Two women attempting to qualify as Navy SEALs advanced further through the military’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training pipeline than any women before them, according to multiple sources cited by CBS News. Although neither candidate completed the course, their progress marks a historic milestone in the integration of women into elite special operations units, a process that began in 2016.
The two candidates, an enlisted sailor and a naval officer, entered BUD/S training several weeks ago and made it to the third week, reaching the threshold for Hell Week. Both had made it to the third week of training, with Hell Week, the infamous 5 1/2-day endurance test starting in the fourth week.
According to reports, the officer was rolled back to the next class and subsequently requested to be dropped from the course before Hell Week, while the enlisted sailor was medically pulled from Hell Week. Their names have been withheld for privacy and security reasons.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have questioned whether the inclusion of women in ground combat and special operations roles undermines military effectiveness. In a podcast interview prior to his confirmation, Hegseth stated, "we should not have women in combat roles." During his confirmation hearing, he clarified that women would have access to these roles, "given standards remain high," though he did not provide specific examples of standards being lowered. Hegseth noted that he has been told by service members that standards have changed "in ways direct, indirect, overt, and subtle." Additionally, some former SEALs and military-focused accounts criticized the candidates’ attempts on social media as they progressed through the training.
What the Left Is Saying
Supporters of women in combat roles point to the candidates’ performance as evidence that physical standards remain rigorous and that women are capable of competing at the highest levels of military training. Former Capt. Hailey Gibbons, a West Point graduate who completed Ranger School in 2021, stated that claims suggesting standards have been lowered to accommodate women are incorrect. "When he's saying that the standards have changed and that people have lowered standards to allow women into their formations, it's absolutely a lie because no brigade commander would sign off on that," Gibbons said. She emphasized that unit cohesion and trust depend on everyone meeting the same high benchmarks, regardless of gender.
What the Numbers Show
Data compiled by the Navy between 1998 and 2023, released through the Freedom of Information Act, indicates that the BUD/S training pipeline has a high attrition rate. Approximately 68% of all candidates are removed or rolled back during the training. The first phase, which includes Hell Week, sees a 66% attrition rate. Specifically, about 45% of candidates do not make it through the three weeks preceding Hell Week, with 29% voluntarily withdrawing. During Hell Week itself, around 21% of candidates leave due to voluntary withdrawal, medical issues, or performance failures. This suggests that nearly four out of five candidates who begin Hell Week are able to finish it. Historically, only about 35% of candidates attempting to join Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) ranks make it to graduation. Outside of the Navy, 17 women have attempted Marine Raider training with none passing as of 2024, while fewer than a dozen women have earned the Green Beret.
The Bottom Line
The Pentagon has commissioned a study to review the effectiveness of women in ground combat roles, with Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stating the goal is "to ensure standards are met and the United States maintains the most lethal military." While the two women did not earn their SEAL tridents, their progression to Hell Week sets a new benchmark for female participation in Naval Special Warfare Command. The debate over integration continues, with proponents citing equal capability and critics emphasizing unit lethality and physical standards. The outcome of the ongoing Pentagon study may influence future policies regarding women in elite special operations units.