No more beards and cool-guy patches: Disciplining of SEAL Teams begins | NEWSREP

I have noted a cultural divide in the NSW community, but I wouldn't necessarily characterize it a "barracks-SEALs" and "real-SEALs". On one side I see SEALs where every guy has a side hustle and does whatever they can to advance themselves to include leveraging their association with the teams. Selling books, endorsing products, always looking for a new way to make a buck and support a lifestyle. On the other, I see the epitome of "quiet professionals" and guys more interested in the aspects of national service and not national "serve us".

I don't feel the Navy, or more more directly the community leadership, should avoid enforcing standards and discipline because some won't like it and may leave for more lucrative civilian contractor jobs. Those that do leave may find the grass is not as green on the contracting side as they thought it was.

One of the things I feel contributes to this problem was when the Navy made it possible to enlist and go directly to BUD/S instead of having to spend some time in the Navy and then cross-rate. At one point in time guys who went to BUD/S and into the teams maintained their original Navy rate, but then the Navy created their own rate and NEC for SEALs, which I don't feel was a bad idea altogether. But those individuals who go right off the streets and basic training right into BUD/S missout on aspects of big-Navy culture and some of the austerity and discipline that goes along with it.

MSgt Steve Sweeney Thank you for your insight Brother. The only contact I had with the Navy or Marines was during AIT, where all of us were required to look and be our best. Things weren't as rigid once I became permanent-party at Fort Sill.