5 ways SEAL Team proves authenticity matters

SEAL Team, the CBS military drama, is a show that strives for authenticity. Its reward is in its millions of viewers.

Though SEAL Team has only been on the air for three seasons, it has a dedicated following, especially veterans and service members’ families. And there’s a good reason. The series attempts to portray the military and the dangers faced by service members as authentically as possible.

Here are just five ways that prove SEAL Team, its cast, and crew are doing whatever it takes to get things as right as they can within the limits of a television show’s production requirements and budget.

Neil Brown, Jr. essentially portrays his father on-screen.

Neil’s father was a Marine, and he’s Neil’s hero. Whenever Neil is complimented about his portrayal of Ray, he says that he is essentially playing his father. Who else better to know how to be in the military than a man who has already served?

SEAL Team is certified by Got Your 6.

Got Your 6 is a non-profit organization founded by an Army veteran that works to get military veterans portrayed accurately in film and television. Certification means that SEAL Team is one of the shows they are proud of.

SEAL Team 6 actually exists.

SEAL Team 6 is a special missions unit that works for the Joint Special Operations Command. Though their missions are mostly secret, it is known that they provided the ground force for the  raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan in May 2011.

SEAL Team employs a large number of veterans.

Not does the series have actual SEAL team members on staff, over 70% of its crew are veterans, and the entire stunt team are former special forces. Veterans that have fought and served together in Iraq and Afghanistan will often reunite on the show.

Some episodes have been written or co-written by a Navy SEAL.

Along with being the technical adviser for One Man Army and Lone Survivor, former Navy SEAL, Mark Semos has written/co-written seven episodes of SEAL Team, and he also serves as the series’ producer and story editor. One of the most powerful episodes he wrote was “Time to Shine” in season 2.

It’s clear that the series puts a premium on authenticity, and it shows in every episode. Tyler Grey, who portrays Trent and is also a producer on the series, summed up what he hopes to achieve in an interview with Military.com.

"At the end of the day, you know people ask me all the time, “Well, how real is it?” It’s not real at all; it’s a TV show. There’s nothing real about it. But I want it to feel authentic. That’s our goal. That’s everyone’s goal. I want veterans, active duty, and veterans and active duty’s families to watch it, and the public that has no connection maybe to veterans in the military, to watch it and just go, “Oh, I understand these people and their families better. “ That’s my goal. I’m not going speak for all the advisors, but that’s my personal goal."

There’s little doubt that SEAL Team has accomplished what Grey set out to do.

How authentic do you feel the seriesis? What do you like best about the show?