114 students of Class 234 entered a pre-training program to prepare themselves for the six-month long training course required to become US Navy SEALs. Five weeks later, on the first day of training, 83 remain.

BUD/S training is divided into three distinct phases, each lasting nine weeks. Before Class 234 moves to the next phase, they must demonstrate a commitment to withstand stress. First Phase is called “the gut check”.

The first three weeks of First Phase are known as “two weeks and a long day”. The “long day” is Hell Week, where individuals fail and only teams survive.

The first three weeks of First Phase are known as “two weeks and a long day”. The “long day” is Hell Week, where individuals fail and only teams survive.

The third week of BUD/S training is called Hell Week. Its sole purpose is to separate the undecided from the committed in a ritual every SEAL must pass and no SEAL wants to repeat.

Class 234 begins Second Phase with nineteen original members and ten additional students rolled in from prior classes. Phase two is a nine-week course known as the Dive Phase. Students soon learn that Dive Phase is more mental than physical.