About the Seal Swim Stroke

Navy Seals use a relaxing, efficient stroke known as the Combat Swimmer Stroke. The stroke is a combination of the freestyle, breaststroke and sidestroke.

  1. Efficiency

    • Efficiency is the goal of the Combat Swimmer Stroke. The swimmer should swim a 25-meter pool less than 10 strokes per length. Three to five strokes per length is the ultimate goal. This stroke tires a swimmer less than others and is great for long-distance swimming.

    Identification

    • The stroke sequence itself is simple. You pull with the top arm, pull and breathe with the bottom arm, kick and bring the arms overhead and finally glide, and you repeat steps. In other words, the top arm pulls like a freestyle stroke but resembles the breaststroke as it recovers underwater.

    Requirements

    • Both the Navy and Coast Guard include a swim test as part of the bi-annual physical testing. It generally is a 500-meter swim test. The maximum time allowed for the 500 meter is 12 minutes, 30 seconds. However, to be competitive, it should be done in at least eight to nine minutes, using only the Combat Swimmer Stroke, sidestroke or breast stroke.