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SEAL Training Age Limit Waiver Data Shows Zero Success Rate Over 28

By Egleze Editorial Desk · Published May 20, 2026 · Updated May 20, 2026 · Jocko Podcast · 541: Skills, Struggle, and Responsibility. With Jimmy May.
SEAL Training Age Limit Waiver Data Shows Zero Success Rate Over 28
Jocko Podcast
Jocko Podcast
541: Skills, Struggle, and Responsibility. With Jimmy May.

What was said

"Above 28, dude, I mean, you got to get a waiver to get into BUD/S. And we gave, I think we gave 11 waivers when I was the XO there. Zero made it. The body just doesn't heal fast enough."

During his tenure as executive officer at BUD/S, Jimmy May disclosed that the command granted 11 age waivers for candidates over 28, and none successfully completed training. May attributed the failure rate to recovery speed, noting that candidates under 20 bounce back from Hell Week injuries within days while older candidates struggle. The revelation offers rare insight into SEAL selection attrition data.

Verification status

Attributed speaker claim

Egleze verified who said this and where. The underlying claim has not been independently established by Egleze.

Source and context

Egleze verified who said this and where. The underlying claim has not been independently established by Egleze.

Programme
Jocko Podcast
Episode
541: Skills, Struggle, and Responsibility. With Jimmy May.
Clip time
6:25
Original source
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Jocko Podcast
Jocko Podcast

541: Skills, Struggle, and Responsibility. With Jimmy May.

May 20, 2026 · 5 Egleze moments
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