Operation Bainbridge

Operation Bainbridge was conducted to rescue Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama.. He was taken hostage in a life boat on April 8, 2009. 

4 Somali pirates came up next to the ship and boarded it with a ladder. The crew took refuge in a secure room. The chief engineer was stranded outside of the secure room, and with knife in hand, tackled one of the pirates as he came around a corner in the darkened engine room. He brought him into a headlock and took him to the secure room. Richard Phillips, the captain, was also stranded outside of the secure room. The pirates took him hostage. The crew planned to exchange the captured pirate for Phillips. However, it went awry, and the pirates escaped in a lifeboat with the captain. 

The US Navy responded immediately. Two guided missile frigates, along with two SH-60 helicopters and an Eagle Eye drone. The lifeboat ran out of fuel and was towed by a US Navy frigate. 

On April 12, 2009, Navy SEAL snipers killed the pirates with simultaneous headshots. A boarding team rescue Phillips from the boat 

Operation Neptune Spear

Operation Neptune Spear is one of the best known and most highly classified missions that the SEAL teams have ever executed. It was the mission that supposedly killed Osama Bin Laden.

The mission started with about two dozen SEALs being flown by helicopter from Jalalabad airbase in Afghanistan, across the border, and Being dropped off next to Bin Laden's compound in Abottabad, Pakistan.
One of the Helicopters crashed, leaving no SEALs harmed, and was purposely destroyed.

The SEALs were armed with H&K416 suppressed assault rifles, H&K MP7A1 submachineguns, also suppressed, and SIG Mk25 pistols.

The raid lasted about 40 minutes, in which a firefight occurred, the SEALs quickly overcoming opposition, with Bin Laden being shot by the point man on the third floor of the compound.


Bin Laden's compound.

Training

SEALs go through some of the most intense and selective training in the world, with usually around a 90 percent attrition rate. Those who make it are very mentally and physically tough people. The 6 month long basic training involves running in sand, laying in 50 degree ocean water until early stages of hypothermia, obstacle courses, endless workouts, diving, shooting, and explosives training. This is known as BUD/S, or Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training, and takes place on the beaches of Coronado, California.

SEAL Candidates laying in cold water, part of the weeding out process.

After BUD/S, or Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training, those who have made it continue on to Military Parachuting school in Fallon, Nevada. Here the students learn free fall parachuting. 

Navy SEALs in free fall

Next, they continue on to SQT, or SEAL Qualification Training, a 2  month course that teaches advanced shooting tactics and combat diving.  

What is a SEAL?

US Navy SEALS are one of the most highly trained and versatile military forces in the world. The are trained in combat for every type of environment, from desert to arctic warfare, as well as hand-to-hand and knife combat. The thing that sets them apart from other units is their diving capability. They can use both open circuit (oxygen tank) and closed circuit (rebreather) diving. They are also trained in free-fall parachuting.

Why do I want to be a SEAL?

I have always been attracted to the idea of adventure. Being a SEAL involves parachuting, scuba diving, and a host of other adrenaline filled evolutions. I also want to serve my country, and be part of one of the most highly trained military units in the world.

I am 16, and I have lived in the Reno area for all my life. My interests are running, swimming and some gaming.
About a year ago, I decided that I wanted to enlist in the Navy right after high school and become a SEAL. I run on a daily basis, and swim regularly.