A 41-year-old Long Island attorney, Amanda S. Reynolds, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Navy, alleging that bureaucratic delays in processing her application to become a Navy SEAL prevented her from achieving her dream due to age restrictions. Reynolds claims the Navy’s inaction caused her to miss the opportunity to attend Naval Officer Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island, as she would exceed the age limit of 42 by the time of graduation.
Wannabe GI Jane sues Navy after her dream of becoming Navy SEAL comes to a crashing end over age https://t.co/FP2LVx7fjk pic.twitter.com/UBzqGnOdZL
— New York Post (@nypost) April 19, 2025
Reynolds, who first expressed interest in joining the Navy in 2018, is representing herself in the age-discrimination case filed in Brooklyn Federal Court. “I would just like the outcome to be determined by the merits instead of by some sort of technicality,” she told reporters. She alleges that her application was unreasonably delayed without explanation, effectively barring her from pursuing her goal of becoming the first female Navy SEAL officer.
Related: President Trump, SecDef Pete Hegseth See Military Recruitment Go Through the Roof on Their Watch
A seasoned litigator, Reynolds grew disillusioned with the demanding hours of her legal career and sought a more meaningful path in the military. An accomplished long-distance runner, swimmer, and SCUBA diver, she saw the SEALs as a natural fit for her physical and mental strengths. The SEALs represent “such a more noble cause,” she said.
In a personal statement submitted as part of her efforts to enlist, Reynolds wrote of her “Viking-like pursuit” to be a SEAL.
“As an American, I was born with what I can only describe as an inexpressible, indefatigable nature to dream,” she wrote. “And so, dream I do — never forgetting it is only under the auspices of this great nation’s military who protects my inalienable right to do so that I may.”
She emphasized her desire to pave the way for future female SEAL candidates, writing, “I hope to serve as this country’s first female Navy SEAL Officer, so that there may be a second, and a third, and many more female candidates.”
Yet for her to qualify for SEAL training, candidates must pass the Physical Screening Tests (PSTs), which assess basic physical fitness. The minimum standards are:
- 500-yard swim (using breaststroke or sidestroke): 12:30 or less
- Push-ups (in 2 minutes): 50 or more
- Sit-ups (in 2 minutes): 50 or more
- Pull-ups (strict, no kipping): 10 or more
- 1.5-mile run (in boots and pants): 10:30 or less
Competitive scores are significantly higher:
- Swim: 8:00–9:00
- Push-ups: 80–100
- Sit-ups: 80–100
- Pull-ups: 15–20
- Run: 9:00–10:00
Then, if she passes the entrance test, BUD/S is a 24-week program that pushes candidates to their physical and mental limits. Physical demands include:
- Endurance Running and Rucking:
- Long-distance runs (up to 15–20 miles) in soft sand, often in boots.
- Timed runs (e.g., 4-mile beach runs in under 31 minutes).
- Rucking with 50+ lb packs over long distances.
- Swimming and Water Skills:
- Ocean swims (2–3 miles) in cold water, often with fins.
- Combat sidestroke for efficiency and speed.
- Underwater knot-tying, drown-proofing (e.g., floating, bobbing, and diving while bound), and 50-meter underwater swims.
- Calisthenics and Strength:
- High-rep bodyweight exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks).
- Log PT: Team exercises carrying 200+ lb logs for hours.
- Boat carries: Moving heavy inflatable boats (200–300 lbs) over sand and surf.
- Obstacle Course:
- Navigating a physically demanding course with climbing, crawling, and balance elements under time pressure.
- Hell Week:
- A 5.5-day period with only 3–4 hours of sleep total.
- Continuous physical activity (running, swimming, calisthenics, boat carries) in cold, wet conditions to test endurance, teamwork, and mental resilience.
The training to become a Navy SEAL is more than most fully trained young men can handle, it is designed this way. No amount of wishful thinking and good genes will make a 42 year old male pass that training, let alone a 42 year old woman 🤦♂️
— Beneficial Lobster (@sellthedip6) April 20, 2025
Reynolds’ family has a strong tradition of service. Her grandfather was part of the Norwegian Ski Patrol, her uncle was a World War II pilot, and her brother serves as an FBI agent. This legacy inspired her to pursue a military career, but her journey has been fraught with obstacles.
According to court documents, Reynolds was sworn into the Navy in 2018 but was never assigned or deployed. She completed enlistment paperwork in 2019, though the Navy claims it has “no record of service” for her. After relocating to Utah in 2020, she faced a setback when she was arrested for an alleged misdemeanor DUI, which was later dismissed in 2023. Upon returning to Long Island, she renewed her efforts to join the SEALs but encountered resistance from recruiters, who she claims pushed her toward a legal role in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps instead.
Reynolds alleges that recruiters assured her age waivers were attainable, yet her application was never submitted and was “unjustifiably delayed.” The Navy has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
Reynolds remains determined to have her case judged on its merits. “I was really gearing up to participate in the pipeline process, really taking all the right steps to proceed with the application,” she said. Her lawsuit underscores broader questions about access, fairness, and the challenges of breaking gender barriers in elite military units. Yet it is known that the American military will not put women on the front lines of combat, especially if they can’t physically get the job done, which is required by every special forces member.
As the case progresses, Reynolds hopes her fight will inspire others to pursue their ambitions, regardless of the obstacles. “It was never really about me being a female SEAL, it was just about me being a SEAL who happened to be a woman,” she said.
Yet Reynolds presents another example of a woman trying to force her way into a position that, while noble, is a position that more than likely will cause her to fail. Women can do a lot of things men can do, bút to be a part of the military special forces, realistically, Reynolds is underqualified and past the age to serve.
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