Saturday, June 25, 2016

RWA in San Diego - SEALS storm the beach


Reminder: I have a special giveaway to celebrate June at this link.

In two weeks, I'll be in San Diego for the RWA Annual Conference (link). I will soak up the sights of "America's Finest City" until Wednesday, when I am cohosting the bus tour of the Navy Base Coronado (link).

I've shared the history of NBC ...

- The Army Comes Flying Along (link)
- A Future Duchess Lands (link)
- Aircraft Carriers Pull Into Port (link)


U.S. Navy SEALs conducting training with SCAR rifles.
Public Domain (link)

But it is San Diego's connection to Navy SEALs which interest the authors on our tour.  From Navy.mil (link),

During the 1960s, each branch of the armed forces formed its own counterinsurgency force. The Navy utilized UDT personnel to form separate units called SEAL teams. January 1962 marked the commissioning of SEAL Team ONE in the Pacific Fleet and SEAL Team TWO in the Atlantic Fleet. These teams were developed to conduct unconventional warfare, counter-guerilla warfare and clandestine operations in both blue and brown water environments.

Concurrently, Naval Operations Support Groups were formed to aid UDTs, SEALs, and two other unique units — Boat Support and Beach Jumpers — in administration, planning, research, and development. During the Vietnam War, UDTs performed reconnaissance missions and SEALs carried out numerous offensive operations. In 1967, the Naval Operations Support Groups were renamed Naval Special Warfare Groups (NSWGs) as involvement increased in limited conflicts and special operations.



Two members of SEAL Delivery Team 2 conduct lockout 
training with USS Hawaii in 2007.
Public Domain (link)

In 1983, existing UDTs were redesignated as SEAL teams and/or SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams and the requirement for hydrographic reconnaissance and underwater demolition became SEAL missions.

The Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned April 16, 1987, at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Calif. Its mission is to prepare Naval Special Warfare forces to carry out their assigned missions and to develop special operations strategy, doctrine, and tactics.

SEALs (Sea, Air, Land) teams go through what is considered by some to be the toughest military training in the world. Basic Underwater Demolition/ SEAL (BUD/S) training is conducted at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado. Students encounter obstacles that develop and test their stamina, leadership and ability to work as a team.



UDT members using the casting technique from a speeding boat
Public Domain (link)

Will I see any SEALs?  I'll let you know when I return from San Diego! I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Do you have a favorite book or movie featuring Navy SEALs? This is a tough answer for me ... so I share the first book I read with a (former) Navy SEAL as the hero - Pamela Clare's BREAKING POINT.  Check out my review at this link.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, July 2, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 3.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City


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23 comments:

  1. I always enjoy the movie NAVY SEALS with Michael Biehn.

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  2. I always enjoy the movie NAVY SEALS with Michael Biehn.

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  3. I have enjoyed Sharon Hamilton's Seal series....

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  4. I have read several, but titles escape me. Did Suzanne Brockmann do a series years ago? I loved that one.
    Patty B 43

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  5. Not any romance books as yet but my husband has a few biographies that I've read parts of.

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  6. I'm ashamed to admit I've not yet read a SEALS story...by Pamela Clare or any author. :-( I think it's time I changed that sad fact, huh? My Dad was in WWII as a radar man who narrowly escaped his 13th ship before the war ended. So in his honor I think I'm honor bound to read a SEAL story. I think it will be full of action with a strong hero and an appealing heroine, no? :-) Thanks for your posts, Kim. jdh2690@gmail.com

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  7. I really enjoy Susan Brockmann's book series with SEALS.

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  8. I adore all SEAL movies and books - I love reading about them!

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  9. I enjoy reading Tawny Weber's SEAL books.

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  10. I loved Anne Elizabeth's West Coast SEALs. She included the emotional connection between SEAL team members and their families. I think she is connected to the SEALs, too!

    Barbara

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  11. Terry Spear has a wonderful series with wolf shifters and SEALs that is great! There have been so many that I've read that are wonderful! There's nothing like a military hero!

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  12. I've read and loved Pamela Clare's Seals and quite a few other Authrs books. Thanks for the information regarding the Seals.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  13. I've read quite a few that were pretty awesome - no way I could pick one favorite! (I will say that Terry Spears SEALs/Wolf series is the best crossover I've read -- I need to finish that series too. Thanks for the reminder, Elizabeth H.!)

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  14. "Breaking Point" is one of my favorite books, too. The first SEAL romance I read was Suzanne Brockmann's "Frisco Kid" and it remains a favorite.

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  15. You had me at SEALs :) Any of Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter series are rereads for me. As to movies, I recently watched Act of Valor and it broke my heart.
    Have fun at the conference- wish I could be there!

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  16. I don't have a favorite but I enjoy movies no books with Seals in them.

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  17. I enjoy Pamela Clare's books, but the first books I read including Navy SEALs were Suzanne Brockman's. I don't know which one I read first, but once I discovered them, I read everyone I could find.

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  18. I enjoy Terry Spear's SEAL Wolf series.

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  19. SEAL Team Six would be my choice

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