SEAL Prepares for English Channel Swim
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July 12, 2004

By Chief Journalist Michael Martin
Naval Postgraduate School Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Doolittle will be the first Navy Seal to swim across the English Channel.

In August 2002, Petty Officer Neil Roberts became the first Navy SEAL killed during combat in Afghanistan. Roberts displayed extraordinary bravery while fighting Taliban ground soldiers after his helicopter was shot.

One of Robert's SEAL teammates, Lt. Cmdr. John Doolittle, will attempt to be the first SEAL to swim the English Channel in memory of Roberts in August. The swim will help benefit the Naval Special Warfare Foundation (NSWF), which supports the family members of Special Warfare personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.

Doolittle was inspired by one of his early swim coaches, Mike Troy, an ex-SEAL and 1960 Olympic gold medallist in two swimming events. However, Doolittle did not join the Navy initially. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1992 and then laterally transferred to the Navy where he subsequently became qualified as a parachutist, surface warfare officer and SEAL.

Although SEALs are known for their swimming ability, none of them have succeeded in the channel crossing wearing only their swim goggles, cap and Speedo-style swimsuit. In order to insulate himself from the cold water and to provide additional buoyancy, Doolittle has added 25 pounds of bodyweight.

In addition to the restrictions on clothing as established by the Channel Swimming Association, he cannot touch the support boat that will lead him across the channel. The support boat crew will act as a guide and pass food and drinks to him during the swim.

Doolittle estimates the 21-mile swim will take approximately 12-16 hours. During that time, he will consume one liter of water every hour as well as liquid carbohydrate supplements every 45 minutes.

In addition to a full schedule as a student at the Naval Postgraduate School in the defense analysis program, he has managed to build up his time spent in the chilly Monterey and San Francisco Bay waters to ten continuous hours. The 56-degree water in the Monterey Peninsula helps him become acclimatized to the frigid waters in the channel, which will actually be a couple degrees warmer.

For more information on Lt. Cmdr. Doolittle's swim or how you can support him and the NSWF, please go to http://geocities.com/swim4neil/doolittle.
 
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 Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC

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Such Courage is not often seen.

 Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC

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