In early October 1986 during a deployment aboard John F. Kennedy, Wasdin was aboard a Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King helicopter that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean due to a catastrophic loss of transmission oil while tracking the Soviet submarine K-219 which had suffered an explosion and fire in a ballistic missile tube near Bermuda.

He served the rest of his active duty contract with HS-7 Squadron before re-enlisting to attend Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, graduating with BUD/S Class 143 in July 1987.

Wasdin served with SEAL Team TWO in Little Creek, Virginia and completed deployments to Europe and Middle East during Persian Gulf War.

Wasdin later completed the elite USMC Scout Sniper Course at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

Michiko Kakutani in The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Wasdin’s narrative is visceral and as action packed as a Tom Clancy thriller.

"[7] SEAL Team Six was released on May 10, 2011, only a week after DEVGRU took part in the operation that killed Osama bin Laden.

The report also noted that "[Wasdin]'s tendency to not be late for appointments may have added self-induced pressure and affected his decision-making during the flight.