The Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (SWCC ) are United States Naval Special Warfare Command personnel who operate and maintain small craft for special operations missions, particularly those of U.S. Navy SEALs. Their rating is Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB).

Prospective SWCC sailors go through a special training program at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, where they learn boating and weapons tactics, techniques, and procedures that focus on clandestine infiltration and exfiltration of SEALs and other special operations forces. SWCCs employ their specialized training, equipment, and tactics conducting missions worldwide, both independently and in support of US and foreign special operations forces (SOF).

History

Origins Special boat teams trace their history to the PT boats of World War II. Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three rescued General Douglas MacArthur (and later the Filipino president Manuel L. Quezon) 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 forces. PT boats were used in the European theater beginning in April 1944 to help the Office of Strategic Services insert spies and French Resistance personnel and for amphibious landing deception.

Birth of NSW-Task Force 116, and the Vietnam War

The modern special boat operator grew out of efforts during the Vietnam War to develop forces for riverine warfare. In February 1964, Boat Support Unit ONE (BSU-1) was established under Naval Operations Support Group, Pacific to operate the newly reinstated fast patrol boat (PTF) program and to operate high-speed craft for NSW forces. Nicknamed (SWIFT) crews BSU-1 would directly support Naval Special Warfare Operations, initially outfitted primarily by Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) and the newly established SEALs. The schooling was in Coronado, California, and every new sailor that wasn't already a UDT or SEAL was trained extensively in boat/weapons operations, and advanced swimming to work alongside UDT or SEALs. The boat crew members underwent a rite of passage similar to "Hell Week" by SEALs. A UDT and SEAL platoon was assigned to each of BSU-1's squadrons of Mobile Support Teams (MST 1–3). The squadrons inserted and extracted from their patrol area by PBRs. In late 1964, the first PTFs arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam. In 1965, Boat Support Unit One began training patrol craft fast (SWIFT) 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 direct UDT/SEAL support. Boat Support Unit TWO was initially formed in 1965 to run and maintain high-speed boats for the UDT and SEAL teams at Little Creek, VA.

In 1966, River Patrol Force (Task Force 116) operated river patrol boats on counterinsurgency operations in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam in Operation Game Warden. The task force utilized small watercraft far up the Mekong River into Laos and supported the Amphibious Ready Groups operating on South Vietnam's river such as Operation Market Time. These boats would insert UDTs or SEALs by patrol craft while they went ashore to demolish obstacles and enemy bunkers.

In July 1968, Light SEAL Support Craft (LSSC) began replacing PBRs as their primary support craft. Mobile Support Teams (MST 1–3) provided combat craft support for UDT/SEAL operations, as did patrol boat, river (PBR) and patrol craft, fast (PCF) sailors.

On 1 July 1971, Boat Support Units ONE and TWO missions broadened to encompass coastal/riverine patrol and interdiction. Both commands were renamed into Coastal River Squadron ONE and TWO. A wide range of small boat projects were developed and tested with the command's help. The Coastal Patrol and Interdiction Craft, the Landing Craft Swimmer Recovery Vessel, the FLAGSTAFF (PGH-1), one of the Navy's first operational hydrofoils, and the Swimmer Delivery Vehicle, which carried on the now-renamed SEAL Delivery Vehicle diving operations, were among them. After UDT-13 was split in 1975, several of its members joined Coastal River Squadrons and others contributed to the creation of the UCT teams.

In 1978, Coastal River Squadron ONE became Special Boat Squadron ONE. Special boat units, which were still composed primarily of UDT/SEAL personnel or specialized boat crew members, spawned four operational special boat units from the original MSTs: SBU-11, SBU-12, SBU-13, and Special Boat Detachments. The following year, in 1979, Coastal River Squadron TWO became Special Boat Squadron TWO. This formed three more operational special boat units: SBU-20, SBU-22, and SBU-24.

In 1983, remaining UDT diver teams underwent their final consolidation with the SEAL teams. The establishment of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command took place in 1987, consolidating the Special Boat Units and SEALs into a single command. Additionally, a new special boat unit, SBU-26, was also established during this time.

Naval Special Warfare Group 4 (NSWG-4) was established in October 2002 as a result of changes to the NSW's restructure. Special Boat Teams 12, 20, and 22 all were established merged from various SBU units. NSWG-4 is tasked with organizing, equipping, and training established SWCC crews to assign combatant craft to the restructured Special Boat Teams to support Naval Special Warfare.

War on drugs and Panama

The United States Navy contributed extensive special operations assets to the war on drugs and Panama's invasion, codenamed Operation Just Cause. This included SEAL Teams 2 and 4, Naval Special Warfare Unit 8, and Special Boat Unit 26, all falling under Naval Special Warfare Group 2; and the separate Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU).

During Operation Snowcap part of a counter-drug operations in Colombia, a Special Boat Team came under attack in the Antioquia Valley region while conducting reconnaissance operations. The boat team held off a force of roughly 150 Colombian rebel insurgents believed to be part of Colombia's counter-revolutionary movement (FARC). Throughout the three days and nights of fighting, the boat team was repeatedly surrounded and cut off from escape. Short of ammunition and water, the team held on until first light on day three, regrouped and counter-attacked, punching a hole in the insurgents defense line and later linking up with U.S. Navy SEALs and Colombian special forces. Members of the team were cited for their heroism and bravery.

War on terror

Following the September 11 attacks, SWCC deployed throughout the war on terror, including the War in Afghanistan and Iraq War. SWCC assisted in the security of numerous oil platforms in the Persian Gulf, as well as conducted Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) and reconnaissance operations. Some Special Warfare boat operators were attached to SEAL Teams or occasionally with Marine special operations as medics and JTACs. Overtime throughout the conflict, some SWCCs were utilized to supplement Navy SEALs on land functioning as their "Engineers" as adept mechanics, gunners, and drivers during convoys or insertion/extraction operations. SWCC were integral in the war on terror, particularly in the Battle of Al Faw (2003), Battle of Umm Qasr, 2013 raid on Barawe and Siege of Marawi.

Facing the growing rise of terror groups in the Philippines, the Navy dispatched special boat teams to train and advise Armed Forces of the Philippines and conduct maritime operations against piracy, trafficking, and port/waterway security. Some 160 U.S. special operators went on patrol with Filipinos in the jungles of Basilan island, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold. In 2002, a MH-47 Chinook helicopter with 10 American operators crashed during a night operation; none survived. In 2007, SWCC operated Mark V Special Operations Craft and conducted various maritime interdiction, visit-board-search-and-seizure, and reconnaissance operations. Some unconventional tactics and equipment were used, such as canoes with outboard motors, small boats, and jetskis for low-profile collection operations.

SWCC detachments have participated in nearly every major conflict since then, notably in the Persian Gulf (operations Prime Chance and Earnest Will 1987–88, Operation Snowcap 1987–1995, the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989–1990, the 1990-1991 Gulf War and the ongoing global war on terror, and counter-narcotics operations in South and Central America.

Missions

SWCCs operate and maintain state-of-the-art, high-performance vessels to support special operations, particularly clandestine insertion and extraction and in shallow water where large ships cannot operate. In recent years, SWCC have trained for tactical driving and convoy operations.

SWCC also perform search and rescue for combat and humanitarian assistance, help law enforcement agencies, and train foreign units.

Special warfare boat operator (SB) rating

The special warfare boat operator (SB) rating was established on 1 October 2006, under the same order that created the special warfare operator (SO) rating for SEALs.

Navy rating Abbreviation Pay grade Special warfare rating Abbreviation Rank insignia Master chief petty officer MCPO E-9 Master chief special boat operator SBCM Senior chief petty officer SCPO E-8 Senior chief special boat operator SBCS Chief petty officer CPO E-7 Chief special boat operator SBC Petty officer first class PO1 E-6 Special boat operator, first class SB1 Petty officer second class PO2 E-5 Special boat operator, second class SB2 Petty officer third class PO3 E-4 Special boat operator, third class SB3

Officers and leadership Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewmen are enlisted and led by senior NCOs. Senior NCOs can serve as Patrol Officer, Detachment Chief, Boat Captain, Senior Navigator, Senior Communications Operator, or Chief Engineer.

Special Boat Teams are commanded by Navy SEAL officers and SWCC Warrant officers. These Officers lead Special Boat Team (SBT) operators and direct personnel in the execution of combatant craft operations, and may serve as Boat Troop commanders; Detachment officers-in-charge; or a variety of administrative positions.

Qualification insignia

The special warfare combat crewman insignia is a Navy qualification badge. First proposed in 1996, an initial version was approved for wear in 2001.

On 19 August 2016, the original insignia was replaced with three insignias that indicate qualification level: SWCC Basic, SWCC Senior, and SWCC Master. The SWCC Basic Insignia is a 2.5-by-1.25-inch silver matte metal pin depicting a Mark V Special Operations Craft atop a bow wave in front of a naval enlisted cutlass crossed with a cocked flintlock pistol. The SWCC Senior insignia adds an upright anchor in the background. The SWCC Master insignia adds a banner with three gold stars on the upper portion of the anchor.Uniform Policy Update, NAVADMIN 174/16 , CNO Washington DC, dated 4 August 2016, last accessed 10 September 2016

Training

To become a special warfare combat crewman, a service member must apply and be accepted to special programs, complete a special boot camp (called 800 divisions) alongside SEAL (SO) candidates, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) candidates, Diver Candidates and Aviation Air Rescue candidates.