The U.S. Navy SEALs were established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a small, elite maritime military force to conduct Unconventional Warfare. They carry out the types of clandestine, small-unit, high-impact missions that large forces with high-profile platforms (such as ships, tanks, jets and submarines) cannot. SEALs also conduct essential on-the-ground Special Reconnaissance of critical targets for imminent strikes by larger conventional forces.

SEALs are U.S. Special Operations Command's force-of-choice among Navy, Army and Air Force Special Operations Forces (SOF) to conduct small-unit maritime military operations which originate from, and return to a river, ocean, swamp, delta or coastline. This littoral capability is more important now than ever in our history, as half the world's infrastructure and population is located within one mile of an ocean or river. Of crucial importance, SEALs can negotiate shallow water areas such as the Persian Gulf coastline, where large ships and submarines are limited by depth.

The Navy SEALs are trained to operate in all the environments (Sea, Air and Land) for which they are named. SEALs are also prepared to operate in climate extremes of scorching desert, freezing Arctic, and humid jungle. The SEALs' current pursuit of elusive, dangerous and high-priority terrorist targets has them operating in remote, mountainous regions of Afghanistan, and in cities torn by factional violence, such as Baghdad, Iraq. Historically, SEALs have always had "one foot in the water." The reality today, however, is that they initiate lethal Direct Action strikes equally well from air and land.

Its no surprise that after making it through the most rigorous military training in the world, Navy SEALs go on to accomplish feats that go beyond the norm. Amongst these over-achieving individuals are a few men who stand out as extraordinary and have become famous as a result. In this section we will take a look at legends such as Richard Marcinko, Rudy Boesch and Jesse Ventura; and will continue adding more accomplished former Navy SEALs as we grow.

* Richard Marcinko
* Rudy Boesch
* Jesse Ventura
* Harry Humphries
* Joseph R. Kerrey
* Chuck Pfarrar
* Thomas R. Norris
* Captain William Shepherd
* Michael E. Thornton
* Chris Cassidy