Navy SEAL: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 9, 2026

News •

2 women advanced further in Navy SEAL tryouts than any in history • Nov. 4, 2026, 7:57 PM ET (CBS)

US Space Force Guardians will join Army Rangers, Navy SEALS, and other special forces in a new command • Nov. 3, 2026, 2:52 PM ET (Business Insider)

ViDARR Dedicates New Virginia Beach Manufacturing Center to Navy SEAL Rear Admiral Thomas Richards • Oct. 21, 2026, 4:50 PM ET (USA Today)

Facts

Also Known As	Navy Sea, Air, and Land
Date	1962 - present
Areas Of Involvement	special operations warfare • amphibious warfare
Related People	Jonny Kim • Tim Sheehy

Photos

U.S. Navy SEALs

U.S. Navy demolition team

U.S. Navy SEALs

U.S. Navy SEALs water exercise

U.S. Navy SEALs water exercise

U.S. Navy SEALs advanced-training water exercise

See All Images →

Topics

United States Marine Corps Special Air Service French Foreign Legion Japan Self-Defense Forces U.S. National Guard Janissary Texas Rangers Special Boat Service Haganah International Brigades

Yellow transportation sign with ASAP (as soon as possible) on violet color sky background. (acronyms)

Figure Out the Acronyms ASAP Vocabulary Quiz

Caption: Through "Death Valley" - one of the Marines of a Leatherneck Company, driving through Japanese machine gun fire while crossing a draw rises from cover for a quick dash forward to another position, Okinawa, 10 May 1945. (World War II)

Famous Figures in American Military History Quiz

Navy seal. A Navy SEAL participates in mountain warfare combat training. Sea, Air and Land, U.S. Navy special operations force, trained in direct raids or assaults on enemy targets, military

U.S. Navy SEAL Quiz