Do you believe that Navy SEALs feel the need for fame?

SPC Thomas Hobbs — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 15:41:02 -0400

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2017 5:09 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 17:09:32 -0400

The older SEAL's wanted nothing to do with it. I joined in 89 and SEAL was not a big thing at all, NO big deal to see them or anything like that. The other thing is there was not as many teams and sub set teams, so they stayed in their own world. My second deployment worked on their SDV camp in Porta Rico and they were cool as hell, no big heads helped the guys that wanted the BUDS dream. I and the key to their camp as ours was next to theirs the Green side of NAS Roosevelt Roads and we all got along except sometimes the guys passing through came into our club on our camp and we would kinda toss it up once and a while no big deal, by the way they didn't win if that's what you think most of the time.

Move onto my time working around and supporting Team guys passing through during operations in Bosnia and that area. NSA Souda Bay Crete Greece 1996-98 Teams 8-10,and two would pass through, I could tell the guys were changing. The reason I bring that up is it was around this time they started letting them come in as Boot Camps they didn't do that much before 94-95. they started a thing called Dive fare company's and had a pre BUD's course where as in the past they had to be in the Navy Two years 4.0 Evales and PO3 was limit in Rate. Now there were some exemptions and they did take some from Boot, but not like today. I think this is part they come in young not like in the 70's and 80's and Early 90's.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2017 5:51 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 17:51:44 -0400

SPC Thomas Hobbs we do AARs in the Army, SEALs write books.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2017 11:43 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 23:43:51 -0400

Over the years, I've been acquainted with a number of SEALs. My take is that, for the majority of them, attention is last on their list of favorite things. They know they're good at what they do. They don't need, want, or like all the publicity. And they are very tightknit.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2017 1:47 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 01:47:22 -0400

What little I have seen, heard and talked to, the majority of SEALs, as well as other branch's Operators don't want the publicity. If I recall correctly, there has been some blowback within the SEAL community over those who have gone the route of Fame with tell all books.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Apr 30 at 2017 5:59 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 17:59:07 -0400

Not particularly. I mean it's practically in the name. Try and find a civilian who doesn't know what the Navy Seals are. Now compare that to some of the other branches... MARSOC... you might get a few blank stares.

If anyone is seeking fame, it's the posers who always call themselves some form of special forces. I'm a POG and proud of it.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made May 2 at 2017 9:03 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Tue, 02 May 2017 09:03:21 -0400

Seals have been made famous in the movies and TV shows over the past several years so that is what everyone considers the ultimate SpecOps. The SEALs that I have had the pleasure of serving with on rare occasion do not like the publicity. They don't do it for the glory and fame...they do it because it is what they enjoy in life and they are true patriots like most of us in uniform. As stated in other threads their fame was ignited by politicians. What people don't know is that every service has their own version of SpecOPs and they are all good at what they do...you just don't hear about them because publicity can get them killed.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2017 4:26 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 May 2017 16:26:26 -0400

It's impossible to answer with a blanket statement that covers all SEALs. Do some seek fame? Probably. Hollywood has made them superheroes and some probably see that as an opportunity. I would guess that the majority do not seek any recognition. And for those who write books, so what? They did their time. If someone wants to pay them to tell the story, so be it. I can't say that if I was approached by Steven Spielberg to make a movie of my time in Iraq that I'd say no.

Response by SPC John Decker made May 2 at 2017 6:32 PM

SPC John Decker — Tue, 02 May 2017 18:32:02 -0400

If their egos are that fragile, they picked the wrong line of work.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made May 2 at 2017 8:28 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Tue, 02 May 2017 20:28:53 -0400

Outside of the branches you could many who know there was a thing called Force Recon.

Response by SP5 Robert Ruck made May 3 at 2017 12:42 AM

SP5 Robert Ruck — Wed, 03 May 2017 00:42:43 -0400

I would guess it is an individual thing. What gets me are the enlisted guys who get on tv as talking heads as if they were authorities on policy. In essence they probably know nothing more about the big picture than does any other EM.

Response by CW4 Scott Hyde made May 3 at 2017 3:45 PM

CW4 Scott Hyde — Wed, 03 May 2017 15:45:13 -0400

The few I have met were quite humble. No need for fame. They know who they are and have nothing to prove to anyone. I think this is true of the special operations community.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 5 at 2017 11:38 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 05 May 2017 23:38:10 -0400

SPC Thomas Hobbs The Ones I knew were the Shy, Quiet or Stoic Types Not into the Fame Game. They preferred to be Under the Radar even More So than Spooks Like Me.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made May 6 at 2017 12:01 AM

LT Brad McInnis — Sat, 06 May 2017 00:01:51 -0400

I certainly see some that take advantage of it, but every SEAL I know (including my room mate for 4 years) was publicity shy. All they cared about was the mission and training.