal of Indoc is to develop the student's abilities and teach some of the techniques that will help you pass the tests of Phase One. BUD/S Indoc is approximately 6 weeks in duration. It includes one week of Hell-Week support for the class ahead of yours. The first day of Indoc starts with the PST (SEAL Physical Screening Test), if you don't pass it you get beat (what they call remedial training) and have the next day to make it. If the same people fail it again they leave. The first few days of Indoc are pretty intense. There are evolutions to get to and accomplish with little or no time. When you don't make the time you pay as a class. Surf zone, berm sprints anything that makes you hurt, they can think it and you do it!
There were only two evolutions we did not attend until Phase One in Indoc, and that was Log PT and IBS surf-passage. Besides getting beat in Indoc you will attend classes at the compound between evolutions on SEAL History, SEAL-core values, and briefings on evolutions. In these classes you need to take notes! We all carried individual water-proof bags to keep our small note books and ID cards dry. Some of the skills you will learn or enhance your performance in Indoc are instructions on soft sand running, advanced swimming techniques and circuit PT's. You will spend hours in the pool getting the combat sidestroke down. You will have many practice evolutions on drown proofing and underwater knot tying. The only test I recall in Indoc pass or fail is the 25 meter underwater swim near the end of Indoc. In Phase one you will do a 35m underwater swim and work up to the 50m.
BUD/S Indoc is a very helpful and important step. The class has to come together and work as a team. This is truly where it all begins. The classmates that are left at the end of Indoc are the ones that will be with you when it gets tougher. Class 249 started with 96 students in Indoc and went down to 76 near the end. We started Phase one with 82 students, 6 of those rollbacks from 248. During Indoc you are expected to retain the discipline and cleanliness you learned in recruit training and could have surprise walk-throughs by the C.O. while the class is training.
On Monday mornings the first evolution is usually inspection just like in Phase One. It includes uniform inspection and room inspection. You may have way more freedom than recruit training but you better be squared away when it comes to your rooms and uniforms. If you can't keep dust off the floor or a belt buckle shined how can they trust you with explosives and firearms? Attention to detail has to be the most important facets at BUD/S. There is no room for error or the potential. When and if you do screw up you will definitely learn your lesson. Learn early on. Near the end of Indoc Things seem to get easier and the class starts to run more smoothly. On the last day you have to take the PST one last time. Your scores need to be improved by then and better be maxed out! Nobody failed our last PST in Class 249. We were lucky in a way, our Indoc ended on Dec. 19 and we had a 2 week stand down for the holidays. It was a good break on the body but those who did not keep up their maintenance PT were hurting when Phase One started.
I want this to be as informative as possible and help those of you who are getting ready for recruit training and BUD/S. If there is anything you want more elaboration on let me know. Kory, Kale and I will do whatever it takes to get you prepared.
"The only limitations are the ones you bring with you." -unknown
