Vice President JD Vance Joins Navy SEAL Training at Coronado, Endures 90-Minute “Freight Train” Workout
Vice President JD Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, endured a 90-minute Navy SEAL training workout at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado on December 22, 2025, performing log carries, ocean rowing, rope climbs and obstacle drills alongside active SEALs.
- High-intensity session: Vance completed a guided, 90-minute SEAL-style workout including log carries, beach runs, boat rowing and obstacle courses.
- Public optics and security: Official photos were released with faces blurred; the visit emphasized fitness while avoiding disclosure of classified techniques.
- Sources and coverage: Reporting and visuals were provided to the press and picked up by outlets such as Fox News, a Video of training day, and the Chosun Ilbo (English).
- Local impact: High-profile visits can boost recruitment interest and local attention while requiring logistical support from base and community partners.
What happened at Coronado
Photos released by the vice president’s office and obtained by Fox News show Vance taking part in exercises familiar to SEAL Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training: carrying heavy logs along the sand, rowing in open water, sprinting on the beach with teammates and negotiating rope and net obstacles.
Video footage documents Vance working in small boats off Coronado Beach and climbing through wooden obstacle elements before moving into ocean-based drills; the session was short in duration and guided by active SEALs (Video of training day).
“They took it easy on me,” Vance wrote on X, adding the workout left him feeling “hit by a freight train.”
The Coronado facility and BUD/S context
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado is long associated with the Coronado training pipeline and BUD/S — a program known for intense physical and mental demands, cold-water exposure and high attrition. Reporting links the exercises Vance undertook to those used in SEAL preparation, while noting he did not enter the BUD/S pipeline itself.
Important distinction: Vance participated in a guided, short-duration session with active SEALs rather than beginning formal SEAL candidate training.
Vance’s military background
Vice President Vance enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003, serving four years and deploying to Iraq in 2005 with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing in a public affairs role. He has cited his service as formative to his views on national security and leadership.
Administration emphasis on fitness and optics
The visit fits a pattern of senior officials publicly showcasing physical fitness with military personnel. Coverage framed the session as part of a broader emphasis on Vice President military fitness and veteran ties to the armed forces, with other administration figures conducting visible training demonstrations.
The Chosun Ilbo (English) noted similar appearances by other officials as political symbolism — for example, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. completing demanding calisthenics at age 71.
Photographs and operational security
Photos supplied by Vance’s office were released with faces blurred, a standard precaution when civilian leaders appear alongside active-duty special operations personnel. The images show common SEAL training drills but do not reveal classified tactics or operational planning.
Officials did not provide detailed operational information about the workout, citing safety and training-procedure protections; base and vice presidential office statements were not provided before publication.
Local reporting and international pickup
Initial U.S. reporting and supplied images were picked up internationally, including coverage by the Chosun Ilbo (English) and other outlets. The release of official photos and social posts by the vice president’s team amplified attention to the Coronado session.
Questions for follow-up reporting
- Authorization and safety: What protocols governed a civilian leader’s participation in SEAL-style drills at Coronado, and which offices approved the activity?
- Classified elements: Did the visit involve limited-access training, and what safeguards prevented disclosure?
- Coordination: How were the White House, Department of Defense and local base commanders involved in planning and oversight?
Implications for San Diego, California
Economic and operational effects
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado is a major regional employer; high-profile visits require logistical support and can create brief upticks in demand for local hotels, restaurants and services. Base staff time may be diverted for public affairs and security coordination.
Political and civic reactions
Local elected officials and veterans’ groups commonly respond to national figures spotlighting military facilities. The optics may be read as supportive of service members without changing substantive policy debates.
Social and cultural impact
Coronado and San Diego’s large military and veteran communities may view shared training demonstrations positively, while advocates for operational security and civilian oversight may question the appropriateness of high-visibility drills.
Local military readiness and recruitment
Publicized, high-intensity events can boost interest in naval careers and special operations, potentially generating increased inquiries to recruitment and veteran outreach offices; base leadership must balance engagement with training integrity and safety.
Sources and documentation
Reporting note
This article relies on images and reporting provided by the vice president’s office and on coverage from the outlets linked above. Requests for additional comment were directed to the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado public affairs office and the vice president’s press team; any subsequent responses will be appended to online reports.
