Who, When, & How Was Navy SEAL Training BUD/S First Organized? Its direct training lineage began on June 6, 1943, when Lt. Cmdr. Draper L. Kauffman established the Naval Combat Demolition Unit training school at Fort Pierce, Florida.
| Question | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| Who organized it? | Lt. Cmdr. Draper Kauffman, a Navy bomb-disposal pioneer later known as the father of Naval Combat Demolition. |
| When did it begin? | June 6, 1943. The first trainees arrived in July, and the first class graduated in September 1943. |
| How was it organized? | Kauffman built a volunteer course for small demolition teams preparing to clear beach obstacles before amphibious landings in World War II. |
| What became BUD/S? | The NCDU school's hard physical testing, water work, demolitions instruction, and team-based selection evolved through the UDT era into modern BUD/S. |
The school was not called BUD/S in 1943. It trained Naval Combat Demolition Units, while Scouts and Raiders supplied early reconnaissance lessons, and the Underwater Demolition Teams expanded the mission after the Battle of Tarawa showed the high cost of unknown reefs and beach obstacles.
Kauffman's demanding Indoctrination Week became the ancestor of Hell Week. Its purpose was simple: identify volunteers who could work safely, think clearly, and stay with a team while exhausted, cold, and under pressure.
I am Larry Fowler, publisher of NavySeal.com and the USMilitary.com Network since 2007, where I have helped connect service members, veterans, and future recruits with clear military-career information. Understanding Who, When, & How Was Navy SEAL Training BUD/S First Organized helps put today's SEAL pipeline in the larger story of World War II naval special warfare.
Important Who, When, & How Was Navy SEAL Training BUD/S First Organized terms:
- Navy SEALs BUD/S Training Requirements
- What is Navy SEAL Training: 3 Phases and Why is it so tough
- Navy SEALs BUD/S Training Requirements
Who, When, & How Was Navy SEAL Training BUD/S First Organized
To understand how modern Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training came to be, we have to look back at the desperate tactical needs of World War II. Before massive Allied landings could succeed in North Africa, Europe, or the Pacific, military leaders realized they had a terrifying problem: enemy forces were fortifying beaches with jagged steel tetrahedrons, wooden pilings, concrete blocks, and underwater mines. Regular landing craft could not get past these barriers without being blown to pieces.
The Navy needed specialized teams that could slip quietly into coastal waters, evaluate obstacles, and blow them out of the water before the main infantry wave arrived. This required a completely unprecedented training model—one designed to build unmatched mental endurance, explosive safety habits, and ironclad team discipline. For a deeper breakdown of how that foundation shaped today's training, check out our BUD/S Navy SEALs Training Overview.
Draper Kauffman and Fort Pierce: Who, When, & How Was Navy SEAL Training BUD/S First Organized
The formal story of naval demolition training centers around one remarkable figure: Lieutenant Commander Draper L. Kauffman. Despite having extremely poor eyesight that required thick glasses, Kauffman possessed legendary courage and technical expertise.
Before taking on his Navy role, he served in the French Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the British Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, becoming one of the premier bomb disposal experts in Europe. In fact, at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, Kauffman was the only U.S. officer trained in bomb disposal.
Recognizing his unique skill set, Admiral Ernest J. King assigned Kauffman to set up a dedicated school for naval demolition units. On June 6, 1943, Kauffman established the Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) school at Amphibious Training Base Fort Pierce, Florida.
The inaugural class arrived in July 1943, consisting of 98 men and officers. Where did Kauffman find his candidates? He aggressively recruited volunteers from the Naval Construction Battalions (the Seabees), as they were among the few sailors in the Navy who already understood high explosives, heavy machinery, and construction tactics.
Kauffman knew these men would have to handle live explosives while completely exhausted and soaking wet. To test their limits right out of the gate, he instituted a grueling week of stress conditioning based on The Origin of Navy SEAL Hell Week. Kauffman personally joined the candidates in every physical drill, establishing a tradition where instructors lead by example. By the end of that first class in September 1943, the attrition rate reached nearly 65% to 75%, setting the standard for all Naval Special Warfare selection to come.
The Evolution to Class 1 in 1962: Who, When, & How Was Navy SEAL Training BUD/S First Organized
Following World War II, the NCDUs and Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) were drastically reduced in size, but their crucial lessons remained alive. During the Korean War, UDT "Frogmen" proved invaluable once again by conducting covert harbor infiltrations, beach surveys, and behind-the-lines guerrilla raids.
By the early 1960s, global conflict was shifting toward Cold War counter-insurgency and unconventional warfare. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Arleigh Burke recognized the need for a naval force capable of operating across all combat domains—Sea, Air, and Land. In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed Congress and urged the expansion of U.S. Special Operations forces.
In response, the Chief of Naval Operations issued official directives in December 1961, formally commissioning SEAL Team ONE (in Coronado, California) and SEAL Team TWO (in Little Creek, Virginia) in January 1962. Personnel for these new teams were drawn directly from active UDT ranks.
To support this expanded operational scope, the historical UDT replacement training evolved into a standardized program: Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. In 1962, BUD/S Class 1 officially convened in Coronado, marking the moment when WWII demolition techniques fully merged with modern multi-domain commando tactics. For candidates curious about what this training entails today, you can explore Understanding BUD/S Training.
The WWII Precursors: Scouts, Raiders, and the Battle of Tarawa
While Draper Kauffman organized the formal NCDU school in June 1943, he was building upon earlier experimental units. The very first seeds of U.S. Naval Special Warfare were planted in August 1942 with the creation of the joint Amphibious Scout and Raider School at Amphibious Training Base Little Creek, Virginia.
The Scouts and Raiders were formed to conduct pre-invasion reconnaissance of hostile beaches, guide landing assault craft through foreign waters, and gather vital beach gradient intelligence. Phil Bucklew, an officer who volunteered in summer 1942, emerged as a legendary field leader. Bucklew carried out daring reconnaissance during Operation Torch in North Africa and Operation Overlord at Normandy, eventually earning recognition as the "Father of Naval Special Warfare." To learn more about these early pioneer units, read SEALs: the Birth of the Navy's 'Special Warfare' Force.
The Battle of Tarawa Catalyst
Despite the success of early Scout and Raider deployments, a catastrophic battle in the Pacific theater forced the Navy to dramatically expand its underwater capabilities. In November 1943, Allied forces launched an assault on Betio Island during the Battle of Tarawa.
Naval intelligence had failed to predict an extended low tide over the surrounding coral reef. When landing craft pushed toward the shore, they slammed into submerged coral head obstacles hundreds of yards out. Trapped in shallow water, thousands of U.S. Marines were exposed to devastating enemy gunfire. The battle resulted in more than 3,000 casualties in just a few days.
This tragedy sent shockwaves through the Pacific Fleet command. Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner immediately recognized that visual reconnaissance from boats or airplanes was not enough—the Navy needed men who could jump into the water, swim up to enemy beaches, map submerged reefs, and blast channels through underwater obstacles.
In response, Admiral Chester Nimitz authorized the rapid creation of the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) in Hawaii at Waimanalo, Oahu, and later Kihei, Maui. Unlike early NCDUs who waded ashore in combat fatigue uniforms, UDTs became the famous "Naked Warriors," swimming into action equipped only with swim trunks, face masks, fins, and slate boards. You can read more about their heroic Pacific operations in our complete Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) History.
The Inception of Hell Week and NCDU Attrition Methods
When Draper Kauffman set up the NCDU curriculum at Fort Pierce in 1943, he needed a reliable way to weed out individuals who might panic or fail under combat stress. To accomplish this, he created an initial week of relentless physical testing called "Indoctrination Week."
Kauffman took an existing eight-week physical conditioning course used by the Scouts and Raiders and condensed it into a single week of non-stop effort, sleep deprivation, cold water exposure, and heavy rubber raft drills. This brutal event quickly earned its historic moniker: Hell Week.
During this week, trainees were pushed to absolute physical exhaustion while being required to solve problems, execute boat navigation, and carry heavy loads as a unified boat crew. Kauffman famously told his recruits that the ocean water was "never cold" and insisted that instructors undergo the exact same physical hardships alongside their students.
| Feature | World War II NCDU Training (1943) | Modern BUD/S Program (Present) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Fort Pierce, Florida | NAB Coronado, California |
| Course Duration | 8 to 12 weeks | 24 weeks (plus 3-week orientation) |
| Initial Target Unit | 6-man craft crews (1 officer, 5 enlisted) | Full SEAL candidates / Platoon preparation |
| Primary Focus | Surface beach obstacle clearing & explosives | Combat diving, land warfare, maritime special ops |
| Key Selection Tool | 1-week Indoctrination Week (Hell Week) | Phase 1 Hell Week (5.5 days, <4 hrs sleep) |
| Standard Attire | Combat fatigues, boots, helmets | Boots, utilities, wet suits, fins, SCUBA gear |
| Overall Attrition | 65% – 75% | 85% – 90%+ total pipeline attrition |
Original Purpose and Attrition Rates
The original purpose of Hell Week was not to inflict cruelty, but to guarantee safety. When handling thousands of pounds of high explosives in cold surf under enemy rifle fire, a single mistake caused by panic or exhaustion could kill an entire team.
The results of Kauffman's selection methods were immediate and stark:
- 40% Quit Rate in Week 1: In the very first class of 98 trainees in July 1943, over 40% quit or ended up in the medical bay during the initial week alone.
- Overall Attrition: By graduation in September 1943, overall attrition reached between 65% and 75%.
- Zero Explosive Accidents: Kauffman's rigorous training paid massive dividends. On D-Day at Normandy, despite suffering a 52% casualty rate from enemy fire on Omaha Beach, NCDU teams cleared massive pathways through steel obstacles without losing a single sailor to an accidental explosive detonation.
Hell Week proved that shared suffering creates an unbreakable bond. Men who endured the cold water, log physical training, and endless raft paddling together formed tight-knit boat crews capable of relying on each other in the face of death.
Early NCDU Training vs. Modern BUD/S Pipeline
While today's BUD/S pipeline inherits its core spirit directly from Draper Kauffman's 1943 school, the modern curriculum has grown into a far more complex, multi-dimensional training pipeline.
During World War II, NCDU training focused heavily on surface demolition work. Trainees operated in six-man teams wearing regular combat uniforms, wading through surf to set explosive charges on obstacles at low tide. They were specialists in combat demolition and hydrographic plotting.
Today's BUD/S student, by contrast, must become an expert swimmer, combat diver, land navigator, tactical shooter, and demolitioneer. Modern candidates spend 24 weeks at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado undergoing three intensive training phases. To prepare for this modern standard, review The Ultimate Guide to Navy SEAL Training and Its Phases.
Modern Phase Breakdown and Standards
The modern 24-week BUD/S course is divided into a 3-week orientation followed by three distinct 7-week phases:
- Phase 1 (Physical Conditioning & Hell Week): Focuses on physical endurance, soft-sand running, ocean swims, log physical training, and inflatable boat handling. Week 4 features Hell Week—5.5 days of continuous movement covering over 200 miles with less than four hours of sleep total.
- Phase 2 (Combat Diving): Focuses on open-circuit SCUBA and closed-circuit 100% oxygen rebreather systems. Candidates learn underwater navigation, combat swimmer tactics, and pool competency under severe water stress.
- Phase 3 (Land Warfare & Demolitions): Held largely at San Clemente Island, this phase teaches small-unit tactics, land navigation, patrol techniques, weapons marksmanship, and practical tactical demolitions.
Before candidates ever step foot in Coronado, they must pass a stringent Physical Screening Test (PST) and complete Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School. To understand the physical standards required to earn a contract, consult our Navy SEALs BUD/S Training Requirements Guide.
Because of these rigorous standards across all phases, out of every 100 candidates who sign a Navy SEAL contract with a recruiter, only about 9.5% complete the full pipeline to earn their Navy SEAL Trident.
Frequently Asked Questions About BUD/S History
Who is credited with creating the precursor to Navy SEAL BUD/S training?
Lieutenant Commander Draper L. Kauffman is universally recognized as the founder of the original Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) school. Established on June 6, 1943, at Fort Pierce, Florida, Kauffman's school introduced the selection methods, demolition safety habits, and "Hell Week" concept that became the direct foundation for modern BUD/S.
What role did the Battle of Tarawa play in Navy SEAL history?
The November 1943 Battle of Tarawa highlighted a critical weakness in Allied amphibious assault doctrine. Submerged coral reefs grounded landing craft far off shore, resulting in over 3,000 Marine casualties from enemy fire. This tragedy prompted Admiral Chester Nimitz to immediately form the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) in Hawaii to map underwater hazards and blast clearance channels before future landings.
When did the first official BUD/S class take place?
The first class officially designated as Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Class 1 convened in 1962 at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California. This followed President John F. Kennedy's mandate and CNO Arleigh Burke's authorization in December 1961 to form SEAL Teams ONE and TWO from active UDT personnel.
Conclusion
When we reflect on Who, When, & How Was Navy SEAL Training BUD/S First Organized, we see an extraordinary legacy of innovation born under the pressures of World War II. From Draper Kauffman leading his first 98 volunteers through the mud and surf of Fort Pierce in July 1943 to the commissioning of BUD/S Class 1 in 1962, Naval Special Warfare has maintained an unwavering standard of excellence.
The tools, tactics, and mission sets have expanded from beach clearing to worldwide counter-terrorism, but the core ethos remains unchanged. Modern candidates who endure Hell Week on the shores of Coronado are walking the exact same path forged by the Seabees, Scouts, Raiders, NCDUs, and Frogmen of generations past.
At USMilitary.com, we are committed to honoring this heritage by offering accurate, up-to-date resources for service members, veterans, and prospective enlistees. If you are preparing to pursue a career in Naval Special Warfare or want to learn more about entry requirements, benefits, and pipeline steps, explore the Navy SEALs Complete Guide.
