View Full Version : Another SEAL movie...
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.49641594e7c8b67bc9822a3c921ef98 8.4e1&show_article=1
Secretive Navy SEALs take starring role in new film
Feb 19 04:00 AM US/Eastern
The secretive Navy SEALs are coming out of the shadows for a new Hollywood film, with elite commandos cast in starring roles in a radical departure for America's special forces.
In "Act of Valor," the select troops who call themselves "the quiet professionals" take a turn as leading men on the big screen, reciting lines from a script as they race to prevent terrorists from carrying out an attack on the United States.
Filming began in 2007, before the Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams were catapulted to fame for their daring raid last May that killed Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.
US defense officials did not find out about the movie until after the fact, causing consternation at the Pentagon, which has an office that vets scripts and negotiates cooperation deals with Hollywood producers.
Although troops have appeared in movies before, such as "Black Hawk Down," this film ventures into uncharted territory, possibly jeopardizing the anonymity that the special forces have sought to safeguard.
"It's one thing to be filmed parachuting out of a plane, but it's another thing to be parachuting and land on the red carpet," a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
Premiering on February 24, the action-packed movie tells the fictional story of SEALs rescuing a kidnapped CIA agent from a Central American drug cartel, only to uncover a terror plot against the United States by a Chechen jihadist.
The project started out as a vaguely defined recruiting movie with directors Mike "Mouse" McCoy and Scott Waugh filming the SEALs training exercises, but eventually evolved into a full-blown feature film.
The initial plan was to hire actors to play the special operations warriors, but McCoy's production company, the Bandito Brothers, managed to persuade active duty commandos to take the leading roles.
"It became an obsession to tell the story in an authentic way. We thought the only way to do it was with the real guys," McCoy says on the film's website.
There has been a decidedly "mixed reaction" to the movie project at the Pentagon, the defense official said.
"Obviously, clearly we wish it had gone through the normal channels," said Vince Ogilvie, deputy director for entertainment media at the Pentagon.
"But under the circumstances if they had come to us, we would probably have approved it pretty much the way it turned out anyway."
The officer who oversees the SEALs and other elite troops as head of Special Operations Command, Admiral William McRaven, has defended the movie as a valuable recruiting tool that reveals no classified tactics or techniques.
"We're conscious of the fact that they are active duty Navy SEALs in there. I can tell you they volunteered. There was no concern on their part of their individual (security) or the security of their family."
The names of the commandos in the film do not appear in the credits, and instead the movie lists naval special warfare troops killed since the attacks of September 11, 2001.
The full range of the SEALs' craft is on display in the film, including a high-altitude parachute jump, commandos rappelling from a helicopter and an underwater exit from a submarine.
The makers of "Act of Valor" promise realistic, jarring action, including footage of SEAL drills using live rounds.
But it's unclear if the commandos can convey the same authenticity when they deliver their dialogue.
"The hardest part was saying the lines. Running around and shooting guns and moving and communicating, that?s commonplace. That?s nothing," said one of the commandos in the movie, identified as Ajay.
Trailers for the movie offer an appeal to patriotism ("Courage, Loyalty, Honor,") and a straight-ahead storyline based on a fight against terrorists, without delving into the unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Althought a script that avoids political minefields may not win any Oscars, it likely helped win the cooperation of the Navy commandos.
But the screen debut of active duty troops from a community that has always shunned media attention has irked some inside the military, who worry that a line has been crossed.
Defense officials at one point even weighed whether to prevent the film's release by withdrawing legal permission for footage of the SEALs and military hardware.
But the office that handles Hollywood requests reviewed the movie and concluded that it passed muster, officials said.
The Pentagon, however, does not want a repeat of the episode and is spreading the word to commanders that future movie projects -- including a possible film on the Bin Laden raid -- must be approved beforehand, the defense official said.
"This hasn't been swept under the carpet," he said.
Copyright AFP 2008, AFP stories and photos shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium
What do you expect when you get a tug-boat captain as the head of SOC??
Ambush Master
02-19-2012, 08:02
They made a rather spectacular entry for the Grand Opening:
"Real Navy SEALs literally flew into Hollywood last night for the premiere of "Act of Valor" -- parachuting onto the red carpet from a plane flying high over the Arclight Theater."
Open this up to full screen when you watch this Video:
http://www.toofab.com/2012/02/14/act-of-valor-premiere-navy-seals-parachute-hollywood-video/
Open this up to full screen when you watch this Video:
Good tip AM, that was cool.
Utah Bob
02-19-2012, 08:58
Filming began in 2007, before the Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams were catapulted to fame for their daring raid last May that killed Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.
I thought Charlie Sheen catapulted them to fame.:rolleyes:
I am very tempted to rewrite the lyrics to The Ballad of the Green Beret and re-title it to The Ballad of the SEALS Today....but I won't. I won't.
longrange1947
02-19-2012, 09:03
When the hell have the SEALs been secretive???? :munchin :confused:
Whether that was real Navy Seals or the Navy's Demo Team, which it most likely was (The Navy Leap Frogs, I think), it was still a once in a lifetime jump.
I would have made that jump in a pink tu-tu, just to have the experience.
As far as the Seals in the movie, it's politically cool to like the military right now. We should take advantage of that.....as always OPSEC first.
I did think it was a good move to have all service members who gave their lives in the credits instead of the names of the Seals that volunteered for this movie.
I am sure a Seal or two will have caught the "Hollywood Bug" and move on to greener pastures. Arnold, Sylvester, and Jean are getting too old to do this and let's not even talk about Steven Segal.
I think people in Hollywood will say this is a great movie and it's about time the Soldier gets put in the spot light but, behind closed doors, they won't watch it. They hate us for who we are and what we represent.
Just my $0.02
sf
That was fun to watch, and no doubt, the GREATEST PR JUMP EVER!
Red Flag 1
02-19-2012, 10:27
Cool video AM; thanks!
RF 1
Whether that was real Navy Seals or the Navy's Demo Team, which it most likely was (The Navy Leap Frogs, I think), it was still a once in a lifetime jump.
I would have made that jump in a pink tu-tu, just to have the experience.
As far as the Seals in the movie, it's politically cool to like the military right now. We should take advantage of that.....as always OPSEC first.
I did think it was a good move to have all service members who gave their lives in the credits instead of the names of the Seals that volunteered for this movie.
I am sure a Seal or two will have caught the "Hollywood Bug" and move on to greener pastures. Arnold, Sylvester, and Jean are getting too old to do this and let's not even talk about Steven Segal.
I think people in Hollywood will say this is a great movie and it's about time the Soldier gets put in the spot light but, behind closed doors, they won't watch it. They hate us for who we are and what we represent.
Just my $0.02
sf
I agree on the Hollywood part sir,the situation is a bit worse in India the military isn't a respected organisation at least among the elite circles(business tycoons,movie stars) of the population.
Though I feel the American population respects their military more than the people in Asian countries respect theirs.
I will watch the movie once it is available on torrents I don't think it will be released here in India.
In a previous thread "Scimitar" discussed about SF needing to something for PR,I won't go into that but as an outsider I have always had a very high degree of respect for both the SF and the SEALs.
The humble,down to earth nature and tough professionalism of the SF always impresses and to some extent motivates me.The various posts by the QP's on this forum have been an education.
On the other hand I like a few things about the SEALs too,mainly they were the one who helped set up and train our Naval SOF unit.
Dohhunter
02-21-2012, 13:18
If Seagal had been present they could have used him for the landing.
dr. mabuse
02-21-2012, 13:59
I don't understand.
Active duty guys on the Teams showing their faces ( make-up or not ) on the big screen to millions. Is that the new PERSEC/OPSEC nowadays?
SF or SOF, wouldn't want my picture up there. :confused:
tom kelly
02-21-2012, 14:40
I thought Charlie Sheen catapulted them to fame.:rolleyes:
I am very tempted to rewrite the lyrics to The Ballad of the Green Beret and re-title it to The Ballad of the SEALS Today....but I won't. I won't.
NOT Charlie Sheen, it was Demi Moore "G I JANE" did she make the jump?
Sometimes it does not pay to advertise; This publicity just might come back to bite SOC in the ass....TK
longrange1947
02-21-2012, 14:45
Ol' Charlie was the first before Demi. :D
Remember the sniper and his all seeing eye and what they called him? :munchin
Ol' Charlie was the first before Demi. :D
Remember the sniper and his all seeing eye and what they called him? :munchin
god
"You are telling me that Casey Ryback is on that boat?"
:munchin
D.
Utah Bob
02-22-2012, 10:10
If Seagal had been present they could have used him for the landing.
Squishy comfort.:D
If Seagal had been present they could have used him for the landing.
Yeah - he could've played the part of a Mulberry Harbour!
Richard :munchin
the select troops who call themselves "the quiet professionals" take a turn as leading men on the big screen,
What part of "quiet" don't they understand?
S.
mark46th
02-23-2012, 09:56
Too bad Bill Book is dead, they could have filmed part of it at the Cellar Bar.
Too bad Bill Book is dead, they could have filmed part of it at the Cellar Bar.
Well, I couldn't have been in it then - George and I were banned from there after one eventful evening and had to go hang out at the New Stockholm over in the Chinese section from then on. We had a similar experience at the NCO Club at NKP - something about a bunch of SPs and their dog and a typically USAF lack of a sense of humor when confronted by some naked SF guys sitting quietly at a table in front of a stage with a pile of burning napkins so we could be seen better while trying to get the attention of the go-go dancers or something... :rolleyes:
As for this movie, I'll be in Indianapolis this weekend and my nephew, who just joined the Navy (Why? I have no idea!), wants me to go see it with him - I'll post my thoughts on it when I get back.
And so it goes...
Richard :munchin
Streck-Fu
02-23-2012, 10:46
As for this movie, I'll be in Indianapolis this weekend
Welcome to Indy. I'd like to apologize for the weather in advance. Any chance you can bring anything warm and sunny from Dallas? :p
mark46th
02-23-2012, 12:21
Richard- I had a similar incident at the NKP O club after getting "Hammered In" by the Nail FAC pilots. Apparently motorcycles aren't allowed in the bar and they didn't like my re-arranging of the banana palms lining the entrance. Then there was the unfortunate human flame thrower incident at the Lopburi NCO club. Guess I can understand why they kept me as far from the flagpole as possible..
Guess I can understand why they kept me as far from the flagpole as possible..
Pretty much why all of us 'up-country' fought to stay away from Lop Buri - that and, for me, to stay away from CSM Lynch who had some odd notion that I was another of those wise-@$$ medics who went out of our way to interfere with his life - and when I asked him if he'd rather have dumb-@$$ medic's, wellllllllll.... :eek:
And so it goes...
Richard :munchin
mark46th
02-23-2012, 13:07
CSM Lynch didn't bother me but SGM Darcy took exception when I set his girlfriend on fire...
CSM Lynch didn't bother me but SGM Darcy took exception when I set his girlfriend on fire...
Friction will do that.
All righty then. A big hooyah, and onto the next most secret group...:lifter
mark46th
02-25-2012, 10:45
"The film, McRaven says, represents “a balance between kind of showcasing our capabilities in hopes that we can keep up with our recruiting goals – and hopefully this movie will continue to improve our recruiting efforts – and also, again, showcasing a number of the ‘acts of valor’ of these guys.” "
Improve recruiting efforts? Just what I would want, a recruit who signed up because it looked cool in a movie.
greenberetTFS
02-25-2012, 10:51
Kind of funny that Demi Moore and Bruce Willis were husband-wife and yet both have played a Navy SEAL.
Anyways, according to this article, some are concerned over whether this film reveals too much information about the SEALs: LINK (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/0224/Act-of-Valor-Does-Navy-SEAL-film-reveal-too-many-secrets)
Demi just turned herself in for getting PTSD just making her movie............:rolleyes:
Big Teddy :munchin
greenberetTFS
02-25-2012, 13:10
"The film, McRaven says, represents “a balance between kind of showcasing our capabilities in hopes that we can keep up with our recruiting goals – and hopefully this movie will continue to improve our recruiting efforts – and also, again, showcasing a number of the ‘acts of valor’ of these guys.” "
Improve recruiting efforts? Just what I would want, a recruit who signed up because it looked cool in a movie.
mark46th
Is totally on target,I can't help but agree!........:rolleyes:
Big Teddy :munchin
The Reaper
02-25-2012, 13:20
Within six months, they will have doubled the number of former SEALs.
One good thing about it, we will have fewer fake SF, as the flavor of the day is now SEAL.
TR
greenberetTFS
02-25-2012, 13:28
Within six months, they will have doubled the number of former SEALs.
One good thing about it, we will have fewer fake SF, as the flavor of the day is now SEAL.
TR
TR
He's right you know!...... :lifter :lifter :lifter
Big Teddy :munchin
I saw it yesterday in Indianapolis - it was loud - I think our TTPs and Hollyweird's acting awards are safe - I'm glad I didn't pay for the ticket.
Richard
Basenshukai
02-26-2012, 21:53
I saw it yesterday in Indianapolis - it was loud - I think our TTPs and Hollyweird's acting awards are safe - I'm glad I didn't pay for the ticket.
Richard
I was watching another film ("Safe House"), when I decided to peek into this one, playing two doors down from where the theater bathrooms were. I stood by and watched for about ten minutes. The acting that I saw was awful. The action scenes, for the most part, were amateurish looking from a camera work standpoint. How good the TTPs may have been depends on the viewer. I know that I have spent a lot of time discussing (strongly) SUT TTPs with a dry-erase board and the fellas out on the manuever live-fire range. So, I'll leave that perspective up to the person.
Honestly, "Black Hawk Down" seemed more realistic and those were Hollywood actors. The reason: professional actors can be trained to pretend to be us. However, we (SOF) are not professional actors; not the way Hollywood requires. It's kind of hard to make one of us display, for the audience, emotions that over many years we have learned to compartmentalize successfully. Saying goodbye to the family and kids is never easy for many of us - but, you will not be able to tell from looking at us as we walk away to board a C-17. I say, leave acting to the pros and leave war fighting to us; the two should seldom cross.
mark46th
02-26-2012, 22:14
Broadsword- Becoming a Naval Aviator is a bit more problematic than becoming a SEAL. The process is less forgiving. To be a SEAL, you have to be able to swim, carry a log and not sleep for a week. If you drop the log, you pick it up. If you are in pilot training and make your airplane fall, you die.
Utah Bob
03-01-2012, 13:05
Yes Sir, I was just referring to where you said, "Improve recruiting efforts? Just what I would want, a recruit who signed up because it looked cool in a movie."
When I said, "Well it worked for the Navy with Top Gun," I was referring to the fact that when Top Gun came out, the Navy's recruiting numbers skyrocketed. Applications to the Naval Academy and Navy ROTC also skyrocketed. A whole bunch of people joined the Navy because Tom Cruise made it look cool. The movie had been purposely meant to aid in recruiting efforts (the Navy loved the idea of the film). So I meant maybe they are under the same mindset with the SEAL film. Who wouldn't want to join the Navy after this beginning? LINK (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C5_-VWU6ks) :cool:
And I suspect more than one young guy in the 60s ended up in SF because of John Wayne.:D
longrange1947
03-02-2012, 10:24
Well the film is a huge success. It made twice its production budget in the opening weekend alone.
That's because they didn't have to pay outrageous pay for prima donna actors. :munchin :D
That's because they didn't have to pay outrageous pay for prima donna actors.
So that would make them low budget prima donnas then? :D
Utah Bob
03-02-2012, 12:50
All my civilian friends are absolutely gaga over this thing.:rolleyes:
I don't bother to say anything about it to them.
Dohhunter
03-06-2012, 20:04
(pssssssssst - Top Gun 2 is in the works)
Hiiiiiiggggghwaaaaayyyyyyyy tooooo the Viagra Zone....
Say what you want about AOV, but they did pay homage to Monsoor. Devil's advocate of course, is sensationalizing such a sacrifice.
ODA CDR (RET)
03-06-2012, 20:12
Best scene was the boat minigun and 50Cal fire support/exfil. Better than the 4th of July.
charlietwo
03-06-2012, 20:16
I enjoyed the movie... thoroughly. It was a very anti-Hollywood-military-movie, which was like an oasis of water in the middle of a shit filled movie desert.
The only way it could have been better is with the plot filled out a bit better. The best scene was the Chief interrogation! "Crisco is it?" Spot on. Reminded me of my first team daddy :)
And I suspect more than one young guy in the 60s ended up in SF because of John Wayne.:D
Oh, we had a stampede of mules right after Rambo, too. I can still hear CSM Moskaluk, "No mo' Rahmbo!"
If I were active, I'd be happy for the heat to be off, so to speak.
We need all the SEALs we can get, right? ;)
ZonieDiver
03-06-2012, 20:39
Best scene was the boat minigun and 50Cal fire support/exfil. Better than the 4th of July.
But... during the truck chase through 'de yungle' I kept saying, "What? Don't you have ANY grenades?" I thought maybe SEALs didn't use them, until they attacked the village in Mexico.
tom kelly
03-06-2012, 22:13
When will it be on HBO? I will watch it for $4.99....TK
Yes Sir, I was just referring to where you said, "Improve recruiting efforts? Just what I would want, a recruit who signed up because it looked cool in a movie."
When I said, "Well it worked for the Navy with Top Gun," I was referring to the fact that when Top Gun came out, the Navy's recruiting numbers skyrocketed. Applications to the Naval Academy and Navy ROTC also skyrocketed. A whole bunch of people joined the Navy because Tom Cruise made it look cool. The movie had been purposely meant to aid in recruiting efforts (the Navy loved the idea of the film). So I meant maybe they are under the same mindset with the SEAL film. Who wouldn't want to join the Navy after this beginning? LINK (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C5_-VWU6ks) :cool:BS2004--
FYI, the navy's recruiting efforts during the 1980s centered around keeping experienced officers, petty officers, and sailors in uniform. While many of these goals were achieved by FY84,* others, especially securing enough men for combatant ships under concept of the 600-ship fleet were not.**
The point here is that one should understand the navy's public relations efforts within their proper contexts. During the 1980s, the Department of the Navy was focused on cultivating public support for expanded budgets as it readied and expanded the fleet for global warfare. In this regard, Top Gun communicated disconnected messages to civilian audiences even as it served as a corrective to the anti-navalist films of the previous decade.
As a navalist, I recommend that you re-consider very carefully the guidance the QPs are giving to us civilians in the threads about Act of Valor. Hands down, the navy is the single most successful organization in American history when it comes to generating public support for its policy preferences. In its previous efforts of public outreach, I believe the navy was on the right side of most of the issues.
Now, I'm not so sure. While the fleet has a long storied history of its own brand of quiet professionalism, I do not know how those sensibilities have translated to the SEALs.*** As civilians, we--to the extent possible as permanent outsiders to the community of warriors--have to understand the importance of anonymity to the SOF community. We also need to contemplate carefully the strategic, operational, budgetary, and political implications of shifting the focus to "door kicking." Given the apparent disinterest of the current president in the complexity of these issues, it is incumbent upon us not to get carried away by the flash bang of a movie.
(Also, the TAILHOOK scandal of 1991 should raise questions about the "success" of the use of Top Gun as a recruiting tool. But that's another research project. For another egghead.)
My $0.02.
__________________________________________________ _
* Norman Polmar, The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 13th ed. (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1984), 26, 28; Norman Polmar, The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 14th ed. (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1987), 6, 29, 31; Norman Polmar, The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 15th ed. (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1993), 56, 69, 83, 98, 105.
** James L. George, "introduction," The U.S. Navy: The View from the Mid-1980s, Papers Presented at the 1984 Sea Power Forum, ed. James L. George, Westview Special Studies in Military Affairs (Boulder: Westview Press in association with the Centers for Naval Analyses, 1985), 5.
*** To be clear on this point, I am not questioning the professionalism of SEALs. I'm questioning what the SEALs represent in the navy's "search for a mission." Is the navy going for power projection at the expense of sea control?
PedOncoDoc
03-07-2012, 04:44
I thought The Village People were the first foray by the Navy into using pop culture for recruitment. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw&feature=relmfu) ;)
ODA CDR (RET)
03-07-2012, 05:46
BS2004--
"it is incumbent upon us not to get carried away by the flash bang of a movie."
[/COLOR]
That's the only reason I went to see it, entertainment my man.
I thought The Village People were the first foray by the Navy into using pop culture for recruitment. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw&feature=relmfu) ;)
I think it was The Captain & Tennille. Better Tats AND they had Action Figures... :lifter:lifter:lifter
They beat the Village People by a couple years.
I think it was The Captain & Tennille. Better Tats AND they had Action Figures... :lifter:lifter
They beat the Village People by a couple years.
Damn...thanks Richard....Muscrat Love just popped into my head.....there goes my day...:(:(
Damn...thanks Richard....Muscrat Love just popped into my head.....there goes my day...:(:(
For all the kids that didn't get to experience the LOVE...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgCk3bnvO5Y
:D
For all the kids that didn't get to experience the LOVE...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgCk3bnvO5Y
:D
I tried the link, but it didn't make it past my nausea filter.;)
Tweeder11
03-07-2012, 09:41
I actually went to see this reluctantly, my girlfriend wanted to go (she's also a fan of the unit and owns all four seasons :rolleyes:). I actually was really entertained and compared with the other options that were playing that night, this movie was IMHO the best choice. It was patriotic, action packed, and had a little bit of humor.
As I was leaving the movie I overheard a group of college kids (Males 18-21 different races) talking about the movie. Out of curiousity I asked them what they thought and their consensus opinion was summed up with this quote "It was cool, but I wouldn't wanna do that sh*t".
Respectfully,
Tweeder
Dozer523
03-07-2012, 09:49
I think it was The Captain & Tennille. Better Tats AND they had Action Figures...
No. The Navy have better songs . . . even if you don't kknow the words:D
Anchors aweigh me boy, anchors away, dum dum dah dum dah dum hmm hmmm hm hmmmmm. . .
Sigaba, if I am understanding your post right, do you mean you think the Navy might be wrong in focusing so much on the SEALs for recruiting as opposed to the bigger Navy itself (ships and naval warfare)? From what I understand, this film is more meant to aid in recruiting efforts for SEALs then the Navy overall.
Regarding what the SEALs represent in the Navy's "search for a mission," do you mean that you think the Navy, through the SEALs, is focusing more on being a land force right now than being a sea power? I have read that the SEALs had a problem where they were losing too many guys due to lack of anything for them to do. They would train and train and then not get to see any action and then after 9/11 and the start of the GWOT, they had to modify their training to be able to conduct the missions they wanted to. So maybe it is just that the Navy (and the SEALs) were feeling a bit "left-out" in the current conflict (where the Army and the Marine Corps did the brunt of the fighting) and wants to see more of the action? And to get the SEALs to be able to participate more on land requires making them a more land-based force? I have heard that the SEALs have a dilemma right now in how to make the SEALs a more land-capable force while at the same time retaining their water capability.
Sig has "fin envy". :D
mark46th
03-07-2012, 17:01
Don't forget, when they ring the bell out of BUDS, they don't get to go home. They are still in the navy.
Sigaba, if I am understanding your post right, do you mean you think the Navy might be wrong in focusing so much on the SEALs for recruiting as opposed to the bigger Navy itself (ships and naval warfare)? From what I understand, this film is more meant to aid in recruiting efforts for SEALs then the Navy overall.
Regarding what the SEALs represent in the Navy's "search for a mission," do you mean that you think the Navy, through the SEALs, is focusing more on being a land force right now than being a sea power? I have read that the SEALs had a problem where they were losing too many guys due to lack of anything for them to do. They would train and train and then not get to see any action and then after 9/11 and the start of the GWOT, they had to modify their training to be able to conduct the missions they wanted to. So maybe it is just that the Navy (and the SEALs) were feeling a bit "left-out" in the current conflict (where the Army and the Marine Corps did the brunt of the fighting) and wants to see more of the action? And to get the SEALs to be able to participate more on land requires making them a more land-based force? I have heard that the SEALs have a dilemma right now in how to make the SEALs a more land-capable force while at the same time retaining their water capability.BS2004--
Yes, I am concerned that the navy's focus on SEALs might distract it from its other areas of expertise. The focus of the navy should be sea control and then power projection. The working premise seems to be that the former is guaranteed so it is appropriate to focus on the latter.
Moreover, the navy's focus on SOF as an exercise primarily in door kicking/CT might re-enforce popular perceptions of contemporary warfare as quick hitting affairs in which America forces suffer few casualties. IMO, there is a tremendous disconnect between we who are civilians and those who are fighting GWOT. We need to understand better that we're in a long war and the PRC needs to understand that America can, and will, fight a long war in East Asia.
MOO, worth every penny you're paying to read it, is that interests of this country at this point and in this time would be better served if the navy paid more attention to the fleet's ability to command the seas than the SEALs ability to do what other groups in the SOF community can cover.
YMMV.