It is a long and thorough process to earn a contract to attend BUD/S or SWCC school. Those that do receive a contract go to Navy Boot Camp and are assigned to 800 divisions. These 800 divisions are comprised of SEAL, SWCC, EOD, Navy Diver, and Air Rescue candidates. The purpose of these divisions is to hold candidates to a higher physical standard and to begin grooming them for the tough training they are soon to endure.

Upon graduation from Boot Camp, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) candidates move right across the street from Great Lakes Recruit Training Center to the Training Support Center, in Illinois. This is where students get their first taste of the NSW training and lifestyle.

Although NSW hopefuls were in 800 divisions and “trained harder,” they are most likely completely out of shape after spending two months in Boot Camp — it is a shitty environment for maintaining and excelling in physical fitness; NSW Prep didn’t come into existence on accident after all.

The purpose of NSW Prep, if you didn’t put two and two together, is to prepare candidates for the real deal in Coronado, CA. The idea is to ensure that the individuals arriving in Coronado have a shot in hell at making it through training. NSW Prep weeds out the initial weak, hell even Boot Camp weeds out a few people. The prep course saves the Navy time, money, and frustration by preventing unprepared sailors from being sent to Coronado.