Do You Think You're As Fit As A Navy SEAL?

The Navy will give you the opportunity to prove it, with the SEAL Fitness Challenge.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2008 – More than 700 people have signed up to test their physical fitness capabilities to that of elite Navy SEALs during a Fitness Challenge in Chicago today.

The event is the fifth stop of the national tour of the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge. The inaugural challenge kicked off more than a year ago in Boston. Since then, the challenge has taken place in San Antonio, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; and Dearborn, Mich.

“The SEAL Fitness Challenge is just an opportunity for people in the community that are interested in fitness or interested in the SEALs or interested in both to come out and sort of get a feel for the type of activity people do to prepare to become SEALs,” Mike Caviston, director of fitness at the Naval Special Warfare Center, said during a “Dot-Mil-Docs” radio show on BlogTalkRadio.com, Thursday.

The challenge is held to promote fitness and to heighten awareness of the epidemic of obesity; the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge offers an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compare personal fitness levels with those of the elite Navy SEALs.

“The format for the challenge in Chicago is the exact same format that guys hoping to train to be SEALs would come and do,” added Caviston.

Caviston said that he has seen people from all walks of life attend the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenges.

“The event is open for all people and we have seen all sorts of people come in, whether it’s been people with prior military service, or former elite athletes, or current elite athletes that want to come in and compare themselves to the Navy SEAL standards,” said Caviston.

Caviston added that he is amazed at the level of interest and the determination that some past participants have shown during these challenges. “I went to [the challenge] in Dearborn a couple of months ago where I was … helping a grandmother,” said Caviston. “She did it because her grandkids had encouraged her to do it, [which] was very rewarding for both her and [me], because she was really trying her best.”

Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge participants will be scored and ranked against each other, with all participants receiving a dog tag and a complimentary commemorative white T-shirt with the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge logo. Earning a tan T-shirt means the competitor met SEAL standards, and a blue (Navy blue, of course) T-shirt means the participant has met Navy SEAL competitive standards, indicating a superb athlete.

And you can bet that Navy recruiters will be on hand at these events, also, and anyone winning a blue t-shirt will probably be able to write his own ticket if he wished to join up. Pretty smart recruiting innovation!