The Hidden Struggles of 10 Well-Known Navy SEALs Who Almost Failed BUD/S Training
The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday: BUD/S Class 89
Even the most celebrated operators in military history came dangerously close to washing out of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) selection. With a historical attrition rate between 70% and 85%, the 24-week course pushes candidates beyond human physical and mental limits.
Most near-failures among famous SEALs happened due to debilitating medical trauma (like pneumonia, stress fractures, and broken bones), aquatic panic in pool competency, or extreme hypothermia during surf torture. Legendary figures like David Goggins, Marcus Luttrell, and Brad McLeod faced near-elimination. They survived not because they were invincible, but because they endured brutal medical rollbacks, refused to ring the brass bell, and broke their survival down to one meal at a time.
As a BUD/S Class 89 graduate and publisher of NavySeal.com & USMilitary.com since 2007, I have spent decades helping prospective service members navigate elite military selection. Studying these 10 Well-Known Navy SEALs Who Almost Failed BUD/S Training proves that unyielding mental grit—not flawless physical talent—is what actually earns the Navy SEAL Trident.
Quick 10 Well-Known Navy SEALs Who Almost Failed BUD/S Training definitions:
- Navy SEALs BUD/S Training Requirements
- What Navy SEAL BUD/S Training Taught Me About Self-Confidence, Courage, & Faith
- What is Navy SEAL Training 3 Phases And WHy is it so tough
The Brutal Realities of Selection and Phase-by-Phase Attrition
The path to joining the Navy SEALs represents one of the steepest attrition pipelines in the world. Out of everyone who signs an initial special warfare contract, only about 9.5% ultimately graduate from SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). The vast majority of candidates wash out during Navy SEAL BUD/S Training, a grueling 24-week crucible conducted at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California.
According to official selection and training overview data, BUD/S is split into three primary phases, each designed to test specific operational and psychological limits:
- First Phase (Physical Conditioning & Hell Week): This is where roughly two-thirds of all dropouts occur. Candidates face continuous "surf torture" (prolonged immersion in 50-degree Pacific waters), soft sand running in boots, and log PT with massive telephone poles known colloquially as "Old Misery." The peak crucible is Hell Week Navy SEALs, which takes place during Week 4. Over five and a half days, candidates cover more than 200 miles, perform intense physical evolutions for over 20 hours a day, and receive fewer than four hours of sleep total. Phase 1 holds an overall pass rate of only around 33%.
- Second Phase (Combat Diving & Pool Competency): Candidates are evaluated on SCUBA operations, underwater knot-tying, and high-stress pool competency drills ("pool comp"). Instructors simulate severe equipment failures, tying air hoses in knots and ripping masks off candidates underwater. Students must maintain composure to avoid panic while managing academic exams in dive physics.
- Third Phase (Land Warfare & Demolitions): Moving to San Clemente Island, candidates master marksmanship, close-quarters combat, tactical navigation, and live-fire maneuvers under high fatigue.
While reaching Second and Third Phase significantly increases the statistical odds of finishing—graduating Hell Week brings class completion odds to roughly 50%, and clearing pool comp boosts them to 80%—threats of injury, academic failure, or safety violations remain constant throughout Navy SEAL Training.
| BUD/S Phase | Primary Failure Points | Core Stress Factors | Operator Recovery Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Phase | Surf torture, Hell Week, log PT | Hypothermia, severe sleep deprivation, stress fractures | Micro-tasking meals, mental compartmentalization |
| Second Phase | Pool comp, dive physics | Underwater equipment tampering, academic failure | Regulating heart rate, extensive pre-study |
| Third Phase | Tactical errors, weapons handling | Live-fire fatigue, sleep deprivation on San Clemente | Strict attention to detail, team-first communication |
10 Well-Known Navy SEALs Who Almost Failed BUD/S Training
Even the Most Famous Navy SEALs in modern history faced setbacks that almost ended their careers. Surviving BUD/S is rarely a clean, linear journey. Many candidates endure unexpected medical rollbacks, structural bone damage, or intense psychological friction before finally graduating.
Crucible Moments: 10 Well-Known Navy SEALs Who Almost Failed BUD/S Training
1. David Goggins
Long before becoming an ultra-endurance athlete and author, David Goggins faced repeated training setbacks. He dropped 106 pounds in less than three months (from 297 to 191 pounds) just to meet enlistment standards. During his first BUD/S attempt, severe stress fractures and double pneumonia forced a medical rollback. On his second attempt, he suffered a fractured patella during Hell Week. Pushing through on sheer willpower, he was ultimately rolled again because he could not maintain the physical running pace weeks later. Goggins passed on his third Hell Week with BUD/S Class 235, as highlighted in this All Hands Magazine feature.
2. Marcus Luttrell
The decorated Navy Cross recipient and author of Lone Survivor nearly lost his Trident dream during First Phase with BUD/S Class 226. Luttrell suffered a fractured femur and severe shin splints from the relentless soft-sand running and log physical training. Instead of ringing the brass bell, he was placed on medical hold, rehabilitated his leg, and was rolled back to Class 228, where he completed training.
3. Brad McLeod
Brad McLeod faced severe mental fatigue and physical breakdowns during his initial attempt at BUD/S Class 125, which led to a training drop. Instead of leaving the military pipeline, he spent time in the regular fleet, rebuilt his mental and physical foundation, and returned to survive a second Hell Week with Class 132 before deploying with SEAL Team Four.
4. Jocko Willink
Retired Lieutenant Commander Jocko Willink, known for leading Task Unit Bruiser in Ramadi and popularizing the concept of "Extreme Ownership," experienced significant friction early in his military pipeline. During BUD/S, the high operational stress, intense instructor scrutiny, and strict boat-crew dynamics tested his resilience. By learning to subordinate individual ego and prioritize team cohesion over personal performance, Willink turned early training friction into the bedrock of his combat leadership philosophy.
5. Jonny Kim
Dr. Jonny Kim—who served as a combat-decorated SEAL sniper and combat medic, earned a medical degree from Harvard, and became a NASA astronaut—faced intense challenges during high-stress water evolutions. Uncomfortable in the water early on, he had to overcome aquatic stress during drown-proofing and pool competency drills. Kim focused on mental calm and physiological control to avoid water panic and successfully complete Second Phase.
6. Scott Helvenston
Scott Helvenston entered the Navy and completed BUD/S at just 17 years old, becoming one of the youngest candidates ever to graduate. His age created unique challenges: his musculoskeletal frame was still developing, leaving him vulnerable to structural overuse injuries during boat portages and log evolutions. Helvenston relied on pure determination and fastidious physical recovery to survive First Phase.
7. James "Jimmy" Hatch
Veteran K9 handler Jimmy Hatch was pushed to the absolute edge by continuous sleep deprivation and physical training during Hell Week. Experiencing hallucinations and muscular exhaustion during long ocean paddles and soft-sand marches, Hatch avoided ringing the bell by focusing entirely on his teammates in his boat crew.
8. Dan Crenshaw
Former SEAL officer and current U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw endured severe physical wear and tear during First Phase. Battling deep muscle fatigue, shin splints, and joint inflammation in the frigid Pacific surf, Crenshaw relied on mental resilience to manage the physical strain of Hell Week without taking a voluntary drop.
9. Don Shipley
Retired Senior Chief Don Shipley faced severe bouts of hypothermia during ocean immersions and surf torture. The relentless Pacific cold routinely causes involuntary shivering and mental confusion in candidates. Shipley focused on mental discipline and mutual encouragement among his boat crew to endure the cold without quitting.
10. Jason Redman
Severely wounded in Iraq and author of The Trident, Jason Redman faced intense scrutiny during selection and leadership phases. Under extreme fatigue, candidates often struggle with tactical judgment and command presence. Redman used moments of failure as learning opportunities, refining his attention to detail to meet the demanding standards required for graduation.
Mental Fortitude Lessons from 10 Well-Known Navy SEALs Who Almost Failed BUD/S Training
The experiences of these operators offer key lessons on how to handle extreme stress and high-stakes adversity:
- Ego Surrender & Boat Crew Cohesion: BUD/S is designed to break down individual arrogance. Candidates who view themselves as solitary high performers frequently quit. Success requires supporting your boat crew during evolutions like log PT and IBS portage.
- Mental Compartmentalization: Operators like David Goggins survived multiple Hell Weeks by breaking large, overwhelming milestones into manageable micro-goals: making it to the next meal, the next sunrise, or the next set of push-ups.
- Unwavering Internal Purpose: External motivation (such as chasing prestige or financial bonuses) burns out quickly during freezing ocean surf torture. Lasting resilience requires an internal commitment rooted in personal identity.
- Viewing Setbacks as Data: Medical rollbacks are emotionally devastating, forcing candidates to repeat weeks of misery. Successful SEALs treat injuries not as personal failures, but as challenges to be methodically managed and overcome.
Medical Setbacks, Systemic Training Reforms, and Drop on Request
At BUD/S, candidates can quit at any moment through the Drop on Request (DOR) process. A candidate voluntarily surrenders by placing their helmet liner down by the compound's center pole and ringing a polished brass ship's bell three times.
Historically, voluntary DORs account for roughly 40% to 41% of all class dropouts. However, genuine medical issues—including stress fractures, cellulitis, hypothermia, and swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SAPE)—account for nearly 30% to 39% of drops. When severe injuries occur, instructors and medical staff place candidates on Light Limited Duty (LLD) before a Medical Review Board decides whether to roll the candidate back to a subsequent class or issue a medical discharge.
The dangerous balance between cultivating extreme mental grit and safeguarding candidate health came under intense scrutiny following the tragic death of 24-year-old Kyle Mullen in February 2022. Mullen died of acute pneumonia just hours after successfully finishing Hell Week.
A nearly 200-page naval investigation uncovered significant systemic issues:
- BUD/S medical monitoring was found to be poorly integrated and organized, creating gaps during post-Hell Week recovery.
- A pervasive training culture discouraged candidates from reporting serious symptoms, as enduring extreme physical breakdown was prized as a marker of mental toughness.
- Some candidates turned to illicit performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to survive physical attrition.
In response, the Navy instituted structural reforms at Naval Special Warfare Center:
- Expanded independent medical screening protocols and mandatory post-Hell Week observation.
- Broadened testing authority and strict zero-tolerance enforcement for PEDs.
- Prohibitions against staff discouraging candidates from accessing emergency medical care.
These reforms aim to preserve the high standards of Navy SEAL Requirements while ensuring that injuries receive proper medical treatment rather than going unnoticed.
Frequently Asked Questions About BUD/S Failure
What is the most common reason candidates fail or quit BUD/S?
The primary driver of voluntary quits (DOR) is the combination of relentless cold water exposure (surf torture) and severe sleep deprivation. While many candidates arrive in top physical condition, prolonged hypothermia and mental exhaustion expose psychological doubts. In addition, aquatic evolutions like drown-proofing cause panic in candidates who lack water confidence.
What happens to candidates who drop on request or suffer medical failures?
Enlisted sailors who drop on request (DOR) are removed from the Special Warfare pipeline and reassigned to the regular fleet as undesignated sailors, often handling general maintenance and line-handling duties aboard surface ships. In contrast, candidates who suffer legitimate medical trauma without quitting are evaluated by a Medical Review Board and typically granted a medical rollback to recover and restart training with a later class.
What physical and mental benchmarks prepare candidates to prevent failure?
Aspiring candidates should aim well beyond the minimum Navy SEAL Qualifications on the Physical Screening Test (PST). Target competitive scores include a sub-9:00 500-yard combat sidestroke swim, 90+ push-ups, 90+ sit-ups, 18+ pull-ups, and a sub-9:30 1.5-mile run in boots. Candidates should also review our guide on How to Become a Navy SEAL to build running volume on soft sand, condition the upper body for heavy load-bearing exercises, and practice calm breathing techniques during aquatic training.
Conclusion
The stories of the 10 Well-Known Navy SEALs Who Almost Failed BUD/S Training prove that elite military operators are not immune to failure, injury, or self-doubt. What sets them apart is their reaction to catastrophic setbacks. Whether facing multiple broken bones, cold-water hypothermia, or the discouragement of a medical rollback, these operators refused to ring the brass bell. They adjusted their mindset, supported their teammates, and took on the challenge one step at a time.
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