Breaking BUD/S: How Regular Guys Can Become Navy SEALs

by Mark Owens, D.H. Xavier

INCLUDES MENTAL TOUGHNESS SECRETS OF THE NAVY SEALS.Formerly The SEAL Training BibleFrom the Back do you eat an elephant? Elephants are huge. Your mouth - despite what your highschool teachers said - is small. You eat it one bite at a time.You want to be a Navy SEAL, we call ourselves Team Guys. You want to be paid to jump out of airplanes in the middle of the night, to sneak behind enemy lines and snatch bad guys out of their beds, to be elite and be silent and be deadly. You want to test yourself against one of the hardest selection and training programs in the world and prove to yourself there’s nothing you cannot do.This is no small order, as you likely know. It takes a special level of dedication and focus to make it, but it isn’t impossible. If you can pass the basic SEAL Challenge physical requirements, you can physically become a SEAL.SEAL Challenge yd. swim (breast stroke or CSS):12:3010 minute restPushups (2min): 42Situps (2min): 50Pullups (unlimited time): 610 minute rest1.5 mi. 11:00If you can meet or beat these scores, you have what it takes to be a Team Guy. Let that sink in. Better scores indicating better fitness might make it easier on you mentally, but if you can meet or beat these scores, you have everything you need to become one of the world’s elite Special Operations Forces (SOF). You don’t need to have an XBOX or Playstation to get your action you can get it at work every day.There should be an alarm going off in your head right now telling you something’s wrong here. If that’s all there is to it, then why do so few make it? Why do so many dedicated men fail to become Team Guys, despite their “burning desires” or “extreme dedication?” Why do thousands of men give up on their “dream” every year?They’re not eating that elephant one bite at a time.Unlike every other book about Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training (BUD/S) in general, this book is going to show you how thousands of normal guys before you have successfully navigated BUD/S and gone on to become Navy SEALs. By the time you finish this book, you will be more prepared for BUD/S than any other candidate out there. You’ll know the best way to keep up on soft-sand runs, you’ll know the best techniques for Log PT, you’ll know what to focus on during Pool Comp, and you’ll be better prepared for Hell Week.You’ll have the best set of tools possible to complete BUD/S. This won’t make it easy by any means and the book won’t do it for you. There are no cheat codes at BUD/S - you still have to do everything yourself. You might still Drop On Request (DOR) and quit. But knowledge is a weapon, and if you know what to expect and how people have done things before, you have a psychological edge and will be able to keep your head in the game.And it IS a game. BUD/S is a long, terrible, miserable game that you won’t want to play most of the time. But if you want to be a SEAL, you’ll play the game to the end. And at the end you get your Trident. I’ll show you how.This 424-page book will give you the most in-depth look at BUD/S on record. There are BUD/S evolution details and advice here that you can't find anywhere else. No internet forum or email or TV special can get this exhaustive.If you're serious about becoming a Navy SEAL, if you're interested in the most detailed description of SEAL training available in the world, or you're interested in the physical and mental performance techniques of the elite, Breaking BUD/S is your guide to

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, Memoir

423 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2013

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, not only for those who seek to become members of one of the most elite organizations in the world, but also to understand the mindset and behaviors needed to get through the BUD/s phase which has an 80% plus attrition rate. Non military readers can grasp a lot of practical attitude insights and tactics in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals. Highly recommended.

[Ellery Pleier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does a great job at illustrating in detail BUD/S training and the mental and physical hardships associated with it. The tips and tricks given seem very useful and are given to hopefully be replicated by those who come after. I appreciated the moments when they gave an analysis of the mental components needed to get through different evolutions and how those that succeeded were able to do it compared to those who rung the bell. Definitely has peaked my interest and I want to read/watch more about this training. Feeling froggy.

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly compelling read. I look at the challenge of Navy Seal school very similar to preparing for an extreme endurance sport. Though it is said over and over again much of the challenge is mental. This author even reveals how ordinary and unassuming guys have made it through. He also outlines the personality types that fail. It felt like a study of "who succeeds at doing extremely difficult things".

[Andres Alfaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book if you want to know and understand BUD/s

[Michael Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Breaking BUD/S: How Regular Guys Can Become Navy SEALs” by D.H. Xavier is known as the SEAL Training Bible. This book breaks down all parts of the SEAL training in the basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL or BUD/S Training. This book has crazy accurate details that you can’t find anywhere except from a Navy SEAL. It includes mental toughness techniques, physical conditioning tips, application guides for all advice, and detailed evolution steps with tactics, techniques and procedures. This book is what every civilian that thinks he might want to be a SEAL should read and worship before he gets thrown into the training blindly. I liked that there is only one SEAL training bible and here it is. There are no other books like this that could have opposing views on the training which means this has to be true. If this stuff wasn’t accurate, somebody else would write a book that tells the truth. It is very detailed and it shows applications of the advice it is giving the reader. I would not recommend this to a friend because my friends don’t want to have a future in this field of the military. Anybody that wants to join the Navy and get his or her shot at BUD/S needs to buy and read this book at least once.

[Colin Ducklow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was written in one fell swoop with no spell checking or proof reading. If this was a high school project it would be a C at best.

Not worth reading if you have no desire to join the Teams, you may find some insight but mostly will find 80% of your time wasted

If you are joining the Teams, this is a MUST read with out a doubt. You will feel like your going insane with deja vu as you reread concepts he forgot that were mentioned already but definitely worth the read

This is the most in depth read on BUDs life

[Scott D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting insight into the process of Navy SEAL selection, as told by a current SEAL Officer. Although some of the information is now out of date and the author has his clear biases, the reader is left with an impression of the mental challenges and physical extremes of the world's toughest military training.

[Michael Sheehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I’m too too old to contemplate ever going to BUD/s I always wanted to know the psyche that each successful BUD/s graduate had adopted when going through this most challenging form of warrior training. This book gave a clear and convincing picture of what it takes and the how to see it through.

[Anthony Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Very informative and accurate
depiction of the mindset dedication and physical abilities needed to attempt this endeavor. A must read for anyone seeking to join America elite..

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, practical, inspiring.It gives a clear picture of what to expect in BUD/S and what it takes to pass. A civilian folk could get a lot from this book too. One of the best I've ever read, if not the best.

[Alex Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

It has a lot of information along with some humor, makes for a great read. Anyone who wants to be a SEAL should read this.

[James P Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Title says it all. Tips given can be used in life not just for BUD/S training.

[Stephen Dull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book about becoming a Navy SEAL.

[Hypertonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read now I know for sure I can't be a SEAL.

[Austin Listi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of practical advice for being mentally tough.

[Kate Curtis-Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our current world seems to have a intense fixation and interest into the American Special Forces. The elite warriors who find themselves behind enemy lines in an attempt to make the most prolific difference in wars that are becoming increasingly harder to fight with conventional methods. Chief among the civilian interest of these groups are the SEALs, the most elite in their class under the Naval Special Warfare Academy. The interest in the Navy SEALs probably stems from their almost constant inclusion in the news in recent history, from Chris Kyle and his polarizing novel American Sniper, to Marcus Luttrell and the infamous failed Operation Red Wings, and finally with the famous raid on the compound that Osama Bin Laden had been hiding in in his last days.

Most likely chief among the infamy and interest of the SEALs is the training that a candidate has to endure to earn the "Trident", the symbol that represents the completion of a training course that less than 5% of our nations military will. In almost every SEAL novel, movie, and news article the infamous BUD/s class is mentioned, especially Hell Week, and shown to be the absolute crucible that takes average men and turns them into elite warriors. For those of us that are interested in just what these brave volunteers go through there are numerous documentaries and supplements that allow us to see with our own eyes, but through all of my research only one source offers a complete and mental examination of this training course, and that is Breaking BUD/s.

Breaking BUD/s is a book designed for SEAL hopefuls, and offers a very in-depth look on what these hopefuls can expect as they go through every step of the SEAL pipeline. I think that the book should serve as required reading for anyone even considering the SEALs as there was a lot of information inside here that I, someone shipping out in January, had no clue about at all. But the book is far from being only accessible to those interested in the SEAL program, I bought my copy on Amazon, and can easily be read by those that are simply interested in a deeper look at one of the nations toughest training courses.

Mr. Xavier does a really good job of giving advice and tips from the standpoint of someone who was there, he gives pointers that start from the moment the applicant walks into a recruitment office to the end of Third Phase in BUD/s. Readers can learn the best ways to find yourself in the SEAL program, how to keep your nerves in check, how to efficiently run in soft sand, and how to minimize the beatings you'll receive throughout your entire time in SEAL training. Mr. Xavier piles on the most information in the beginning and middle of the book as he covers how to get to the BUD/s compound and almost the entirety of First Phase.

The only real issue is that Mr. Xavier front piles everything on these two parts, leaving very little information for Second and Third Phase. Getting to BUD/s and First Phase probably take up the first 350 pages where the other two phases are probably only 20 pages combined. I dont know just how much more Mr. Xavier could have put into these parts of the book but the skew of information does make me feel like he just ran out of things to say.

Overall Breaking BUD/s offers an excellent look into one of the toughest courses a man can endure in the military or elsewhere. It should be required by anyone looking to try for the SEAL program and is definitely the best source of information on the program for someone with a casual interest. It may be lacking some information towards the end but overall the information tome offers an excellent look at one of the worlds biggest challenges.

[Jrt6 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of books on physical and mental training and this book really stands up with the best of them. For one it gives you realistic standards that you will have to meet to be successful in BUD/S. The book also doesn't candy coat anything about the personal hardships and depravations you will face. Yet despite all that there are ways to cope and thrive and that is to work for "small victories" and to charge into every task as hard as you can and "embrace the suck". This is done by learning how to cheat and not get caught and by knowing all the details of everything from what the instructors like to find in your room refrigerator during room inspections to how to run the obstacle course in the most efficient way possible.

From a personal view point I am never doing to BUD/S but the reason why I loved this book is because it has a lot of mental strategies that everyone can use to deal with the challenges of life. The PT standards are something you can compare yourself too and I used the run plan workout that was suggested with great success.

However the best part of this book is the simple fact that is really entertaining. You feel like you're having a personal conversation with the author over a beer. Getting all the inside tips, interesting stories and experiences of the author.

[Johnny Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book is phenomenal. It is about a class of 234 men training in BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition School) to become Navy SEALS. Currently they are in the middle of their surf/water week. In this week they get pushed to their limits. Surf/water week is week two of their six month training course. In this week they have to be in freezing cold water for over 12 hours a day and then they go to their scuba training where they get their hands and feet tied together put in a head lock shook en up, blindfolded, stripped of all of their gear and then they must find a way to get out of the restraints and find all of their things . 201 men have already quit and next week is Hell Week. The most hardest week of training of them all. I would recommend this book to anybody who is fascinated by hw the Navy SEALS came to be and how they operate.In my opinion this book is definitely five stars in my opinion.

[Kelsey Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised this has no reviews yet as it has been out for a year so I'll write one. Read this book if you want to be a SEAL, the book does as it advertises and helps prepare you mentally. There are even some tips that will apply to anyone joining the military or people who aren't in the military at all (I think the breathing technique [4-4-4] covered in this book should be learned by everyone. It applies to almost every stressful situation).

For those who are just interested in anything related to the military, this book is informative and entertaining on its own. It has several hidden gems of stories throughout. The only part that is fine to skip if you're not going to BUD/S is the fairly dry and technical guide on maintaining gear. No stories there, just facts. The book is currently in Amazon Prime's lending library and it's a fairly decent read compared to some books I have borrowed.

[maureen barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling a spade a spade

Straight up and out. No frosting, no militarily romance…”This is the way it is. Now git’er done”. “Your here to become a professional. I’m not here for your approval. Adjust or move on.”
As an ex no fuck around, no games NCO I laughed and loved it.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an easy read and very interesting. I was interested in finding out what made the Navy Seal training so tough and what made the Team Guys who made it through different from the guys who didn't. I think I got my answer. The book does have a lot of details and repetition (as every step is explained). I would have like to see more thoughts on the mental portion of the training and also learned some specific techniques that they employ but it does have a great list of books at the end that I will also be checking out. I have no intention of becoming a Team Guy but do have great respect for what they do.

[Billy B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have it 5 stars simply for the fact that I love what the SEALs do and how they do it and basically it all starts at BUD/S
This book is first and foremost for those who are contemplating becoming a SEAL and secondly for those like myself that are just fans of them.
Great book to read to take a break and lighten up a bit from all the serious biographies written by SEALS.

[Rome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing style that was at once motivating and relatable. Enjoyable to read and truly helped me to understand all parts of the process of becoming a SEAL and choosing a career in the Navy.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up close and personal. I have a vested interest in this process--someone very close going through it now and the insight was indescribable. The author pulls no punches.