SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU): U.S. Navy’s ELITE Tier One Unit

SEAL Team Six. A deadly, talented, and effective tier one unit of the United States military. This unit performs complex, classified, and dangerous missions throughout the entire world. What is publicly known about this highly secretive unit? What are they all about? Keep reading, and we will answer all of these questions and more.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SEAL TEAM SIX: OVERVIEW

SEAL TEAM SIX: WHAT SEPARATES SEAL TEAM SIX FROM OTHER TIER ONE UNITS

SEAL TEAM SIX: TRAINING AND CAPABILITIES

SEAL TEAM SIX: THE PERSONNEL

SEAL TEAM SIX: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

SEAL TEAM SIX: SELECTION

SEAL TEAM SIX: CONCLUSION

SEAL TEAM SIX: OVERVIEW

Naval Special Warfare’s Development Group, known in short as DEVGRU and otherwise referred to as SEAL Team Six, is the United States Navy’s Tier One unit in the Joint Special Operations Command. 

This is where the best of the best Navy SEALs wind up. Think about it - a Navy SEAL needs no introduction. Most people know what a SEAL is capable of. Most know what it takes to become a Navy SEAL. But a SEAL Team 6 operator? That’s on a whole other level.

So, why SEAL Team Six? While it’s not officially called SEAL Team 6 anymore and is known as DEVGRU, SEAL Team 6 was created back when there were only two other SEAL teams. It’s thought that it was given the number 6 to mislead the Soviets into thinking that the Navy SEALs didn’t just have two teams, they had 6. The rest is history. 

SEAL TEAM SIX: WHAT SEPARATES SEAL TEAM SIX FROM OTHER TIER ONE UNITS

Whether you’re an avid reader of our blog or this is the first blog post of ours you stumble upon, you’re likely aware that there are other Tier One units. But what separates SEAL Team Six from the others? The main difference is their maritime capabilities. Most of them are SEALs, after all, and that’s what they’re known for - The water! The public is also more aware of SEAL Team Six compared to the other Tier One units, most likely from the widely publicized coverage of Operation Neptune Spear, where Osama Bin Laden was neutralized. Many books have also been written by former Navy SEALs, and DEVGRU operators alike. 

SEAL TEAM SIX: TRAINING AND CAPABILITIES

Don’t get it twisted, SEAL Team Six can do more than just maritime operations. They’re utilized in the full spectrum of operations JSOC would ask of any capable Tier One unit. DEVGRU specializes in counterterrorism, direct action, hostage rescue, high value target extraction, counterproliferation, special reconnaissance, and a whole slew of other things. 

Team six operators are all proficiently trained in close quarters combat, marksmanship, parachute, and diving operations. The amount of funding this unit gets is also insane. While we don’t know the exact amount, SEAL Team Six gets the best gear and equipment out there and pretty much has a blank check when it comes to training. To give you an idea of just how much resources are allotted to them, Richard Marcinko, the founder of Team Six, stated in one of his books that back in the day, when they only had 75 shooters, their budget for ammunition was more than the entire Marine Corps. Just put that into perspective! 

SEAL TEAM SIX: THE PERSONNEL

So, who makes up SEAL Team Six, besides Navy SEALs of course? There’s a decent mix of communities within the unit, but just keep in mind that an overwhelming majority of members, both operators and support personnel, are recruited from the Navy. There are select Navy SWCCs, Navy EOD techs, Navy SARCs, Air Force PJ’s and CCT’s that work closely with the operators. 

And to stress this, we can’t forget about the support personnel. Support personnel are a vital component of any special operations force, and this is no different from the other Tier One units. DEVGRU screens its support personnel, obviously to a different degree than the operators, to ensure that they get the best and most motivated people for mission success. 

Support personnel can range from Boatswain’s mates, to Intelligence Specialists, Master at Arms, CT’s, Logistics Specialists, Navy Divers, and Seabees. You can serve in DEVGRU and play an integral part in SOF missions without being an operator. The more you know!

SEAL TEAM SIX: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

There are six squadrons within Team Six, each with their own purpose and specialty. Four out of the six squadrons are the assault squadrons, which are where the operators are placed. 

For the assault squadrons, there’s the Red Squadron, known as “the tribe” or Redmen, the Blue Squadron, known as the pirates, the Silver Squadron, which uses a mix of the other squadrons insignia; and the Gold Squadron, known as the Knights/Crusaders. Each of these squadrons is typically led by a Commander, and is divided into three troops of enlisted SEALs. The troops are led by O-4’s. These troops are divided into smaller teams, led by Senior Chiefs or Chiefs. Each operator plays a specific role in these teams. 

Then there’s the Grey and Black squadrons. These are the support squadrons. There’s the Grey Squadron, known as the Vikings, which consists of divers and personnel trained to drive the custom vehicles utilized by SEAL Team Six. Then there’s the Black Squadron. It conducts reconnaissance, surveillance, espionage, and advance force operations.

SEAL TEAM SIX: SELECTION

Only the top performing team guys who are in peak physical condition get invited to try out for SEAL Team Six. Typically, they will have multiple deployments under their belt and over 5 years of experience in the teams. The Green Team’s selection process happens once a year and lasts around six months. These candidates, which we’ll remind you have already passed one of the hardest military selection processes in the entire world, are put through yet another challenging and arduous selection. They’re constantly observed, scrutinized, and evaluated by the DEVGRU instructors, putting them under immense pressure. Roughly 50% make it through Green Team and onto SEAL Team Six. 

SEAL TEAM SIX: CONCLUSION

So, if you’re interested in serving in SEAL Team Six one day, whether as an operator or support personnel, just know that a lot more will be expected of you and you will be held to a higher standard. If you’re not in the military yet, set this ambition to the side and focus on getting in first. One step at a time! 

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