Dennis Chalker
Encyclopedia
Dennis Chalker is a retired Navy SEAL, inventor and author who has written six books about the United States Navy
SEALs
.
, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon discharge he tried his hand at a few civilian jobs and found them less than challenging. Chalker then joined the United States Navy
and became a Navy SEAL, ultimately attaining the rank of Command Master Chief Petty Officer
. He served as Command Master Chief of Naval Special Warfare Center
(NSWC BUD/S) and retired as an E-9.
Chalker initially served with SEAL Team One but was hand-selected by Commander Richard Marcinko
to become a plankowner
of the Navy's first dedicated counter-terrorist unit, SEAL Team Six. As a member of SEAL Team Six, he participated in Operation Urgent Fury in the US Invasion of Grenada
. His team reached then Governor General Paul Scoon's
mansion and held it for an entire day while being attacked by a force of Grenadians and Cubans.
As a SEAL, Chalker saw action in Haiti
(recounted in his book One Perfect Op), El Salvador
, and Panama
.
When Marcinko was tasked to select members for a new unit to test security at US Naval Bases against the threat of terrorism
, he once again chose Chalker as one of the founding members. This unit was called Red Cell
.
After Red Cell was disbanded Chalker transitioned back to SEAL Team Six. His final duty station was as the Command Master Chief at the Training Center Command for BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs) Training in Coronado, California
.
While serving as Command Master Chief of BUD/S, Chalker was hired as a technical advisor for The Rock
, a 1996 Jerry Bruckheimer
film. Chalker was also used as an onscreen extra during the movie's swim and dive sequences. This led to a position as Director of Operations with Global Studies Group, Inc. (GSGI), upon his retirement from the US Navy. GSGI is a combination security and training company owned by former US Navy SEAL Harry Humphries
that specializes in bringing modified (civilian version) SpecOps tactical skill training to law- enforcement agencies and Hollywood movie productions.
Chalker is credited for inventing and developing a tactical rifle
and submachine gun
single-point sling
known as the Chalker Sling while at SEAL Team Six. The Chalker Sling attaches the long gun to the shooter via a harness which enables the operator to quickly transition to a secondary weapon or perform another task while using both hands and keeping the weapon in a close-ready position as the weapon "hangs" from the chest, leaving just enough slack to be able to quickly bring it to firing position with little effort.
Since retiring from the Navy, Chalker has authored six books, three fiction and three non-fiction with Kevin Dockery
about life as a Navy SEAL.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
SEALs
Seals
Seals may refer to:In military:* United States Navy SEALs, the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force* Royal Thai Navy SEALs, part of the Royal Thai NavyIn sport:* Florida Seals, a minor league ice hockey team from 2002 and 2007...
.
Career
Chalker began his military service with the U.S. ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon discharge he tried his hand at a few civilian jobs and found them less than challenging. Chalker then joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and became a Navy SEAL, ultimately attaining the rank of Command Master Chief Petty Officer
Command Master Chief Petty Officer
-Background:First referenced in OPNAVINST 1306.2C dated 16 October 1995, the Navy's Command Master Chief Program is a valuable asset which stimulates free-flowing communications and ensures the highest standards of professionalism are upheld at all levels within the chain of command...
. He served as Command Master Chief of Naval Special Warfare Center
Naval Special Warfare Center
The United States Phil Bucklew Naval Special Warfare Center is a component command of the Naval Special Warfare Command and is sited within Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California....
(NSWC BUD/S) and retired as an E-9.
Chalker initially served with SEAL Team One but was hand-selected by Commander Richard Marcinko
Richard Marcinko
Richard "Dick" Marcinko , is a retired Commander in the United States Navy and a former Navy SEAL. He was the first Commanding Officer of SEAL Team Six and Red Cell...
to become a plankowner
Plankowner
A plankowner is an individual who was a member of the crew of a ship when that ship was placed in commission. Originally, this term applied only to crew members that were present at the ship's first commissioning...
of the Navy's first dedicated counter-terrorist unit, SEAL Team Six. As a member of SEAL Team Six, he participated in Operation Urgent Fury in the US Invasion of Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
. His team reached then Governor General Paul Scoon's
Paul Scoon
Sir Paul Scoon, GCMG, GCVO, OBE was Governor General of Grenada for 14 years, from 1978 to 1992.-Biography:Sir Paul was born on 4 July 1935 in Gouyave, a town on the west coast of Grenada. He attended St. John's Anglican School and then the Grenada Boys' Secondary School...
mansion and held it for an entire day while being attacked by a force of Grenadians and Cubans.
As a SEAL, Chalker saw action in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
(recounted in his book One Perfect Op), El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, and Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
.
When Marcinko was tasked to select members for a new unit to test security at US Naval Bases against the threat of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, he once again chose Chalker as one of the founding members. This unit was called Red Cell
Red Cell
Red Teams or Red Cells are U.S. government parlance for teams or units designed to test the effectiveness of U.S. tactics or personnel. "Red Cell" was purported to be a U.S. Navy SEAL team which had been organized to attempt to infiltrate and otherwise test the security of U.S...
.
After Red Cell was disbanded Chalker transitioned back to SEAL Team Six. His final duty station was as the Command Master Chief at the Training Center Command for BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs) Training in Coronado, California
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado is a naval installation located across the bay from San Diego, CA. The base, situated on Silver Strand, between the San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, is a major Navy shore command, supporting over 30 tenant commands, and is the West Coast focal point for special...
.
While serving as Command Master Chief of BUD/S, Chalker was hired as a technical advisor for The Rock
The Rock (film)
The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San Francisco Bay area. It was directed by Michael Bay and stars Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. It was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and released through Hollywood Pictures. The film...
, a 1996 Jerry Bruckheimer
Jerry Bruckheimer
Jerome Leon "Jerry" Bruckheimer is an American film and television producer. He has achieved great success in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. His best known television series are CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Eleventh Hour, Without a Trace, Cold Case, The...
film. Chalker was also used as an onscreen extra during the movie's swim and dive sequences. This led to a position as Director of Operations with Global Studies Group, Inc. (GSGI), upon his retirement from the US Navy. GSGI is a combination security and training company owned by former US Navy SEAL Harry Humphries
Harry Humphries
Harry Humphries is a highly-decorated former United States Navy SEAL who currently works as a consultant and actor on Hollywood films. After graduating from Admiral Farragut Academy and attending Rutgers University in New Jersey, Humphries joined the Navy, where he was assigned to UDT 22 and SEAL...
that specializes in bringing modified (civilian version) SpecOps tactical skill training to law- enforcement agencies and Hollywood movie productions.
Chalker is credited for inventing and developing a tactical rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
and submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
single-point sling
Sling (firearms)
In the context of firearms, a sling is a type of strap or harness designed to allow a shooter to carry a firearm on his/her person and/or aid in greater hit probability with that firearm...
known as the Chalker Sling while at SEAL Team Six. The Chalker Sling attaches the long gun to the shooter via a harness which enables the operator to quickly transition to a secondary weapon or perform another task while using both hands and keeping the weapon in a close-ready position as the weapon "hangs" from the chest, leaving just enough slack to be able to quickly bring it to firing position with little effort.
Since retiring from the Navy, Chalker has authored six books, three fiction and three non-fiction with Kevin Dockery
Kevin Dockery (author)
Kevin Dockery is an American fiction and nonfiction author and military historian. He is best known for his work detailing the history and weapons of the Navy SEALs. He served in the US Army on the President's Guard, and as an armorer. Since retiring from the Army, he has worked as a curator for...
about life as a Navy SEAL.
Non-Fiction
- Chalker, Dennis C. One Perfect Op : an Insider’s Account of the Navy Seal Special Warfare Teams / by Dennis Chalker with Kevin Dockery. 1st ed. New York : Morrow, c2002. xiii, 332 p. ; 25 cm. ISBN 0-380-97804-0 (acid-free paper)
- Chalker, Dennis C. Hell Week : SEALS in Training / Dennis Chalker with Kevin Dockery. New York : Avon Books, 2002. 375 p. ; 18 cm. ISBN 0-06-000148-8
- Chalker, Dennis C. The United States Navy SEALs Workout Guide : the Exercise and Fitness Programs Based on the U.S. Navy SEALs and BUD/S Training / Dennis C. Chalker, with Kevin Dockery. 1st ed. New York : William Morrow & Co., 1998. xxii, 183 p. : ill. ; 28 cm. ISBN 0-688-15862-5
Fiction
- Chalker, Dennis C. The Home Team : Undeclared War / Dennis Chalker with Kevin Dockery. New York : Avon Books, c2004. 392 p. ; 18 cm. ISBN 0-06-051726-3
- Chalker, Dennis C. The Home Team : Hostile Borders / Dennis Chalker with Kevin Dockery. New York : Avon Books, c2005. 362 p. ; 18 cm. ISBN 0-06-051727-1
- Chalker, Dennis C. Home Team: Weapons Grade