World · North America · 3 hrs ago
Two women reach Hell Week in Navy SEAL training for the first time
Two women advanced further in Navy SEAL training than any women before them at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California.
One was an enlisted sailor and the other a naval officer, and both reached the third week of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training.
The officer was moved to a later class and then asked to leave before Hell Week, while the enlisted sailor was medically removed during it.
Neither completed the course, which lasts about six months.
Hell Week is a five-and-a-half-day test that gives candidates about four hours of sleep over five days and includes running, carrying logs and working in cold ocean water.
Women were allowed to try for Navy SEALs in 2016, but relatively few have attempted to qualify for elite special operations units.
Their progress sets a new mark for women candidates, though the Navy has not said what may happen next for either woman.
Two women advanced further in Navy SEAL training than any women before them, but neither completed the course.
An enlisted sailor and a naval officer entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training several weeks before the report.
Both reached the third week, before Hell Week, which begins in the fourth week.
The officer was moved to the next class and requested to leave before Hell Week; the enlisted sailor was medically pulled during Hell Week.
Women have been allowed to try out for the Navy SEALs since 2016.
- Who
- An enlisted sailor and a naval officer attempting to become Navy SEALs.
- What
- They advanced further in training than any women before them. Neither completed the course.
- When
- They entered training several weeks before the report, published November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An enlisted sailor and a naval officer entered BUD/S training.
Both women reached the third week, before Hell Week, which starts in the fourth week.
The officer was rolled back to the next class and requested to leave the course.
The enlisted sailor was medically pulled from training.
- Candidates
- One enlisted sailor and one naval officer
- Training
- Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S)
- Training location
- Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California
- Hell Week
- A 5 1/2-day endurance test that starts in the fourth week
- Women eligible to try out
- Since 2016
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To protect the integrity of NSW Center courses and the privacy of its candidates, we don't discuss the details of any individual selection or non-selection status or where they are in the training pipeline.