Sea Org

The Sea Organization (Sea Org) is an unincorporated fraternal religious order of the Church of Scientology, comprising the church's most dedicated members. It has been described by some as a paramilitary and as a private naval force, having operated several vessels in its past and displaying a strong maritime tradition. As of 2009, it consisted of approximately 5,000 members, according to official Scientology statistics. The Sea Org was established on 12 August 1967 by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Dianetics and Scientology, initially onboard four ships, the Diana, the Athena, the Apollo, and the Excalibur.