The U.S. Navy has eight active-duty SEAL teams, two reserve teams, and several specialized units that support special operations worldwide. These forces are organized under Naval Special Warfare Command and divided by region, mission type, and readiness level.
Active and reserve SEAL teams
The eight active-duty SEAL teams are SEAL Teams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10. They are split between the East and West Coasts. SEAL Teams 1, 3, 5, and 7 are based on the West Coast under Naval Special Warfare Group 1. SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8, and 10 operate from the East Coast under Naval Special Warfare Group 2. This geographic split allows for rapid deployment across global regions.
Reserve units SEAL Teams 17 and 18 provide backup during high-demand operations. These teams consist of former active-duty SEALs who maintain readiness to support missions when needed. They help sustain operational tempo without overextending full-time forces.
DEVGRU: The unit behind 'SEAL Team 6'
DEVGRU, commonly known as SEAL Team 6, is not part of the standard SEAL team structure. It is a Tier 1 special mission unit under Joint Special Operations Command. Officially named the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, it focuses on counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and high-risk direct action. DEVGRU operates independently from the numbered SEAL teams and reports directly to JSOC.
The name 'SEAL Team 6' originated in 1980 as a deception to mislead foreign intelligence. The unit was later reorganized into DEVGRU in 1987. It is structured into color-coded squadrons—Red, Blue, Gold, Silver, Black, and Gray—each with distinct roles such as assault, maritime operations, surveillance, and training.
Specialized maritime units
SEAL Delivery vehicle Teams
SDVT-1 in Pearl Harbor and SDVT-2 in Little Creek operate mini-submarines for covert underwater insertions. These teams use SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) like the Mk 8 Mod 1 and the newer Shallow Water Combat Submersible to transport operators from submarines into coastal areas undetected.
Special Boat Teams
Special Boat Teams (SBTs) support SEAL operations with high-speed surface craft. Their crews, known as Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC), handle navigation, insertion, extraction, and fire support in maritime environments. These teams ensure SEALs can reach and leave targets quickly and safely by water.
Structure and deployment cycles
A full SEAL team consists of about 200 to 300 personnel, including operators and support staff. Each team is divided into eight platoons, with each platoon made up of around 16 members, two officers and 14 enlisted SEALs. These platoons can further split into smaller squads for specific missions.
Teams deploy in squadrons, which combine two platoons with intelligence, logistics, and technical specialists. These units follow a rotation cycle of 18 to 24 months, including training and a six-month deployment. This system ensures continuous readiness while managing operator fatigue.
Support and regional focus
Behind every operator are several support personnel, medics, linguists, intelligence analysts, and technicians, who are essential to mission success. For every SEAL, there are typically three or four support staff members assigned to the team.
Each SEAL team has a regional focus. SEAL Team 1 covers Southeast Asia, Team 2 handles Northern Europe, Team 3 operates in the Middle East, Team 4 in Central and South America, Team 5 in the Indo-Pacific, Team 7 in the Western Pacific, and Teams 8 and 10 support Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. This regional specialization ensures operators are trained in local conditions, languages, and tactics.