It was not just a routine training or a protocol visit. In a remarkable appearance, US Deputy Vice President JD Vance engaged in intense physical exercise with members of the elite US Special Forces, as part of a 90-minute training program on the beaches of California. Vance described the experience after its completion as “being hit by a freight train” due to the extreme exhaustion he felt.
Vance participated in this training with members of the “Navy SEALs” inside a military base in the city of Coronado, which is considered one of the most important centers for preparing these forces. The program included harsh stages that included carrying heavy tree trunks, running on the sand, rowing in the ocean, climbing ropes, and crossing obstacle courses, according to the high physical standards for which these forces are famous.
Photos obtained by the “Fox News Digital” network showed Vance completely immersed in the exercise alongside members of the Special Forces, with the faces of some of them hidden to protect their identities. In a post on the “X” platform, the US Deputy Vice President stated: “Just finished a 90 minute fitness training with the Navy SEALs. They treated me kindly, yet I felt like a freight train hit me.”
Vance added, expressing his appreciation: “I am very grateful to all our warriors who keep us safe and adhere to the highest standards anywhere in the world.”
It is mentioned that Vance is a veteran of the US Marine Corps, where he joined the service in 2003, and participated in the Iraq War after his deployment in 2005 within the Second Marine Air Wing, where he worked in public relations. He has affirmed on previous occasions that his military experience played an important role in shaping his vision of national security issues, the costs of wars, and the responsibility placed on leaders when deciding to send troops to battlefields.
The “Navy SEALs” are among the most elite special operations units in the US Army, and are known for their difficult training programs and complex missions that include combating terrorism and high-risk maritime operations.
This appearance comes in the context of broader messages from officials in the US President Donald Trump’s administration, focusing on the importance of physical readiness within the armed forces, as a fundamental element of deterrence and military effectiveness. In this context, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has repeatedly emphasized that American soldiers must be “physically fit, not obese,” even at the highest leadership levels, and was keen to demonstrate this trend through his personal participation in exercises with military personnel during his visits to army units inside and outside the United States.
