Sonntag, 1. Juli 2012

The longest serving Navy SEAL , The Bull Frog

Copyright US NSWC
 The "Bull Frog" title recognizes the UDT/SEAL operator with the greatest amount of cumulative service following completion of Underwater Demolition Team Replacement Accession (UDTRA) or Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, regardless of rank.
The Navy’s connotation of the species comes from the days when UDT swimmers were glorified in song and movies as “frogmen.” The team boss was the Bull Frog. The name stuck and eventually was adopted by official order from Rear Adm. Richard Lyon, the first Bull Frog who retired in 1981. Although the UDT-SEAL Association has always been the owner of the trophy and sponsor for awarding the Bull Frog title, it wasn’t until 2007 that Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan made it official by means of U.S. Navy instruction.
The Bullfrogs have been enlisted men, warrant officers, and commissioned officers. But only two designated so far have started out as officers. The current Bull Frog, Adm. Eric T. Olson, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1973 and graduated from BUD/S Class 76, and claimed the title of Bull Frog in 2009. Now as a four-star admiral, he is the highest ranking Navy SEAL and the only Naval Academy graduate to hold the title of Bull Frog.
Retired Rear Adm. Dick Lyon, left, the first “Bull Frog,” or longest actively serving Navy SEAL, hands the Bull Frog trophy to Capt. Pete Wikul, Bull Frog No. 13, at Wikul’s retirement ceremony Friday. Wikul passed the ceremonial trophy to the next senior SEAL. (Official navy Photo)

Keine Kommentare:

Kommentar veröffentlichen