First suicide of a SEAL trainee in the program's history

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Kadin

Kadin

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I've always wondered what goes through their minds when they have to voluntarily remove themselves from a program they were so set to finish. It's very sad to see something like this happen when all they wanted to do was try and be one of the best.

Steve DelBianco flew out to California two months ago to check on how his son was doing in basic Navy SEAL training. He left a couple of days later, feeling reassured.

Danny DelBianco, who had spent years preparing for this moment, seemed to be acing one of the world's most grueling mental and physical endurance tests.

He had completed the obstacle course and other physical elements on his first try, "so he was ready to go" for Hell Week, the arduous culmination of the first phase of SEAL training, DelBianco told NBC News. "He was excited and very confident."

That was the last time he would see his son alive. After 50 hours without sleep and a punishing series of drills, Danny DelBianco, who'd played rugby at the University of Southern California, couldn't take any more. Like most of the young men who attempt it, he rang a ceremonial bell and dropped out of the punishing SEAL training course. He placed his green helmet in a line next to the ones worn by other drop-outs, and walked toward the barracks.

A few hours later, on April 5, he walked off a ledge on the 22nd floor of a Marriott hotel in San Diego. He was 23 years old.
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MSN

Hell Week to give some reference
 
RIP :/

Like, I dont know what to say. Such a shame.
 
There isn't a mandatory observation period after undergoing Hellweek? The psychological and physical stress they go through is no joke, especially for those that can't complete it.
 
devilhawk said:
There isn't a mandatory observation period after undergoing Hellweek? The psychological and physical stress they go through is no joke, especially for those that can't complete it.
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There wasn't but apparently there is one now - for 24hrs. Still not enough if you ask me because that could really vary from one person to another.
 
But the first 24 hours is only part of the issue, Hehmeyer and others say. Many who enter SEALs training are top athletes with driven personalities who have rarely failed at anything. But after they quit or are too hurt to continue, they are shuffled off to work jobs on the base on Coronado, near San Diego, where their former teammates are still pursuing their lost dream.
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Damn, an observation period can only do so much if you're being constantly reminded of your failure
 
devilhawk said:
There isn't a mandatory observation period after undergoing Hellweek? The psychological and physical stress they go through is no joke, especially for those that can't complete it.
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To have only one immediate suicide after the training there must be. I'm surprised by that number.

Edit:
There isn't? Do they have fairly thorough entrance psychological evaluations?
 
Any documentaries about the training they go through? I know there are fictional movies.
 
Calvero said:
It might sound bad to say this, but I'm kind of surprised this is the only time this has happened
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Was going to say the same thing, I'm shocked that this is the first in the program considering how extreme the process is.
 
I washed out of the Air Force's TACP program about 6 years ago. Much like the SEAL trainee, I never once thought of failure or quitting. The training pipe line was very challenging both mentally and physically, and pushed you to the brink in both aspects. Swallowing that pill of defeat was one of the hardest things ever. I honestly live with that regret every day.

Those type of military careerfields are very demanding. Few try out for them, and even fewer make the cut. Unfortunately this sailor chose to end his life which is simply tragic. RIP to him.
 
Full_Metal_Jacket_Bathroom.jpg
 
neonglow said:
Are there second chances with the seal program? Can you try again the next year?
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Yeah there are guys who have gone through it multiple times. I'm not sure on the specifics but I know of some who quit and came back (in the video below actually) when they were more mentally ready and made it through. Some get rolled due to injury; same thing.

Rhaknar said:
Any documentaries about the training they go through? I know there are fictional movies.
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While it's a tad old now, this is the only documentary that I know of. All parts used to be on YT, not sure if they're all still there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi5LgsYCgKs
 
It looks like the answer is basically keep any dropouts under strict watch for like a month or more.

Have them stay on base, give them counseling with psychiatrists, have them socialize with fellow dropouts, etc.
 
Korey said:
It looks like the answer is basically keep any dropouts under strict watch for like a month or more.

Have them stay on base, give them counseling with psychiatrists, have them socialize with fellow dropouts, etc.
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It was one guy in the program's history. I guess counselling would be good, but strict watch for month is a little drastic.
 
ShdwDrake said:
this is too insensitive for the thread
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Well at least you're aware. The kid was probably mentally tougher than many of us will ever be.

Tragic end to a young man's life. Like others in the thread, I'm somewhat surprised this is the first. Hopefully changes will be made with regards to following up with applicants, and more significant ones than one day's worth of observation.
 
ShdwDrake said:
RIP. But I mean, and I dunno if this is too insensitive for the thread, but kids are soft as hell nowadays.
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*One suicide in the entire history of the SEAL program, consisting of arguably the most grueling training regimen in existence*

"kids are soft as hell nowadays"

oh ok
 
ShdwDrake said:
RIP. But I mean, and I dunno if this is too insensitive for the thread, but kids are soft as hell nowadays.
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You can't really say that kids are "soft as hell" in response to one kid unless you're harder than that kid. Are you a Navy SEAL?

"In my day, the absolute physical and mental elite of my generation that far surpassed me never killed themselves after failing Navy SEAL training. Now someone did. Get it together, you soft millenials!"
 
ZeroX03 said:
Really? The trainee who undertook a 50 hour process designed to mentally and physically break you is soft as hell?
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Back in my day when *the man* tried to break you you just took it, not like these namby-pamby millenials that actually break. Wimps.
/s
 
ShdwDrake said:
RIP. But I mean, and I dunno if this is too insensitive for the thread, but kids are soft as hell nowadays.
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You're a fucking asshole and knew exactly how fucked what you were posting was, before you posted it.
 
ShdwDrake said:
RIP. But I mean, and I dunno if this is too insensitive for the thread, but kids are soft as hell nowadays.
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Judging by the reaction you've gotten, yeah, it was probably just a little insensitive.

RIP to the guy. Hell Week sounds fucking brutal.
 
Whoa, I didn't mean to be an asshole it just reminded me of how they had to add stress cards to basic. (For when people got to stressed we didnt have stress cards when I went through) and how easily people break down and just cry (normal life stuff).

I didn't mean said person himself was soft. What I should have said was that the military should definitely be more selective of who the military allows to go through with said training.
 
I have a ton of respect for those guys.

We have no information about this young man. We have no idea what else could've been going on in his life. We have no idea about his mental health before, during, and after Hell Week. It's ridiculous to try and pass any judgement on him, or to act like it was all Hell Week's fault.
 
That's always struck me as one of the downsides of trying to be a SEAL (as opposed to Army or Marine special forces)- if you fail, what do you do then? I mean, if you can't be a Green Beret, you might end up being a Ranger or something, which is still pretty good.

But the Navy doesn't have any sort of other troops besides SEALs, AFAIK. That's what Marines are for.
 
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