Badass Woman Becomes First Female to Complete Navy SWCC Training
We LIVE for stories of perseverance, grittiness, and determination. We hear them all the time from racers in our community, but we also love to report on inspirational, badass stories from OUTSIDE the Spartan Universe — stories that we can learn from, that can help us become even more unbreakable. In Tough News, we share what we're hearing, why it's important, and why Spartans need to pay attention.
As Spartans, we have the deepest and utmost respect for the servicemen and women of the United States. Not only are they brave heroes who have scarified greatly to defend our honor and freedom, but they are also tough. Incredibly tough.
Their training is legendarily difficult. Need proof? Imagine having to master Drownproofing, like the Navy SEALs.
Spartan founder and CEO Joe De Sena can also attest to how hard it is, after being put through the wringer by the U.S. Air Force back in 2019.
We are constantly wowed, like everyone else, by what members of the military are capable of, both mentally and physically, when they set their mind to it.
We're also in awe of the barriers that are constantly being broken.
For the first time in the history of the United States Navy, a woman has become a Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC). The graduating sailor, part of a 2021 class of 17, was not named in the Navy's press release, which is standard policy.
Related: A Collection of Workouts, Stories, and Acts of Heroism From United States Veterans
37 Weeks of Training, Including a 72-Hour Finale
The training lasted 37 weeks, BBC News reported, and ended with a 72-hour event that included 23 hours of running and 5 miles of extraordinarily challenging swimming.
Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen responsibilities include transporting Navy SEALs, in addition to a host of classified missions of great importance.
“Becoming the first woman to graduate from a Naval Special Warfare training pipeline is an extraordinary accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of our teammate,” Rear Adm. Hugh Wyman Howard III, the commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command, said in a statement. “Like her fellow operators, she demonstrated the character, cognitive, and leadership attributes required to join our force.
"She and her fellow graduates have the opportunity to become experts in clandestine special operations, as well as manned and unmanned platforms to deliver distinctive capabilities to our Navy, and the joint force in defense of the nation."
The Navy reports that only about 35 percent of candidates have historically completed the training program.
Related: What Nicole Alexander Learned From Trading Her Ballet Slippers for Combat Boots
According to the Associated Press, 18 woman have attempted courses to become either Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen or Navy SEALs. Fourteen failed to complete it, and the other three are currently still pursuing it.
This is the second time in as many years that a woman has completed a historic first in the elite military ranks. In July of 2020, a female soldier completed Army Special Forces qualification and, for the first time, joined an all-male Green Beret team.
More Inspiration From Elite Navy Officers
Want more badass inspiration from elite Navy officers? Check out this Navy SEAL's battle-tested advice for leading through chaos, a Navy SEAL's perspective on the best type of motivation, and how a Navy SEAL prepped his training in a metal box.
