Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen
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| Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen | |
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| Active | April 16, 1987 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USN |
| Role | Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen operate and maintain the inventory of state-of-the-art, high-performance boats used to support SEALs and special operations missions. |
| Size | 600+ |
| Part of | U.S. Navy SPECWARCOM USSOCOM |
The Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) operate and maintain the inventory of state-of-the-art, high-performance boats used to support SEALs and special operations missions. Individually, SEALs and SWCC go through separate, but similar, specialized training programs that emphasize special operations in the maritime environment. SWCC are trained extensively in craft and weapons tactics, techniques and procedures. Focusing on clandestine infiltration and exfiltration of SEALs and other special operations forces, SWCC provide dedicated, rapid mobility in shallow water areas where larger ships cannot operate. Like SEALs, SWCC must be physically fit, highly motivated, combat-focused and responsive in high stress situations.
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[edit] Background
Special Boat Teams can trace their history back to WWII. The Patrol Coastal and Patrol Boat Torpedo. Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE rescued General MacArthur (and later the Filipino President) from the Philippines after the Japanese invasion and then participated in guerrilla actions until American resistance ended with the fall of Corregidor. PT Boats subsequently participated in most of the campaigns in the Southwest Pacific by conducting and supporting joint/combined reconnaissance, blockade, sabotage, and raiding missions as well as attacking Japanese shore facilities, shipping, and combatants. PT Boats were used in the European Theater beginning in April 1944 to support the OSS in the insertions of espionage and French Resistance personnel and for amphibious landing deception. While there is no direct line between organizations, NSW embracement is predicated on the similarity in craft and mission.
The development of a robust riverine warfare capability during the Vietnam War produced the forerunner of the modern Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman. Mobile Support Teams provided combat craft support for SEAL operations, as did Patrol Boat, Riverine (PBR) and Swift Boat sailors. In February 1964, Boat Support Unit ONE was established under Naval Operations Support Group, Pacific to operate the newly reinstated Patrol Torpedo Fast (PTF) program and to operate high-speed craft in support of NSW forces. In late 1964 the first PTFs arrived in Danang, Vietnam. In 1965, Boat Support Squadron ONE began training Patrol Craft Fast crews for Vietnamese coastal patrol and interdiction operations. As the Vietnam mission expanded into the riverine environment, additional craft, tactics, and training evolved for riverine patrol and SEAL support.[1] SWCC units are the masters of maritime Special Operations, employ their specialized training, equipment, and tactics conducting missions worldwide.[2]
[edit] Training
To become a Special Warfare Craft Crewman, a service member must apply and be accepted to special programs, pass SWCC Basic Crewman Training school, and pass other schools such as SERE. Following this, they undergo Crewman Qualification Training (CQT) concurrently with a probationary period.
[edit] SWCC Basic Crewman Training (BCT)
Instructors of the SWCC Basic Crewman Training course train, develop, and assess SWCC candidates in physical conditioning, water competency, teamwork, and mental tenacity. This course starts with a two-week indoctrination. The SWCC Basic Crewman Training is five weeks long. Physical conditioning with running, swimming, and calisthenics grows harder as the weeks progress. Students abilities, mental fortitude and teamwork skills are tested during an arduous 72 hour long evolution involving little sleep, constant exposure to the elements, underway boat and swimming events, and a test of navigational skills and boat tactics. SWCC students participate in weekly timed runs, timed obstacle course evolutions, pool, bay and ocean swims, and learn small boat seamanship. Upon the completion of SWCC BCT, students advance to Combat Qualification Training.
[edit] Crewman Qualification Training (CQT)
Instructors of Crewman Qualification Training (CQT) train, develop, and qualify SWCC candidates in basic weapons, seamanship, first aid, and small unit tactics. This phase of training is fourteen weeks in length. Physical training here is geared to prepare the student to meet the requirements of the operational Special Boat Teams. CQT concentrates on teaching Maritime Navigation, communications, waterborne patrolling techniques, marksmanship and engineering. The student also receives an introduction to the NSW Mission Planning Cycle, enabling him to participate in the planning, briefing, execution, and debriefing of an NSW mission from their tasking, to launch point, and on to their combat objective, where students apply all the techniques they have acquired during training.[3]
Due to the training and prerequisites (such as graduation from the SWCC and SERE schools) involved in qualification, the SWCC is recognized by those within the broader realm of "small boat" oufits of the armed forces as a fairly difficult qualification to obtain.
Due in part to SWCC's extremely difficult training and operating environment, which are somewhat similar to those of their SEAL colleagues, they are qualified to operate jointly with other armed forces (particularly those within USSOCOM such as SEALs, Special Forces, MARSOC and AFSOC) operate in inclement weather and sea state, evade and fight on land as a contingency, and perform maritime special operations missions such as direct action, recon, ship boarding or Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS), and sea-to-land support using a broad array of vessels and armaments.
[edit] Insignia
| Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman insignia | |
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| Awarded by United States Navy | |
| Type | Warfare Qualification Pin |
| Awarded for | Completing Basic Crewman Training and Crewman Qualification Training |
The Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman insignia (SWCC insignia) is a military qualification badge of the United States Navy which was first conceived in 1996, though the design wasn't approved for wear until 2001. The insignia is authorized for wear by volunteer members of Special Boat Teams (formerly Special Boat Units) under U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. Candidates must pass the SWCC course (BCT) of instruction at Coronado, California and then complete Crewman Qualification Training (CQT) for their specific Special Boat Unit or Special Boat Team (SBT).
[edit] References
- Further Reading
- Wise, Harold Lee (2007). Inside the Danger Zone: The U.S. Military in the Persian Gulf 1987-88. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-970-3.
