Celebrating 20 Years of the SEAL Ethos: A Community-Driven Legacy
16 May 2025
San Diego, Calif. -- Today, May 16th, 2025, we commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the SEAL Ethos – a cornerstone of our Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community! This wasn’t simply a top-down directive; it was a deliberate, community-driven initiative spearheaded by then-commanders Bill Wilson and Tim Szymanski, who both had recently wrapped up successful command tours at SEAL Teams 1 and 2, respectively. Recognizing the need for a unifying statement of values, they secured the support of the NSW commander, Rear Adm. Joseph Maguire, and empowered a diverse group of 40-50 SEALs – from E-6 to O-6 and including trusted retired operators – to forge a path forward.
This wasn't a quick task. From May 13-16, 2005, these individuals gathered on San Clemente Island, representing a combined 764 man-years of NSW experience! They operated under a powerful principle: rank was left at the door. The focus was on open dialogue, respectful debate, and consensus-building. The rules were simple but impactful: every voice mattered (one man, one vote), ideas needed to be easily understood, and conflict was embraced as a pathway to a stronger outcome. The goal wasn’t just to
create an Ethos, but to ensure every member of the community embraced ownership of it.
The result? A powerful statement of what it means to be a SEAL – encompassing physical and moral courage, integrity, humility, innovation, and unwavering commitment to Nation, Navy, Team, teammate, and self. But the true brilliance lay in the process. Each participant returned to their unit as an advocate, prepared to explain the Ethos’s origins and inspire its adoption. The Ethos was designed to be instilled at BUD/S and reinforced throughout a SEAL’s career, becoming a North Star for ethical decision-making.
As part of the team that originally defined the tenet of what it means to be a SEAL two decades ago, Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, commander, Naval Special Warfare command reflected on the enduring strength of the SEAL Ethos.
“Twenty years of the SEAL Ethos is a testament to the unwavering spirit and commitment of every NSW warrior,” said Sands. “It’s a foundation built on trust, fueled by leadership, and defined by excellence. Today, we reaffirm our dedication to living the Ethos – on the battlefield, at home, and in all we do.”
The SEAL Ethos demonstrates the power of collaboration, the strength of our community, and the enduring values that define NSW. Let us continue to live by these principles – to honor our past, embrace our present, and build a future worthy of a legacy forged over more than eight decades.
In August 2020, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command and the NSW Force Master Chief signed an official update to the SEAL Ethos to better reflect our ranks now and into the future.
Read the SEAL Ethos
here.