Joseph Morse, a Morgan graduate from 2023, faced an important decision last summer that haunts all high school seniors, “What’s next?” After careful time and consideration, Joe made an unexpected choice – he joined the Navy SEALs. Out of all the high school graduates only about an average of 148 candidates get into the SEAL program. However, his effort and determination led him to an unforeseen outcome.

Originally, Joe’s plan was to attend Quinnipiac University. His major was going to be finance, and his minor was economics. In June 2023, he decided to withdraw his acceptance at the university and take a different path. After his decision, he enlisted in the regular Navy, as is required to be a SEAL.

Joe’s main motivation was that he wanted to try something different and unique in his life. Ever since he was a kid, he always knew about the Navy SEALs, and after his graduation he knew he wanted to take a big risk and follow through with what he had a passion for. Joe said, “I knew that I didn’t want to go to the college route at that point of time in my life, and I wanted to be part of something greater.”

Sophomore Eva Morse, Joe’s younger sister, was surprised by the decision, “I was so shocked. It didn’t really hit me until the day he was sworn into the Navy.”

Prior to basic training, Joe trained independently to obtain a SEAL contract. To achieve the contract, Joe had to take the PST (physical screening test) once a month for several months. The PST consists of a 500 yard swim, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. After several months of training, Joe signed his first contract – allowing him to begin the process to become a Navy SEAL.

Joe’s basic training began on December 13, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. Training was tight and held many restrictions. For example, phones were prohibited, and there were many tedious hours of working out along with a specific appearance, like a shaved head. Joe said the training was “hard to describe because the training that I did is for a job that is unlike anything else in this world; while being around other candidates who are absolute physical phenomena.”

The training in Chicago lasted for 10 weeks, and then he could finally return to Connecticut. The training spanned from December 13 to February 21. Joe was thrilled to reunite with his family and friends, who spent a lot of time with him during his break before his second training.

Morgan graduate and close friend to Joe, Ryder Watson, explained, “I was extremely surprised to see one of my closest friends take a huge leap like that, but I was proud of him.”

Joe’s next training was in San Diego, California. This training was specifically for being a SEAL, and it included various intense situations, especially while being underwater, like extended time of holding breath. According to usarmy.com, SEAL (BUD/S) training is the hardest training in the entire world. Joe explains how the candidates were “going from 4 am (or earlier) to past sunset; we would go and go with breakfast, lunch, and dinner as our breaks.”

Joe’s favorite experience was called “hitting because of the surf.” The basis of it is quite simple. Basically, the trainees would sprint into the 55-60 degree Coronado Bay, get fully soaked, then get covered head to toe in sand. They would sprint back into their evolution, or lineup, and carry on. Joe said, “It would be over and over again, and what seemed like it’s never ending. For some, it could be possibly an hour or more.”

For Joe, the shift from bootcamp to SEAL training was straining. Joe mentioned his mental state was, “going downhill; not by being tired and worn out – I was used to being tired – but just the drastic change from my previous life to bootcamp and then straight to the seal training took a toll on me.”

After a thorough and difficult decision, Joe withdrew from his training for the Navy SEALS, which happens often in this field of work. According to Extreme SEAL Experience, 75-80% of SEALs in training withdraw. Joe said, “Some people can make it at 18 or 19, but I felt like I needed to grow up and experience more of life and the regular Navy first for a couple of years before I can give it a 100% legitimate shot.”

Sophomore Nathan Miller, who took over Joe’s role as the #1 tennis player at Morgan, and who trained with him from time to time, said, “I’m glad he was able to find something else he wanted to do; he put so much into being a SEAL that I’m happy he was able to channel that energy into something else.”

Although it wasn’t the outcome Joe wanted, he was surrounded by supportive family members and friends. Despite Joe’s separation from the intense training, he still wanted to be involved in the U.S. military. One specific area that appealed to him was IT, and working with technology.

Currently, Joe is stationed in Destin, Florida, where he works in IT, or information technology, for the U.S. Navy. According to MyNavyHR, IT agents “build, configure, deploy, operate, maintain networks and information systems and perform tiered customer service support,” meaning work revolves around computer systems and information.

Joe said, “Something I like about my new job in the Navy is that I can be in a very solid position financially and job-wise when I decide to get out of the military, because I’m in a job right now that is needed equally, if not more, in the civilian section.”

Joe appreciates his job for what it is, and his goal is to gain experience before his returns for the SEAL position. Joe said, “It is what it is, and I am still doing something that I find interest in, and I feel proud to wear the American flag on my uniform each day.”