SANGLEY POINT, Cavite, Philippines -- Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday became the first civilian and defense chief to become an honorary member of the Naval Special Operations Group (Navsog), also known as the Navy SEAL, the elite Philippine Navy unit that specializes in operations and warfare at sea, air, and land.
But the 44-year-old Teodoro, a reserve Air Force colonel, still had to work for his much-coveted badge.
Dressed in the SEAL's brown t-shirt and khaki shorts, Teodoro did a 50-meter swim in Manila Bay, a 200-meter run from the shore to the firing range, and finally, shot at targets 50 meters away using a sniper Remington 700, an M-14 rifle, and an M-60 machine gun.
At the end of the initiation rites, Teodoro was taking deep breaths, water dripping from head to toe, and his left knee bloodied after he hit a rock as he stepped out of the water from his swim.
Nearly six feet tall and well-built, Teodoro was grinning as he was awarded his SEAL badge and paddle and the elite unit's Tiger print camouflage uniform.
"What I did was not even a millionth of what the (SEALs) went through. This was only a facsimile of their training," the defense chief told reporters, still breathing heavily and dripping wet.
Teodoro was supposed to be at a regional disaster coordinating council meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Lingayen, Pangasinan Friday. But he said that when Arroyo learned he was the guest of honor at the graduation rites of the Basic Naval Special Operations Course (BNSOC) Class 67 here at Sangley, she told him not to miss the event.
"When her Excellency, the President, found out that I was supposed to be with you today, she willingly and very gladly told me to continue with the program here because she wants to extend to you her congratulations and greetings," Teodoro said in his brief remarks at the graduation, before his own initiation rites to become an honorary member of Class 67.
The Class had 26 graduates who all survived the grueling year-long training -- considered as one of the most rigorous in the Armed Forces -- to become a certified SEAL.
The NAVSOG has a "Hell Week" where, among others, the students -- both officers and enlisted personnel -- do not sleep for seven days straight and have to swim non-stop from the Navy headquarters in Manila up to Sangley Point for a total of 7.9 miles.
Seaman 2nd Electronic Technician Joe Ben Salitre, 26, was given the Ironman award for holding the Class record for the Ironman Circuit.
In four hours, 28 minutes, and 40 seconds, Salitre, a father of a six-month-old girl, was able to complete the three-mile swim, a round in the obstacle course, 3,000 push-ups, and a four-mile run.
Navy SEALs participate in the counterterrorism campaign of the AFP, doing intelligence work and reconnaissance among others.
One of the unit’s major achievements was the neutralization of Abu Sabaya, the glib, self-styled spokesman of the al-Qaida linked Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.
