As we prepare to join the nation in celebrating Veterans Day on November 11, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is proud to highlight partnerships and services that have helped the Y support service members in our community.
This includes the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s partnership with the United States Navy, which has provided Navy Seal recruits throughout the southwest suburbs with the opportunity to train for physical assessment testing using YMCA pool and wellness center facilities since 2019.
“It’s a great partnership with the YMCA that has worked really well over the years,” Great Lakes Navy Talent Acquisition Group Public Affairs Officer Andaman Gaines said. “Group workouts range from 5-20 applicants, and trainees are preparing for between one month and up to a full year depending on when they would be scheduled to ship off.”
Navy contractor Marko Allen leads trainees in aquatics and land based workouts with the goal of preparing them for special operations boot camp, which is often considered one of the most challenging in the world. 
“The environment they are going to step into is very harsh. It takes a lot of courage to step up to the plate and accept the challenge” Allen said. “And just because you’re a good swimmer does not mean you are comfortable in the water. For example, we do a myriad of tests with flooded masks and see if they can make an adjustment.”
Allen said that workouts last for two hours and that having access to Y facilities is an invaluable resource for the recruitment process.
“That’s the great thing about having access to this facility. We can hit every bucket we need to hit. It’s all covered here. The Navy wants the best candidates, and the answer lies in investing time and effort in making each applicant the best possible,” he said.
In addition to developing the requisite physical skills of a Navy Seal, Allen also said the Y’s welcoming environment helps recruits gain a sense of purpose.
“The Y is a community based organization and when we are here the trainees are starting to build the bonds of brotherhood that they will carry with them for the rest of their careers. This is their first look at what it means to be in the service,” he said.
On behalf of the YMCA, we extend our sincere gratitude to the United States Navy for its partnership and to all members of the Armed Services, past and present, who have proudly served and continue to serve our country. We are deeply grateful for your dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting our freedoms.
