Key Points and Summary on SEAL Team 6 – The US Navy’s SEAL Team 6, officially known as DEVGRU, represents the pinnacle of naval special warfare, tracing its roots back to the Frogmen of WWII.
-This Tier 1 unit is distinguished from other SEAL teams by its intense focus on the nation’s most critical counter-terrorism and hostage rescue missions, operating directly under the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Wash. (Aug. 14, 2003) — Illustration of USS Ohio (SSGN 726) which is undergoing a conversion from a Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) to a Guided Missile Submarine (SSGN) designation. Ohio has been out of service since Oct. 29, 2002 for conversion to SSGN at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Four Ohio-class strategic missile submarines, USS Ohio (SSBN 726), USS Michigan (SSBN 727) USS Florida (SSBN 728), and USS Georgia (SSBN 729) have been selected for transformation into a new platform, designated SSGN. The SSGNs will have the capability to support and launch up to 154 Tomahawk missiles, a significant increase in capacity compared to other platforms. The 22 missile tubes also will provide the capability to carry other payloads, such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Special Forces equipment. This new platform will also have the capability to carry and support more than 66 Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land) and insert them clandestinely into potential conflict areas. U.S. Navy illustration. (RELEASED)
-Its operators undergo a famously rigorous selection process called “Green Team” and are masters of close-quarters combat and maritime operations. The successful 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden is the most famous example of their unique and lethal capabilities.
What Makes SEAL Team 6 So Special?
The Navy’s SEAL Team 6, officially known as DEVGRU (Naval Special Warfare Development Group), is considered a Tier 1 special missions unit due to its specialized focus on counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and other high-stakes missions.
It’s distinguished by its rigorous selection process, advanced training, and unique operational capabilities, including expertise in close-quarters combat and maritime operations. Unlike other SEAL teams, DEVGRU operates under the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and has a more direct chain of command to the President.
Each of the Services has its own Special Operations Forces. They have different selection, assessment, and training criteria. But the tenets of each unit are remarkably similar. They want physically fit, self-confident operators who can think on their feet under incredibly stressful conditions and will never, ever quit.
History of the Navy’s SEAL Teams
The Navy’s SEAL legacy, like the Army’s Special Forces, stems from the bloody fighting of World War II. With the US island-hopping campaign across the Pacific against the Japanese, which highlighted the need to reconnoiter and clear beach obstacles as well as reefs, the Navy began the Frogman program.
These large-scale amphibious operations were new, and the military was learning on the job. The Frogmen turned into the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT). These and the Maritime Unit of the OSS are the forerunners of today’s SEAL Teams. They cleared beaches across the Pacific and in France for the Normandy (D-Day) invasion.
Korean War and Airborne Insertion Techniques of the 1950s
Underwater Demolition Teams in Korea fought throughout the conflict, especially clearing the way for the landings at Inchon in 1950. As early as 1951, UDT officers were convinced that airborne operations should be incorporated into UDT training.
After selected teams attended the Army’s jump school at Ft Benning, it would later become a regular occurrence to see SEALs mixed among the Army’s troops during jump training.
In 1959, UDTs joined the 77th (later the 7th) Special Forces Group for advanced airborne training and would reciprocate with SCUBA training for the Green Berets. It began a long, fruitful partnership with Army Special Forces that would continue when the UDTs transitioned into SEAL Teams.
SEALS and Special Forces also had a close relationship in Okinawa, training in airborne operations and various SCUBA techniques.
These relationships would serve both units well in the upcoming war in Vietnam.
The “Men With Green Faces” in Vietnam
SEALs were sent to Vietnam in 1962 to train with and fight alongside our South Vietnamese allies.
SEAL platoons, usually operating autonomously from SEAL Teams One and Two, carried out day and night ambushes, hit-and-run raids, reconnaissance patrols, and special intelligence collection operations. The Viet Cong called them the “men with green faces” because of the face camouflage they used.
SEALS and Special Forces were part of the Military Assistance Command – Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) and often just shortened to SOG. The casualty rates for SOG personnel were over 100 percent.
In all, 46 SEALS died in service during the Vietnam War. Three SEALS, Lieutenant Bob Kerrey, Lieutenant Tom Norris, and EM2 Mike Thornton, were awarded the Medal of Honor during the war.
SEAL Teams From Grenada to the GWOT
SEAL platoons served with distinction during the invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury), the operation to oust Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega (Operation Just Cause), and the First Gulf War.
SEAL Team 6/DEVGRU was formed in 1980 for“no-fail” missions, often devoted exclusively to counter-terrorism. They’re most known for the assassination of Osama bin Laden.
As part of the new Special Operations Command (SOCOM), all of the special forces units in the US, as well as our allied partner nations, worked together under a joint unified command that ensured joint interoperability during the Global War on Terror (GWOT) after 9/11.
SEALs brought the war to the terrorists from Afghanistan to Iraq.
In April of 2009, SEALs rescued Captain Phillips of the freighter ship Maersk Alabama after Somali pirates captured the ship.
In May of 2011, the CIA pinpointed the location of al-Qaeda head Osama bin Laden in a large house in Pakistan. Members of SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU) conducted a raid deep inside Pakistan, eliminated bin Laden and several of his followers, and exfiltrated back to Afghanistan without a loss of their own.
DEVGRU Specialized Focus and Missions
Counter-terrorism and Hostage Rescue. SEAL Team Six is primarily known for its expertise in these areas, with a focus on high-risk, time-sensitive operations.
Maritime Operations. Their training heavily emphasizes close-quarters combat and operations at sea, reflecting their origins as a maritime special operations unit.
“No-Fail” Missions. SEAL Team Six is often tasked with missions that have the highest level of national importance and require a high degree of operational success.
DEVGRU is a Tier 1 special missions unit, meaning it receives the highest level of funding and resources within the military.
Unlike other SEAL teams, SEAL Team Six reports to JSOC and ultimately to the President, enabling rapid response and direct oversight.
Advanced Training and Technology
SEAL Team Six operators undergo extensive training in specialized areas like close-quarters combat, advanced weapons handling, and unique mission-specific tactics.
The selection and assessment process for DEVGRU, known as “Green Team,” is highly rigorous and places a high emphasis on individual capabilities and teamwork.
SEAL Team Six is the most specialized and focused on specific high-stakes missions, compared to other SEAL Teams. Other SEAL teams have broader roles and responsibilities across the spectrum of special operations, while SEAL Team Six is more narrowly focused on counter-terrorism and high-risk operations.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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