United States Navy SEALs

U.S. Navy SEALs
The Special Warfare insignia, or "SEAL Trident."
Active	25 May 1961;– present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Special Operations Forces SEa, Air, Land
Role	Primary tasks: Direct action Special reconnaissance Foreign internal defense Counter-terrorism Unconventional warfare Other roles: Counter-drug operations Personnel recovery Hydrographic reconnaissance
Size	~2,500
Part of	United States Naval Special Warfare Command United States Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ	Coronado, California Little Creek, Virginia
Nickname	The Teams, The Green Faces
Motto	"The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday" "It Pays to be a Winner"
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Multinational Force in Lebanon Operation Urgent Fury Achille Lauro hijacking Operation Just Cause Operation Desert Storm Operation Restore Hope Battle of Mogadishu Operation United Shield Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Red Wings Operation Iraqi Freedom Maersk Alabama hijacking Death of Osama bin Laden

The United States Navy's Sea, Air, and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's special forces. Their acronym is derived from their ability to operate at sea, in the air, and on land. In the War on Terrorism, SEALs have been utilized almost exclusively for land-based missions. All SEALs are male members of the United States Navy. The CIA recruits operators from the SEAL Teams. Joint Navy SEALs and CIA operations go back to the famed MACV-SOG during the Vietnam War. This still exists today and is seen in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in the finding and killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

History

Origins

The Navy SEALs were formed in the second world war. The United States Navy found the need for covert, elite operations. As a result the Amphibious Scout and Raider School was established in 1942 at Fort Pierce, Florida. The Scouts and Raiders were formed in September of that year, just nine months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

World War II

The first group included Phil H. Bucklew, the "Father of Naval Special Warfare," who the Naval Special Warfare Center building is named. Started in October 1942, this group saw action in November 1942 during Operation Torch, the first allied landings in Europe, on the North African coast. Scouts and Raiders also helped during landings in Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, Normandy, and southern France. A second group of Scouts and Raiders was started on 7 July 1943. Their first mission, in September 1943, was at Finschafen on New Guinea. Later operations were at Gasmata, Arawe, Cape Gloucester, and the East and South coast of New Britain. The third Scout and Raiders organization operated in China. Scouts and Raiders were to fight with the Sino-American Cooperative Organization, or SACO. They conducted a patrol of the upper Yangtze River in the spring of 1945 and, disguised as coolies, conducted a detailed three-month patrol of the Chinese coast from Shanghai to Kitchioh Wan, near Hong Kong.

Birth of Navy SEALs & Vietnam

Main page: Vietnam War

President John F. Kennedy, aware of the situations in Southeast Asia, recognized the need for special operations in the fight against guerrilla warfare. In a speech to Congress on 25 May 1961, Kennedy spoke of his respect for the United States Army Special Forces. In the speech he announced his intention to spend over $100 million to strengthen U.S. special operations forces and expand American capabilities in unconventional warfare.