The question of women serving as Navy SEALs has generated significant interest since the Department of Defense opened all combat roles to women in 2015.
While the Navy removed gender restrictions, the path to becoming a SEAL remains one of the most physically and mentally demanding in the military, with no formal barriers for qualified candidates regardless of gender.
To date, no woman has successfully completed Navy SEAL training (BUD/S followed by SEAL Qualification Training) and earned the Trident.
Several women have attempted the pipeline, including notable cases that reached various stages before voluntary withdrawal or injury-related drops.
The Navy continues to encourage qualified female applicants, provides gender-neutral standards, and supports preparation programs to increase diversity in special operations.
This guide for 2026 provides the current facts on policy, training requirements, known attempts, challenges, and what the future may hold for women in Naval Special Warfare.
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Table of Contents
1. Are Females Allowed In The Navy SEALs?
The Navy SEALs got their start during World War II, officially known as the ‘scouts and raiders’.
With that said, it was not until the 1960s when the SEALs were formally founded.
During World War II, a group of Navy and Army service members worked together to recon beaches and help guide assault waves while landing.
Over the years, the group continued its operations on special missions.
The official beginnings of the SEALs happened during the Vietnam War when President Kennedy realized we needed unconventional warfare to ensure success.
Today there are 10 active SEAL teams, and each team has over 200 service members, including those who support the SEALs.
It was not until June of 1948 where women could join the Navy as regular service members. Before 1948, women primarily worked as nurses and in administration.
It was not until the 1970s where women began to take on leadership roles and into aviation.
However, there was what was called the ‘risk rule’ that made combat roles off-limits to women.
It was in the 1990s when women had access to direct combat roles except for submarines.
With that said, the submarine rule changed in 2010.
In 2016, the Department of Defense opened all military positions to women with no exceptions. From this point forward, women have the right to attempt the SEAL program.
2. Female Navy SEAL Standards
The standards for female Navy SEAL trainees are the same as males. There are no special considerations due to physical ability or limitations, which is a good thing.
All potential SEALs begin with Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S).
BUD/S is a place to weed out those that don’t have what it takes, or wouldn’t make good Navy SEALs to begin with.
To get into BUD/S, one needs to take the physical screening test, or PST.
Here are the events and minimum (and competitive) standards for enlisted and officers:
PST Scores for Enlisted
| Event | Minimum | Competitive |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Yard Swim - Side / Breast Stroke | 12:30 | 9:30 or better |
| Push Ups | 50 | 75+ |
| Curl Ups | 50 | 75+ |
| Pull Ups | 10 | 15+ |
| 1.5 Mile Run | 10:30 | 9:30 or better |
PST Scores for Officers
| Event | Minimum | Competitive |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Yard Swim - Side / Breast Stroke | 12:30 | 9:00 |
| Push Ups | 50 | 85 |
| Curl Ups | 50 | 85 |
| Pull Ups | 10 | 20 |
| 1.5 Mile Run | 10:30 | 9:00 |
Also, the success during the pipeline of training is not just about physical ability. Plenty of physically capable candidates cannot handle the mental stress and strain of training.
Again, the standards for male and female Navy SEALs are the same throughout the process.
Those who survive BUD/S move onto SEAL Qualification Training, or SQT.
SQT is a 26-week course designed to get you fully prepped for life in the SEAL teams.
Upon completion of SQT, the candidate will then become a full-fledged Navy SEAL, and be assigned to either a SEAL team or SDV team.
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3. Are There Currently Any Female Navy SEALs?
As of today, we do not have any female Navy SEALs. However, a woman did complete the SEAL Officer Assessment & Selection (SOAS) Program in 2019.
With that said, she went through the selection process and did not list SEAL as her first choice for military service.
Instead, she received the assignment of her first choice, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD).
Also, other women did receive an invite to attend the SEAL pipeline.
Three women made it to SOAS, but so far, only one female has successfully completed the SOAS program.
As we mentioned earlier, she did not ‘class up’ with a BUD/S class and attempt to become a SEAL.
4. Will There Ever Be A Female Navy SEAL?
The odds of successfully completing SEALS training are not in anyone’s favor, no matter their gender.
Also, the Navy has no intention of altering the training to accommodate candidates’ abilities. Therefore, women go through the same training as men.
The qualifications for age, eyesight, and ASVAB score are the same for men and women.
With all of that said, I would be remiss to not point out the fact that there are big differences between the genders when it comes to physical and athletic ability.
There’s a reason why we have a WNBA instead of women playing in the NBA…
There’s a reason why we have separate Men’s and Women’s track and field teams in the Olympics…
There’s a reason why there are separate divisions in the UFC for both males and females…
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
When it comes to Navy SEALs, or Special Operations in general, this disparity in physical ability presents the same problems.
The difference is, pushing for women to join the SEALs could get someone hurt, or possibly even killed.
It’s a high stakes game that should not be ‘experimented’ with…
5. What Do Current Navy SEALs Think Of Women Joining The Teams?
By and large, active duty and retired SEALs seem to be overwhelmingly against the idea of allowing women to become Navy SEALs.
From the interviews I’ve watched on Youtube or read on various forums, it appears that the ones that think it’s a good idea tend to be on the younger side (i.e. ‘Millennials’), while the ones rejecting the idea are part of the old guard.
With that said, nearly all agree that the standards should not be lowered for women.
If they were, it would have a negative impact on the teams in general, making them less effective as a fighting force.
What People Get Wrong About Female Navy SEALs
Many believe the Navy has banned women from becoming SEALs or that standards were lowered to allow them in.
In truth, all combat roles including SEALs have been open to women since 2016 with no gender-specific quotas or adjusted physical standards; requirements remain the same for everyone, including the grueling BUD/S pipeline.
Another common assumption is that multiple women have already graduated and are serving as SEALs.
As of 2026, no woman has completed the full SEAL training program and earned the Trident; while some have entered BUD/S or related prep courses, all known attempts have ended in voluntary drop on request (DOR), medical issues, or performance-related attrition before qualification.
People often think the physical demands are the only barrier for women.
While strength, endurance, and mental toughness play huge roles, factors like injury rates (high for all candidates), the small number of female applicants meeting initial screening, and the voluntary dropout rate during Hell Week also contribute significantly to the outcome.
Some assume the Navy discourages women from applying or provides no support.
The Naval Special Warfare Command actively recruits qualified women, offers prep programs like the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School (which is gender-integrated), and provides mentorship; the low numbers reflect the extreme selectivity of the program overall rather than exclusion.
Finally, a misconception is that the absence of female SEALs means the policy failed.
The integration effort is ongoing; the Navy views it as a long-term process, with continued focus on increasing the applicant pool, improving preparation, and maintaining standards to ensure mission capability.
Understanding these realities clarifies the current status and the genuine challenges involved in one of the world’s toughest military selections.
Conclusion
In my personal opinion, every decision the US Military makes should boil down to one simple question:
Does this make us a more effective fighting force or not?
If it does, I say go for it. If it does NOT, it should be discarded and possibly revisited down the road.
So far, only a handful of women took on the challenge of the SEAL training pipeline to be female Navy SEALs.
To date, only one woman found success in completing the initial training.
However, she opted not to join the SEALS. Instead, she received her first choice of assignment post-training.
The Department of Defense opened combat roles to women in 2015, so since 2016, women can apply as a candidate.
SEAL training is a challenge no matter the gender. The SEALS are currently all men, and on average only 20% of candidates successfully complete the grueling training.
The Navy is not likely to ever change the physical and mental requirements for women who attempt the training.
Is it possible that we’ll see a female Navy SEAL in the future?
Unlikely, but anything is possible!
Note: If any SEALs are reading this (which I know some are), tell us why you think there should (or shouldn’t) be female Navy SEALs.
I’d be happy to approve your comment in the opinion section below!
References:
Jacqueline served 5 years as a hospital corpsman in the US Navy, with tours in San Diego, California and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She currently resides in Syracuse, NY, and is studying to become a physicians assistant.
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