Many students enjoyed watching Rudy on the hit television series Survivor. With his rough attitude and Navy SEAL style, Rudy Boesch's rigorous SEAL training came in handy on the island — training he had under a Penn State graduate.

"Rudy is a great guy and tries to be tough. He is the same person that you see on television," said Ryan McCombie, retired Navy captain and Navy SEAL, who worked over the Survivor character on four different occasions during his service as a Navy SEAL.

Training for becoming a SEAL presents physical and mental tests for a thorough assessment of stamina and leadership skills, and some Penn State students are taking on this challenge.

Created in 1962, SEALs are the Navy's elite team of recruits that are some of the top defenders in sea, air and land tactics. The requirements for becoming a SEAL begin with Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training. The fitness training lasts for six months and includes four phases of physical training.

McCombie, a graduate of Penn State, completed his BUD/S training in Virginia and served as a Navy SEAL for 26 years. McCombie said that there were 300 active duty SEALs when he was a SEAL and there are presently 2,500 active American SEALs.

Adam Kruppa (senior-sociology) attended mini-BUD/S over the summer, a scaled down version of BUD/S. The session was held in Cornado, Calif. and was four weeks long. The only difference between the mini-BUD/S and real BUD/S is that mini-BUD/S is a shorter version and doesn't use as much weapon training.

Kruppa, a midshipman at Penn State's Navy ROTC, was one of 33 candidates from the nation accepted to attend this training.

"Mini-BUD/S taught us perfection to complete exercises and get accustomed to stress," Kruppa said.

The first three weeks of the training paralleled the first three phases of BUD/S. Candidates had to do push-ups, sit-ups, bear crawl and run everywhere they needed to go in boots.

"We had to run a mile to breakfast and back. We ran six miles everyday just to meals," Kruppa said.

The first week of training in mini-BUD/S candidates carried 200-pound logs over their heads and competed in destination races in waist deep of water. Candidates completed the dive phase during the second week. Their hands and feet were tied behind their back and they had to bob in water and swim 100 meters tied up. They completed underwater knot tying where they had to tie five different knots at the bottom of a 15-foot pool and learned navigation and mapping, first aid and nutrition.

The third week was land phase. Kruppa got to shoot nine-millimeter pistols and assault rifles. The candidates got hands-on training with machine guns in the deserts of California and learned how to apply camouflage and participated in a silent mock mission.

The last phase was based on what they were going to do beyond the training. Candidates were allowed to speak with BUD/S instructors.

Mini-BUD/S training and attending an aviation squadron are two of many options available to midshipmen finishing their junior year.

Students at Penn State's Navy ROTC must complete other summer training prior to their junior year. During the summer after their freshman year, Navy ROTC students have to attend career orientations and midshipmen training. After their sophomore year, navy students serve on navy ship for a month, said Willis.

The goal of Penn State's Navy ROTC, according to Commander Dave Willis, is "to develop them to become navy and marine corps officers." Willis is the executive officer for Penn State's Navy ROTC.

"In my humble opinion, Penn State has one of the best Navy ROTCs in the nation based on the quality and number of officers produced," Willis said.

Penn State is the biggest producer of officers in the Big 10, said Willis.

Kruppa performed adequately enough in mini-BUD/S to use them as a reference for BUD/S training. This December, Kruppa will send an application to BUD/S, another milestone to achieving his goal of becoming a United States Navy SEAL.