Brandon Webb (author)

Brandon Tyler Webb (born 1974) is a former United States Navy SEAL and SEAL Sniper Head Instructor, with one combat deployment to Afghanistan. An author.^[1][2] He served as the Navy SEAL Sniper Course Manager, where he developed new curricula and trained snipers, including Chris Kyle. He is the editor in chief of SOFREP^[3] and a media commentator on snipers and related Special Operations Forces military issues.^[4] Webb is the co-author of The 21st Century Sniper: A Complete Practical Guide. He is the author of The Red Circle, his memoir, and The Making of a Navy Seal.

Many of Webb's statements and claims have received criticism and controversy within the special operations community.^[5]

Military career

Webb joined the Navy in 1993 and began his career as an Aviation Warfare Systems Operator and Search and Rescue Swimmer. He completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training.^[6] He was assigned to SEAL Team 3.

In 2000 Webb was invited to undergo training at the SEAL Sniper Course. After becoming a certified SEAL Sniper, he deployed to the Persian Gulf with SEAL Team 3.

After his last deployment with SEAL Team 3, Webb worked at the Naval Special Warfare Group One Sniper Cell.^[6]

In 2003, he became the Naval Special Warfare Command Sniper Course Manager, where he redesigned and innovated the curriculum . As Head Sniper Instructor, Webb assisted in training more than 300 Navy SEAL snipers from the NSW Sniper course, including Navy SEALs Marcus Luttrell and Chris Kyle.

Controversy

In the wake of "Among Heroes," which hit bookstores a day after Memorial Day, and after a profile of Webb in a recent issue of Men's Journal — "Navy SEAL Inc.: How former sniper Brandon Webb built a media empire around the elite U.S. military's crumbling code of secrecy" — a number of Webb's former teammates and business associates have come forward, alleging he has embellished his combat experience and sometimes exaggerated his association with the fallen to capitalize on their service and build his own brand.

• "Former SEAL Brandon Webb accused of embellishing combat stories and friendships with the fallen"

In a video interview with Business Insider, Brandon Webb states that his civilian skydiving training experience was so "scary", that he'll never skydive as a civilian again. Experienced skydivers almost unilaterally agree that Mr. Webb is exaggerating the experience he described at Skydive San Diego and he most likely would've had the same reaction if he had visited any other dropzone in the world.

• "A Navy SEAL explains why he’ll never go skydiving as a civilian again"

Articles

• "Military Cool: Becoming a Sniper"
• "A Soldier's Best Friend"
• "Sneak Peek: The TAG Combat Sustainment Pack"
• "Military to procure 'Mako' Dirigible"

References