A former DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6) officer describes why he screened for the unit after serving in the regular SEAL teams, saying he was “chasing the war” and wanted more combat deployments. He argues DEVGRU’s reputation has been overly mythologised, describing it as a “fantastic place” with its own “warts” and warning that strong leadership exists across the wider SEAL community.
He outlines how DEVGRU’s resources and narrow mission focus allow extensive training in close-quarters combat, but says the same structure can limit officers’ exposure to broader administrative and macro leadership compared with peers leading larger teams in regular SEAL units. He also discusses the officer–enlisted dynamic, saying incoming officers must earn trust within established troop cultures where senior enlisted members may have served in the same troop for years.
On selection and training, he recalls a high-attrition Green Team year, stating nine officers started and four finished, and describes internal debate over whether officers should be held to the same CQC standards as enlisted operators.
The most emotional section is his first-person account of learning about the 2011 Extortion 17 helicopter shootdown in Afghanistan while at Jalalabad, including watching ISR footage, realising the aircraft was a “fireball”, and being shown a manifest indicating the whole troop was aboard. He describes the aftermath, including recovery and repatriation, and reflects on the strain repeated deployments placed on his marriage and young children.
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We had I think nine officers start and four finished. Oh wow.
Asked about Green Team attrition, the guest says his class had unusually heavy drop-off and that, to his recollection, nine officers started and four completed the course. He adds that he cannot remember the enlisted numbers but says the proportions were similar.
