Naval Special Warfare Welcomes CQT Class 115; First Woman Operator

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Anthony Walker | 210715-N-QC706-0041 CORONADO, Calif. (July 15, 2021) A member of Crewman Qualification Training (CQT) Class 115 receives a compass prior to a graduation ceremony at Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Center, July 15, 2021. NSW is the nation’s premiere maritime special operations force that extends the Fleet and Joint Force’s reach for collection and lethality, delivers all domain options to undermine our enemies’ confidence, and strengthens diplomatic leverage. The command’s diverse Sailors and their leadership, character, and cognitive traits form the core of its creative problem solving and asymmetric approaches to solving the Nation’s hardest problems. The command continues to accelerate its orientation to the distinctive capabilities that only NSW can deliver while emphasizing humility, urgency to evolve and pursue excellence, and the obligation to be stewards of the incredible trust the Nation places in its Naval Commandos. This photo has been altered by obscuring names for security purposes. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anthony W. Walker)  

UNITED STATES

07.15.2021

Courtesy Story

Naval Special Warfare Command

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) – Candidates of Crewman Qualification Training (CQT) Class 115 completed Naval Special Warfare’s (NSW) assessment and selection pipeline to become Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC), earning their pins and graduating, Thursday, July 15, 2021.

Graduates of any NSW assessment and selection pipeline have met the rigorous standards to enter their chosen profession, demonstrating they possess the character, cognitive and leadership attributes required to join the force. Historically, about 35 percent of SWCC candidates make it to graduation.

Among the 17 graduates is NSW’s first woman operator. The SWCC assessment and selection pipeline challenges candidates through adversity, always upholding validated, gender-neutral and operationally-relevant standards.

“Becoming the first woman 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, commander, U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. “Like her fellow operators, she demonstrated the character, cognitive and leadership attributes required to join our force.”

Following graduation, the newly-minted SWCCs will report to either a Special Boat Team or follow-on training. The continuum of qualification and training over the course of an NSW operator’s career includes continuously advancing skills in core and additional competencies.

SWCC are experts in covert insertion and extraction, utilizing a unique combination of capabilities with weapons, navigation, radio communication, first aid, engineering, parachuting and special operations tactics.

Naval Special Warfare Center, located on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, provides initial assessment and selection and subsequent advanced training to the Sailors who make up the Navy’s SEAL and Special Boat communities. These communities support the NSW mission, providing maritime special operations forces to conduct full-spectrum operations, unilaterally or with partners, to support national objectives. For more information on the NSW pipeline, visit https://www.sealswcc.com/.

For media queries related to this event, please contact Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs at 619-537-1351.

• Date Taken: 07.15.2021
• Date Posted: 07.15.2021 15:02
• Story ID: 400990
• Location: US