A Complete Overview of All Three Phases of Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUD/S) Training in Coronado, CA.
All about Navy SEAL BUD/S training and all three phases can be summed up like this:
BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training is a 24-week program at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California. It is the primary gateway to becoming a Navy SEAL — and one of the hardest military training programs on earth.
The three phases are:
- Phase 1 — Basic Conditioning (7 weeks): Extreme physical training, water competency, and the infamous Hell Week — 5.5 days of continuous training on roughly 4 hours of total sleep.
- Phase 2 — Combat Diving (7 weeks): Open- and closed-circuit SCUBA, underwater navigation, and dive physics. This is what separates SEALs from every other U.S. Special Operations force.
- Phase 3 — Land Warfare (7 weeks): Weapons, demolitions, small-unit tactics, patrolling, and rappelling — including live-fire training on San Clemente Island.
After BUD/S, graduates still face Parachute Jump School and 26 weeks of SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) before earning the Trident. The entire pipeline from enlistment to Trident takes over a year — and only about 9.5% of those who sign up make it all the way through.
The overall BUD/S attrition rate sits between 68–75%, with Hell Week alone eliminating more than 75% of those who enter Phase 1.
This is not a program designed to get you in shape. You need to arrive in shape.
I'm Larry Fowler, author of Dare To Live Greatly and publisher of the USMilitary.com Network — a trusted military resource since 2007 serving active-duty members, veterans, and those considering enlistment. My work covering all about Navy SEAL BUD/S training and all three phases draws on years of publishing in-depth military training and career content for hundreds of thousands of readers. Read on for everything you need to know before you ever set foot on the grinder at Coronado.
All about navy seal bud/s training and all three phases terms you need:
- navy seals
- seal team six
- A Day In The Life Of A Navy SEAL Operator
Eligibility and the Navy SEAL Physical Screening Test (PST)
Before we talk about the sand and the surf, we have to talk about the paperwork and the prerequisites. You don’t just show up at Coronado and ask for a pair of swim fins. To even get a shot at Becoming A Navy Seal, you must meet strict baseline requirements.
As of April 2026, candidates must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 29. While 17-year-olds can apply with parental consent, those over 29 usually require a waiver, which is handled on a case-by-case basis. You’ll also need a high school diploma and the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.
One of the first hurdles is the ASVAB. You need a combined score that proves you have the "smarts" to handle dive physics and complex demolitions. The general requirement is a VE+AR=110 and MC=50, or a combined score of 220 on several other subtests. There are many Things To Know About Becoming A Navy Seal, but your physical performance on the PST is what gets you the contract.
The PST: Minimums vs. Competitive Reality
The Physical Screening Test (PST) is the gatekeeper. While the Navy lists "minimum" scores, we always tell our readers: if you only hit the minimums, you probably won't get a contract, and you definitely won't survive BUD/S.
| Event | Minimum Standard | Competitive Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 500-Yard Swim (Side/Breast) | 12:30 | Under 9:00 |
| Push-ups (2 Minutes) | 50 | 80–100+ |
| Sit-ups (2 Minutes) | 50 | 80–100+ |
| Pull-ups (No Time Limit) | 10 | 15–20+ |
| 1.5-Mile Run | 10:30 | Under 9:30 |
Once you pass the PST and finish Boot Camp, you head to the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School (BUD/S Prep) in Great Lakes, Illinois. This 8-week course is designed to take fit sailors and turn them into athletes capable of handling the Coronado surf. If you can't pass the "Modified PST" at the end of Prep—which includes a 4-mile run in 31 minutes and a 1,000-meter swim with fins in 20 minutes—your journey ends before it truly begins.
All About Navy SEAL BUD/S Training and All Three Phases
Welcome to Coronado. This is where the legend begins. All about Navy SEAL BUD/S training and all three phases revolves around the Naval Special Warfare Center. The actual BUD/S course is 24 weeks long, but it starts with a 3-week Orientation (often called Indoctrination or "Indoc").
During Orientation, you are introduced to the buds lifestyle. You’ll learn the obstacle course, practice small boat seamanship, and get used to the "Grinder"—the concrete courtyard where countless hours of calisthenics take place. This period is meant to prepare you for the shock of Phase 1. You can read more about the general structure of Navy Seals Training to understand the mental shift required here.
According to official BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) Training | Navy SEALs resources, the goal of the next six months is to develop men of character who will not quit on their teammates, no matter how cold or tired they are.
Phase 1: The Foundation of All About Navy SEAL BUD/S Training and All Three Phases
First Phase is seven weeks of "Basic Conditioning," and it is widely considered the hardest part of the pipeline. It’s not just about running in the sand or swimming in the ocean; it’s about "surf torture" (cold water conditioning) and learning to work as a boat crew.
The peak of this phase is Hell Week, occurring in Week 4. For 5.5 days, candidates are pushed to their absolute limits. You will run over 200 miles, perform physical training for more than 20 hours a day, and endure "Log PT," where boat crews carry 150-pound logs through grueling exercises.
Why is it called the ultimate test? Because you do all of this on about four hours of sleep—total—for the entire week. Hell Week Navy Seals statistics show that this is where the majority of the class "rings the bell" and quits. But for those who stay, How Buds Navy Seal Training Changes Your Life Forever because they realize the human body is capable of ten times more than the average person thinks.
Phase 2: Combat Diving and Underwater Competency
If you survive Phase 1, you move into the seven weeks of Combat Diving. This is where the "Underwater" part of BUD/S really comes into play. While the physical intensity remains high, the focus shifts to technical proficiency.
Candidates learn about dive physics, dive medicine, and how to operate both open-circuit (compressed air) and closed-circuit (100% oxygen rebreathers) SCUBA. The rebreather is critical for SEALs because it produces no bubbles, allowing for clandestine maritime approaches.
The most feared evolution in this phase is "Pool Competency." Instructors will "attack" a student underwater, tangling their hoses and ripping off their masks to simulate a regulator failure or a combative victim. You must remain calm and follow procedures while holding your breath. As we discuss in Dive In How To Navigate The Navy Seal Path, water comfort is non-negotiable. If you panic, you’re gone.
Phase 3: Completing All About Navy SEAL BUD/S Training and All Three Phases
The final seven weeks are dedicated to Land Warfare. This phase takes the candidates away from the Coronado beaches and often out to San Clemente Island, located about 60 miles off the coast.
This is where you learn the "bread and butter" of SEAL operations:
- Weapons Training: Mastery of pistols, rifles, and machine guns.
- Demolitions: Learning to calculate and set charges to blow through obstacles.
- Small Unit Tactics: Patrolling, ambushes, and "over the beach" transitions.
- Land Navigation: Finding your way through rugged terrain using only a map and compass.
Navy Seal Buds Training 3 is where the individual "survivor" mentalities from Phase 1 must evolve into tactical teamwork. You are tested on your ability to lead under pressure, often with very little sleep and live explosives in play.
Post-BUD/S: SQT and Earning the Trident
Graduating BUD/S is a massive achievement, but you aren't a Navy SEAL yet. You are a "Special Warfare Operator" (SO). To earn the coveted Trident, you must complete the post-BUD/S pipeline.
First, graduates head to Parachute Jump School for three weeks of static-line and free-fall training. Following that, they undergo SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training to prepare for potential capture.
The final major hurdle is SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), which lasts 26 weeks. SQT provides advanced tactical training in Close Quarters Combat (CQC), maritime operations, and advanced medical skills. It is the final polish on a world-class warrior. As noted in BUD/S: Everything you need to ace Navy SEAL training , this phase ensures that you aren't just physically tough, but tactically lethal.
Only after completing SQT do you have the honor of pinning on the SEAL Trident. For more on this journey, check out Training And Education In Becoming A Navy Seal.
Attrition Rates and Mental Fortitude
The statistics for BUD/S are sobering. Historically, about 75% of candidates do not finish. In some classes, the attrition rate can spike even higher. Most of these drops occur during the first three weeks of Phase 1 or during Hell Week.
The process of quitting is known as Drop on Request (DOR). In the center of the BUD/S compound sits a brass ship's bell. To quit, a candidate must walk up, ring the bell three times, and place their green helmet liner on the ground. Once you ring that bell, there is no going back.
What makes the difference? It’s rarely the biggest guy with the most muscles. It’s about 3 Qualities You Need To Be A Navy Seal: mental tenacity, a refusal to quit, and a commitment to the team over oneself.
Women in BUD/S
Since December 2015, women have been eligible to attend BUD/S. While several have entered the pipeline and one woman has successfully graduated as a Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC), as of early 2026, no woman has yet completed the full SEAL training pipeline to earn the Trident. The standards remain exactly the same for all candidates, regardless of gender.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the overall Navy SEAL training pipeline?
The entire process takes over a year. It includes 8 weeks of Boot Camp, 8 weeks of BUD/S Prep, 3 weeks of Orientation, 24 weeks of BUD/S, 3 weeks of Jump School, and 26 weeks of SQT. After earning the Trident, a SEAL will spend another 12–18 months in "work-up" training with their assigned team before their first deployment.
What is the attrition rate for BUD/S training?
The average attrition rate is between 70% and 80%. Specifically, about 33% of students make it through Phase 1, and Hell Week alone typically sees 75% of the remaining class quit. Overall, from the time an enlistment contract is signed to the pinning of the Trident, the success rate is roughly 9.5%.
Can women attend BUD/S and become Navy SEALs?
Yes. Since late 2015, the Navy SEAL path has been open to women. They must meet the same PST standards, ASVAB requirements, and complete the exact same BUD/S and SQT curriculum as their male counterparts.
Conclusion
At USMilitary.com, we believe that understanding the "why" behind the training is just as important as the "how." As of April 2026, the SEAL teams continue to represent the pinnacle of American special operations. The BUD/S pipeline is designed to find the few who embody the SEAL Ethos—individuals who lead, who excel in the face of adversity, and who never quit.
Whether you are a prospective candidate or a supporter of our elite forces, the journey through the three phases of BUD/S is a testament to the power of human will. If you're ready to start your own journey, or just want to stay informed on the latest military news and benefits, we are here to help.
For a deeper dive, visit our Navy SEALs Complete Guide.
