<P> In May 2013, Rear Admiral Sean Pybus, commander of Navy Special Warfare stated that the unit would cut in half the number of SEAL platoons in Afghanistan by the end of 2013 . Pybus also added that the unit is already "undergoing a transition back to its maritime roots" by placing more emphasis on sea - based missions after being involved in mostly landlocked missions since 2001 . </P> <P> For the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a squadron from DEVGRU operated as part of Task Force 20 . Their role was to conduct heliborne direct action raids, particularly against HVTs . The Naval Special Operations Task Group was assigned to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was built around a core of SEAL Teams 8 and 10, Polish GROM, Royal Marines from 40 and 42 Commando under the command of 3 Commando Brigade and attached US Psy Ops and civil affairs teams . The Naval Task Group was principally tasked with the capture of the port of Umm Qasr, Iraq's only deep - water port; the oil pipeline facilities of the Al - Faw Peninsula; and the two off - shore platforms the pipelines fed . Once these initial target sets were secured, the Task Group would support conventional forces in the south, conducting reconnaissance and raiding activities . Aviation support was provided by both Marine air of the 15th MEU and 20th Special Operations Squadron . </P> <P> Several days before the beginning of the invasion, two SDV teams were launched from Mark V Special Operations Craft in the Persian Gulf . Their objectives were the hydrographic reconnaissance of the Al Basrah (MABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT) Oil Terminals . After swimming under the terminals and securing their Mark 8 mod 1s, the SDV SEALs spent several hours taking pictures and surveying Iraqi activity on both platforms before returning to their boats . On March 20, 2003, SEALs from SEAL Team 8 and 10 (31 SEALs, 2 Navy EOD a USAF combat controller and several Iraqi interpreters) moved to seize the MABOT oil terminal whilst GROM operators assaulted the KAAOT Oil Terminals . The terminals were quickly seized with no casualties, and explosives which were found on the terminals were made safe by GROM operators . </P> <P> The shore - based pumping stations (known as MMS - Monitoring and Meter Stations) and their pipelines on the Al - Faw Peninsula were seized by 12 SEALS from SEAL Team 3, who were mounted in DPVs . They took off from Kuwait and were inserted under Iraqi anti-aircraft fire by MH - 53 helicopters . The target area was' softened up' by JDAM bombs dropped from B - 52s on Iraqi bunkers, trenches and dugouts around the oil facilities . After a brief firefight in which the SEALs killed 1 Iraqi soldier and captured 13, the SEALs secured the MMS and the pipelines, and were relieved by Royal Marines from 40 Commando . The SEALs advised the Marines, helping coordinate AC - 130 Spectres fire support onto Iraqi forces . The other shore - based pumping station at Umm Qasr was secured by SEALs and Royal Marines; before they landed, AC - 130 Spectres and A-10As engaged a nearby SAM installation and a responding Iraqi mechanised unit . The SEALs secured the facility itself whilst the Royal Marines cleared Iraqi bunkers, killing several Iraqi soldiers . </P>

Where did the name navy seals come from