No, Key West Harbor was not under attack last week, when Chinook helicopters dropped special operations divers into the churning water below.
Rather, elite military special operations teams including Army Green Berets and Navy SEALs were in town, competing in the Special Operations Command Best Combat Diver Competition hosted by the Army’s Special Forces Underwater Operations (SFUWO) on Fleming Key.
“In close competition, U.S. Army Green Berets assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) took first place last week in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Best Combat Diver Competition,” wrote Elvia Kelly, deputy director of public affairs for the U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School in Key West, which hosted the competition.
The grueling, three-day challenge took place Sept. 25-27 in, under and around the waters of Key West, and at the underwater school.
Thirteen two-person teams from the Army and Navy completed 10 events, vying for the title of best combat dive team across the military’s special operations commands.
“The competition determines the best two-man ‘dive buddy’ team in the United States special operations force,” said Maj. Brandon Schwartz, SFUWO commander. “Everyone who competed has gone through a joint accredited institution and are all qualified combat divers.”
Teams were graded on time, accuracy and proficiency in performing operations they would conduct during a special operations dive mission, Schwartz said.
Judges used a point system to score each team.
The competition included a static-line jump from a Chinook helicopter into a kayak race, surface and underwater swims, and a 1,500-meter navigation dive in Fleming Bay. Participants also competed to see which team could tread water the longest while passing a 15-pound weight back and forth. They tested their lung capacity during an underwater pool swim. And they topped it all off with a four-mile race on the third day.
“This competition was amazing,” he said. “I’m really proud of the organization and the competitors. The few points that separated the teams in the final standings speaks to how interoperable and capable SEAL and Green Beret divers are. Our nation should rest easy knowing we have a human capital advantage over any of our country’s strategic competitors.”
Participating dive-buddy teams were from: 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), 2nd Special Warfare Training Group, 1st Special Warfare Training Group, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Navy SEALs Team 2, Navy SEALs Team 7 and Navy SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, according to Kelly.
And the winners are:
First place: 5th Special Forces Group – Airborne (Team 4) under 1st Special Forces Command, with 787.9 points.
Second place: 2nd Special Warfare Training Group under the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School with 773.7 points.
Third place: 5th Special Forces Group (Team 5) under 1st Special Forces Command, with 766.6 points.
Fourth place: SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One under Naval Special Warfare Command with 750.2 points.
