A sailor in the U.S. Navy made history this week by becoming the first woman to complete the service’s rigorous, monthslong training for prospective Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen.
The sailor, whom the Navy has not identified by name, was among 17 others who graduated on Thursday to become crewmen, or an SWCC.
“Becoming the first female to graduate from a Naval Special Warfare training pipeline is an extraordinary accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of our teammate,” said Rear Adm. H.W. Howard III, the commander of Naval Special Warfare, the Associated Press reported. “Like her fellow operators, she demonstrated the character, cognitive, and leadership attributes required to join our force.”
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“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,” Howard said.
SWCC members work closely with another high-profile Naval command, the SEALs. Combatant-craft crewmen are responsible for inserting and extracting SEALs from their missions, according to the Navy. They are also tasked with operating equipment needed for special operations.
Crewmen also participate in direct action raids against enemy ships, collecting data on military installations and shipping channels.
The path to becoming an SWCC is neither short nor easy. Candidates must first complete a seven-to-nine-week boot camp before moving on to two weeks of indoctrination in Coronado, California. Sailors then participate in a five-week training course in water competency, seamanship, and boat handling.
They finish with 15 weeks of advanced skills training.
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Roughly 300 sailors make it through SWCC training each year. Her historic completion of training means she will serve on one of the three special boat teams operated by Naval Special Warfare.
