Have you ever wondered what separates a Navy SEAL from the absolute best of the best? Cole Fackler, a retired Navy SEAL, provides a rare look into that world. It's a level of dedication and grit that is hard to imagine, found only in Tier One operators.
For Fackler, the path to the top was not something he knew about from day one. After high school, Cole grew determined to join the military and found his way to the SEAL teams. Stationed at Virginia Beach with SEAL Team 10, he heard whispers about a higher-level unit, but it was shrouded in mystery.
Information about the Naval Special Warfare Development Group was not readily available like it is today. Back then, even mentioning its name felt taboo due to an unspoken privacy policy surrounding its activities. The process was old-school, with stories of operators getting a physical letter inviting them to try out, and it took over a year for Fackler to confirm this elite group was real.
Table Of Contents:
- A Pact Between Brothers
- What It Takes: The Navy SEAL Cole Fackler Screening
- Welcome to Green Team: The Real Test Begins
- Fitting the Mold: A Personality Puzzle
- The Zero Fail Mentality
- From Operator to Entrepreneur: The GBRS Group
- Conclusion
A Pact Between Brothers
This was not a journey Fackler planned to take alone. His career ran parallel to his best friend, DJ Shipley, and they were practically joined at the hip in the same platoon. They shared the same ambition and decided together they would put in a special request to screen for the development group.
Getting a shot at this elite naval special warfare unit was not simple. Your own command had to approve the request first, and the commanding officer of your SEAL team has the final say. They will not send someone who is not mature or ready, because that person represents the entire team's reputation.
Fackler and DJ Shipley planned to go for it in 2008, and their request was approved. However, their intense deployment schedule in 2007 changed things. Leadership approached the two young members of the SEAL team, asking them to stick around for another tour to gain more experience and rank.
They looked at each other and made a pact. "If you stay, I'll stay." They pushed their ambitions back and did not attempt the screening process again until late 2009 after completing more time as a part of their years SEAL team experience.
What It Takes: The Navy SEAL Cole Fackler Screening
So what does this screening even look like? It is a comprehensive evaluation that tests you from every angle. It pushes your physical and mental limits to their breaking point, separating those who are capable from those who are truly exceptional.
First, there are the physical standards which include a battery of tests like push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and timed runs and swims. These are just the basics, but the standards for the special warfare development group are exceptionally high. Think of it as the entry fee just to get a closer look from the command.
Then comes the mental evaluation, where you go before an oral board of senior leaders who grill you and review your entire service record. A psychological evaluation is also a critical part of the process for any naval special warfare development candidate. They need to know you can handle the immense pressure that comes with the job and the difficult decisions you will have to make.
The Unseen Test
There is another part of the evaluation that you never see. The leaders at the command pass your name around the community. They ask everyone if they know you and what you are like to work with.
Your reputation follows you everywhere in the SEAL teams, and here, it matters more than ever. The naval special warfare community is small, and your history speaks volumes. Fackler had a huge advantage because he had completed a deployment with one of these elite teams the year before he screened.
He treated that entire deployment like a year-long job interview. He knew he was being watched and was determined to prove he belonged with them. He screened positive, and after his 2009 deployment, he entered Green Team selection in 2010.
Welcome to Green Team: The Real Test Begins
If you think BUD/S is hard, Green Team is another beast entirely. It is an intense, year-long selection course that weeds out all but the absolute best. Passing the initial screen is an accomplishment, but the true challenge has only just begun.
The operators who show up for Green Team are considered the top 5% of all active SEALs who are at the right age and in their prime. They are the cream of the crop, and out of that elite group, a staggering 70% get cut. You are competing against the best of the best, and most of them will fail.
The selection process for the nsw development group is more mentally taxing than BUD/S for several reasons. At BUD/S, you show up with your gear and have to meet a known standard. Green Team adds layers of psychological stress because you never truly know where you stand.
You see incredible operators, guys you think are better than you, get dropped from the course for reasons you might never understand. It is a constant grind of physical challenges, mental tests, and critical decision-making under extreme stress. The ambiguity is built to break you, and it has a serious impact on your mental health.
| Aspect | BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) | Green Team (NSW Development Group Selection) |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate Pool | Civilians and military personnel from various backgrounds. | Experienced Navy SEALs, often with multiple combat deployments. |
| Primary Focus | Building foundational SEAL skills and testing basic grit and teamwork. | Advanced tactical skills, problem-solving under pressure, and finding operators who fit a specific squadron culture. |
| Psychological Stress | Based on physical exhaustion and known performance standards. | Ambiguity, constant peer evaluation, and the unknown reasons for attrition create intense mental pressure. |
| Failure Consequence | Reassignment to a different role in the conventional Navy. | Return to your previous SEAL Team with the stigma of failing selection. |
| Attrition Rate | Approximately 75-80% for the initial class. | Approximately 70% of the top 5% of active SEALs who screen. |
The risk is huge. If you get cut, you go back to your old team carrying the stigma of being "that guy who got dropped." In a community where reputation is everything, it is a significant blow, making the warfare development process even more stressful.
Fitting the Mold: A Personality Puzzle
Passing Green Team is not just about performance; it is also about fit. Squadron chiefs and other leaders are watching you the entire time. They are not just looking for skill but also for someone who fits their team's specific personality.
Each squadron within the elite naval special warfare development group has its own distinct culture. The needs of the command can also change over time. A candidate who might be a perfect fit one month might not be what they are looking for six months later.
It depends on who is selecting and what gaps they need to fill in their teams. It is a mix of your performance, your capability, and your personality. Do you have the skills they need and the mindset to mesh with the existing group of elite naval special operators?
The unit invests heavily in its people. If they see talent and potential, they will put you on a path to develop specific skills the squadron needs. This might happen if an old breacher is retiring or if their lead communications specialist is moving on.
For the Fackler Navy SEAL, that path was related to military freefall and other air assets. A team capability needed a new person because the previous operator was aging out. The unit provided incredible training, funding, and opportunity, but the expectations were absolute.
The Zero Fail Mentality
Life inside the naval special warfare development unit is governed by one simple rule: zero fail. The culture is black and white. You are expected to perform at 100% every single time you show up, with no room for mistakes.
One error can get you sent packing, no matter who you are. It does not matter if you are the new guy or the commanding officer; the standard is the standard for everyone. Accountability is absolute, and many people talk about a zero-fail mentality, but these operators live it.
The resources are practically unlimited, with the best gear, training, and support in the world. But that just raises the bar even higher. The freedom and creativity to solve problems are off the charts, as these operators exist in a different dimension of problem-solving.
This autonomy is both freeing and terrifying. You might be given a broad task and told to figure it out, and the weight of that responsibility is immense because failure is not an option. Decisions made here can have consequences that reach the highest levels of government.
The constant pressure and intense deployment cycle often lead to injuries sustained in training or combat. These factors contribute to why many operators become medically retired after years of service. Once an operator finishes Green Team, they are deployable almost immediately, with a learning curve that is a vertical line.
Fackler deployed just two months after graduating from selection. He was a new guy all over again, on probation and having to prove himself every day. Some guys finish selection and are on a mission a week later, a testament to the effectiveness of the training.
From Operator to Entrepreneur: The GBRS Group
The career of a Tier One operator is demanding and cannot last forever. After years of service with the elite naval special warfare development group, Cole Fackler eventually transitioned out of the military. As a retired navy veteran, he sought to apply his extensive experience to a new mission.
Cole Fackler Navy SEAL experience, along with that of his friend DJ Shipley, led to the creation of the GBRS Group. This company focuses on providing advanced tactical training to law enforcement, military personnel, and responsible citizens. They translate the principles learned in special warfare to new applications.
The GBRS Group embodies the lessons learned over years seal training at the highest level. The same commitment to excellence and problem-solving that was required in the warfare development group now shapes their training philosophy. For group cole, this was a way to continue serving and improving the capabilities of those who protect others.
Conclusion
The journey for Cole Fackler from Team 10 to one of the most elite special operations units in the world is a story of incredible focus. It is a look inside a world built on absolute trust and unwavering standards, far from the life he knew after high school in Hampton Roads. His experience with naval special warfare development shows that reaching the pinnacle is about more than just physical strength.
It requires mental toughness, a spotless reputation, and the will to risk everything for a chance to stand with the best. Fackler's path, including the pact with DJ Shipley and the challenges of Green Team, highlights the sacrifices required. Now, as a co-founder of GBRS Group, he continues to share the hard-won wisdom of a career spent at the tip of the spear.
