Anytime a show is made depicting actual, real-life situations and those that have to endure them there’s bound to be a lot of fallout since the realism that people want to see just isn’t accounted for at all times. This isn’t exactly the case with the show SEAL Team but according to those that have watched it and those that have lived the life it’s not 100 percent accurate despite the fact that it does get some things right. Navy SEALS have a reputation for being some of the baddest soldiers on the planet since they’re put through one grueling ordeal after another considering that they’re thought to be the supermen of the Navy, but getting everything right is something that any former or current SEAL would no doubt see as a matter of pride. Whether they’d watch the show after one episode or not is largely up to personal preference, but a lot of them might either laugh or raise an eyebrow when it comes to deciding whether the show is doing their branch of service that much justice.
Here’s a few reasons why a real Navy SEAL might not want to watch this show.
Identifying your enemy is not as cut and dried as the show makes it seem.
Most shows and movies that feature Navy SEAL’s do tend to make them out to be supermen that are as tough as they come and able to handle just about any situation they’re thrown into. But the truth about combat situations that’s been relayed by so many people that have been through them is that it’s a chaotic mess that doesn’t allow people always parse friend from foe in an orderly fashion. There’s not a lot of time to assess whether a person is a friendly or a hostile at times in the heat of battle as some have told it and to think that anyone can identify hostiles in such a clean-cut manner is more fantasy than anything. If that kind of assurance was possible at all times in combat then the SEAL’s would indeed be just as impressive as their TV counterparts and wouldn’t need to worry so much about collateral damage. In reality though combat situations are extremely difficult in the best of times according to many veterans.
SEAL’s don’t follow orders blindly.
In the show there’s a bit of questioning and even some moments that might seem as though someone is questioning when they shouldn’t be, but otherwise the SEAL’s are depicted as going about their mission without even a look back to confirm an order. Now granted, good soldiers follow orders and don’t always question their superiors if they want to keep from being reprimanded in various ways that can get them in different degrees of trouble. But SEAL’s, just like any other soldier, do question at times the orders they’re given and don’t simply wade blindly into the fray on the word of their superiors that this is what needs to be done and that there’s no deviating from the given order. Despite being an elite fighting force that is known for discipline and strict adherence to the chain of command they’re also human beings that have to know when to improvise and take a different tactic if the plan suddenly becomes defunct and they need an alternative mode of action.
SEAL training is about more than just physical fitness.
Yes, they do need to be physically fit and always at the top of their game since their elite nature demands that they be ready at all times. But it’s not all about physicality because SEAL’s are also required to be mentally tough as well. You could argue that they’re human and are bound to be just as emotional and prone to cracking under pressure as anyone. But SEAL’s are specifically trained to be hardened soldiers that are designed to NOT crack under pressure. The endurance they’re required to have goes way beyond the physical and in some cases demands that they turn off that emotional side of their mind and rely on the cool and calculating side that will allow them to survive. There are movies and shows that have gotten this right and have depicted the mental and emotional toughness that these soldiers need to have, but unfortunately it would seem that SEAL Team isn’t one of them.
It’s a big hard to say that SEAL’s wouldn’t enjoy this show since some of them might and others might want to avoid it at all costs. It’s not the worst depiction of the Navy SEAL’s and it’s not bound to be seen as an insult to their longstanding tradition of service and training. But in terms of being accurate it’s kind of a hit and miss show that people can enjoy but might want to take with a big grain of salt.
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