When I first learned we would be editing Wikipedia for class, I was excited but also a little nervous. I use Wikipedia almost daily, but I had never contributed to it before. For this assignment, I wanted to focus on something related to the military, since I have a strong personal interest in that area. After considering several options, I chose to edit the United States Navy SEALs article, a page that represents one of the most respected communities within the Navy but still had opportunities for small, meaningful improvements.
The Editing Process
After reading through the page, I noticed that while the SEAL training pipeline was listed, it lacked a clear, concise summary that connected all the phases of training and highlighted the difficulty of the process. I decided to add a short paragraph summarizing the basic timeline and the extremely high attrition rate candidates face during training.
Following Wikipedia best practices, I first posted a comment on explaining what I planned to add. I introduced myself as a new editor working on a class project and outlined my intended contribution.
After waiting and not receiving any objections, I made the edit. I added a paragraph about the SEAL qualification pipeline and cited the official Navy SEALs training page to back up the information.
Reflections on the Experience
This experience definitely changed my view of Wikipedia. I had always thought of it as a casual reference tool, but now I realize how much care and structure goes into maintaining its accuracy. It’s not just random people typing whatever they want; there are expectations for sourcing, neutrality, and respectful collaboration, even for small edits like mine.
I also learned that adding value to an open platform like Wikipedia means thinking critically about how to strengthen knowledge for others, not just dumping facts. I had to find a place where my contribution made sense within the flow of the article without disrupting its structure.
Overall, editing Wikipedia gave me a greater respect for the people who volunteer their time to build and maintain it. I can now see how Wikipedia embodies some of the best parts of the Internet: collaboration, openness, and trust, when it works the way it is supposed to.
