What's it like to be a Navy Combat Crewman?

Inside the Navy's Combat Crewman Cadre
November 19, 2008 Tactical Life by Curt Cooper
"On time. On target. Never quit!" is not a catchphrase, but a promise that Naval Special Warfare Combat Crewmen {SWCC} make to their country, their brothers and themselves that they will complete their mission every time.
It is the last six words of the SWCC creed. It's an unflinching approach shared by some of the most committed military professionals alive today. It's simple, definitive and to the point.
These sea-going special operators are the front line on high-performance, state-of-the art craft during naval special warfare combat missions in shallow-water environments. These elite fast-boat crewmen are part of Naval Special Warfare Command, which is comprised of SEAL teams, SEAL Delivery Vehicle teams and Special Boat teams.
Focusing on clandestine infiltration and extraction of SEALs and other special operations forces, SWCCs provide dedicated, rapid mobility in shallow water areas where larger ships cannot operate.
"We're looking for smart, motivated men who are intrigued by boats and engines," said Naval Special Warfare Group 4 Command Master Chief Rich Evans. "It's not just sneaking around in the dark, which is intriguing, but it's what we're doing--running around at 100 miles an hour with our hair on fire."
The nature of maritime special warfare also requires a good degree of versatility among crewmen. Everyone has to be a navigator, a communicator and everyone has to be able to drive the boat and operate all the weapons. Communicators have to be fluent in photo intelligence and a variety of communications on different networks.
"You have to be able to just jump in and work every position. It's leadership at all levels," Henry said. "The mission planning cycles we go through, there's no one guy saying 'this is how it is.' It's every guy in there coming up with ways to get it done better."
The road to becoming a SWCC is difficult. Candidates must first pass a rigorous physical screening test designed to assess the applicant's physical ability to undergo initial training. But just because you can run a mile and a half in 12 minutes or do eight pull-ups doesn't mean you're ready for SWCC basic crewman training.
Instructors of the BCT course train, develop and assess SWCC candidates in physical conditioning, water competency, teamwork and mental tenacity. This course starts with a two-week indoctrination followed by the five-week basic course. Students' abilities, mental fortitude and teamwork are tested during an arduous 72-hour evolution involving little sleep, constant exposure to the elements, underway boat and swimming events and a test of navigational skills and boat tactics. SWCC students participate in weekly timed runs, timed obstacle-course evolutions, pool, bay and ocean swims and they must learn small-boat seamanship. Upon the completion of SWCC BCT, students advance to Combat Qualification Training.
"SWCCs volunteer twice, not only to serve our country, but again they step up and subject themselves to grueling and arduous training that most people will never experience to become part of the elite," said Captain Evin Thompson, Commander Naval Special Warfare Group 4. "In other words, they are assessed and selected to be Naval Special Warfare shooters. They know their mission is essential, and they are proud to be the ones the nation turns to in times of need."
While the SWWC community traces its origins to the "Brown Water Navy" of the Vietnam War, special boat operators did not have their own distinct career path until 2006 when the Navy created the Enlisted Special Warfare Boat Operator, or SB, rating. Prior SWCC operators were drawn from several source ratings, but with the amount of time needed to train before deployment, most sailors only managed a couple of operational tours before returning back to the "big Navy."
The Navy now has 525 qualified Sbs, with about 480 assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group Four.
The two-year deployment cycle is designed to be on a one-in-four rotation. The first six months of the rotation is for professional and personal development, followed by a second six-month unit-level training where the operators train up as boat crews. The third rotation is squadron integration training where they bring the SEAL Team, their boat troops, SDV troops, and other combat enablers together to form up a NSW squadron. They train and work together for six months and then they deploy to support the global war on terror for the final six months in the cycle.
During that first deployment, they will have one of the basic tasks on board the boat -- most likely the chief engineer, lead navigator or perhaps a gunner.
"These warriors are some of the very best trained in the world, and they are now serving in multiple countries supporting every geographic combatant commander," Thompson said. "By working closely with other special operations forces--warriors from services like the Army's Special Operations shooters, Special Forces and Rangers--we are able to bring a synergy, which is very powerful,"
"I believe that as we move forward, the key to continuing to root out terrorists, no matter where they hide, is to have strong, cohesive and multi-faceted units who can work with each other in any scenario to accomplish the mission."