Unraveling the Emotional Significance of David Boreanaz's 'SEAL Team' Helmet

The Big Picture

David Boreanaz wears an authentic military helmet on the show SEAL Team to honor real-life SEAL Mark Owen, who pitched the idea for the show.

SEAL Team distinguishes itself through its unwavering dedication to authenticity. The ensemble, consisting of numerous U.S. military veterans, captures the profound challenges of warfare and life after serving.

Addressing poignant themes such as mental well-being and the tragic occurrence of veteran suicide, the series brings crucial attention to significant issues happening in the real world. SEAL Team is available for streaming on Paramount+.

Running for six seasons, initially on CBS and later on Paramount+, SEAL Team defies the odds and perseveres through tough times. Focusing on Bravo Team, a select group of elite U.S. Navy SEALs commanded by Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Jason Hayes, portrayed by esteemed television actor David Boreanaz, renowned for his leading roles in Angel and Bones. Although Jim Caviezel from Person of Interest was initially considered for the role, Boreanaz ultimately triumphed, making history. However, have you noticed the unique aspect of Hayes' helmet on the show?

In contrast to the other props worn by the SEAL Team cast, Boreanaz's helmet is a genuine military item, paying homage to the real-life heroes whom he portrays on screen. Throughout his career, Boreanaz has portrayed impactful television characters, but he has expressed that his work on SEAL Team is exceptionally personal. "Jason Hayes means a lot to me," the actor shared with Parade in 2019. "Portraying him has connected me to a character in a way I have never experienced before." Yet, the helmet's history encompasses more than just its authenticity.

David Boreanaz Wears That Helmet to Honor Real-Life Heroes

Image via CBS

It turns out that the helmet Hayes wears on the show belongs to a real-life SEAL who goes by the pen name Mark Owen. Owen, an executive producer on the series, initially pitched the idea to the network. He has firsthand experience fighting overseas, specifically in the Middle East where he played a role in the assassination of Osama bin Laden. Following his military service, Owen authored a memoir called No Easy Day in 2012, detailing his 14-year career as a Navy SEAL and his involvement in bin Laden's death.

Boreanaz explained his decision to wear Owen's actual helmet, stating, "I wear his helmet as a tribute to him. I could wear a lighter prop helmet, but I chose to honor him by wearing the real one. And I will continue to do so throughout the entire series." SEAL Team has already aired for six seasons and has been renewed for another season by Paramount+. Boreanaz's dedication to portraying Jason Hayes and paying tribute to the veterans he represents is highly commendable.

Though SEAL Team wasn't the initial television series featuring Navy SEALs in the late 2010s (the first being History Channel's Six), it has unquestionably been the most triumphant. In addition to effectively portraying the missions, the show also accentuates the soldiers' emotional and profoundly personal struggles upon returning home.

'SEAL Team' Aims to Be Authentic

Image via CBS

SEAL Team stands out from other military fiction works due to its unwavering commitment to authenticity. Not only does David Boreanaz authentically don a SEAL's helmet while filming, but the cast and crew also boast a significant number of U.S. military veterans, each contributing their expertise. In an interview with Military.com, Tyler Grey, the actor portraying Trent Sawyer on the show, emphasized that this has been a consistent aspect of SEAL Team since its inception. Grey stated, "I've been involved with SEAL Team from the very beginning, starting with a military veteran who had the desire to create something centered around Special Operations. It all began with the veteran, rather than the other way around. This is highly uncommon."

Grey is correct, it is indeed uncommon for a film or television series like SEAL Team to have a majority of veterans involved, let alone two former Navy SEALs - Mark Semos and Kenny Sheard - in the writer's room. However, apart from its goal of accurately depicting the realities of combat, the show also aims to shed light on the challenges of post-war life. Mark Owen expressed in a CBS special feature, "It's really difficult to transition from combat to returning home and dealing with family, only to go back to the combat again," emphasizing that the internal struggle faced by the characters is one of the show's most compelling aspects. "It takes a great deal of sacrifice, and that's why I believe this show is so successful."

SEAL Team also addresses the real-life consequences of veterans struggling to readjust to "normal life" after returning home. In the show's sixth season, a longstanding member of the cast, Clay Spenser (played by Max Thieriot, who later went on to co-create and star in CBS's Fire Country), is tragically killed while trying to prevent another veteran from taking his own life. Reminiscent of the story of Chris Kyle (also a former Navy SEAL) portrayed in American Sniper, this episode ("Aces and Eights"), which was co-written by Kenny Sheard, delves into the complexities of mental health. With veteran suicide being a significant issue in the United States, bringing awareness to this challenging subject on SEAL Team remains as crucial as ever.

Where Can You Watch 'SEAL Team'?

Image via Paramount+

If you haven't seen SEAL Team or want to catch up, it's highly recommended that you do so. The entire show, which currently has six seasons available for streaming, can be found on Paramount+. You can access Paramount+ through The Roku Channel, Apple+, and Amazon Prime Video. While SEAL Team Season 7 has not yet begun production, it has been renewed by Paramount+ after the success of Season 6. The premiere date for the next season has not been announced yet.

Initially, CBS canceled SEAL Team after airing only four episodes of its fifth season. However, due to recent strikes in Hollywood by SAG-AFTRA and WGA, CBS has decided to bring SEAL Team back temporarily to address the shortage of content. Starting from where it left off in Season 5, CBS will air episodes of SEAL Team on November 2. This is expected to increase viewership and keep fans satisfied until the show officially returns.

SEAL Team is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

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