In a rare move, a platoon of Navy SEALs deployed to Iraq has been ordered back to the United States after an ongoing investigation found they had been drinking alcohol during their deployment, according to a U.S. defense official. It is the latest incident involving misbehavior among some of the U.S. military's most elite special operations units.
"Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve [in Iraq] ordered the early redeployment of a SEAL Team platoon to San Diego due to a perceived deterioration of good order and discipline within the team during non-operational periods," said a U.S. Special Operations Command statement. "The Commander lost confidence in the team's ability to accomplish the mission."
"Commanders have worked to mitigate the operational impact as this SEAL platoon follows a deliberate redeployment," the statement added.
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An investigation was triggered in early July after allegations were made that some members of the platoon of about 20 SEALs were drinking alcohol during their deployment, said a U.S. defense official. The drinking of alcohol is forbidden in combat deployments in the Middle East.
Maj. Gen. Eric Hill ordered the unit home after the ongoing investigation determined that some of the platoon had been drinking alcohol while in Iraq and others were aware that it was going on.
"To mitigate potential impacts of this redeployment, other NSW (Navy Special Warfare) personnel are available to complete the assigned operational requirements," said Capt. Tamara Lawrence, a spokesperson for Naval Special Warfare Command.
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"Naval Special Warfare insists on a culture where ethical adherence is equally important to tactical proficiency," said Lawrence. "Good order and discipline is critical to the mission. The loss of confidence in this case outweighed potential operational risk."
The alleged drinking of alcohol occurred in SEAL Team Seven, a San Diego-based unit and the same platoon that Chief Warfare Operator Edward Gallagher had served in during a 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq.
Gallagher was recently acquitted of murder and attempted murder charges during that deployment, but convicted on charges that he posed with the body of the dead ISIS fighter he had been accused of killing. He was released after the judge in the case sentenced him to time served during his pre-trial confinement.
Gallagher's trial included evidence that members of his platoon had engaged in the drinking of alcohol during their 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq.
The defense official said the new investigation of the platoon's behavior was not triggered by the Gallagher trial though it had raised concerns about the unit's previous behavior.
Because of the rotation of personnel it is unclear if any current members of the platoon had served with Gallagher during the 2017 deployment.
(MORE: US soldier James Sartor killed in Afghanistan remembered as 'beloved hero')
The news of the rare redeployment is the latest incident involving other misconduct among the U.S. military's elite special operations forces, particularly among Navy SEALs.
Earlier this week the Navy Times reported that several members of SEAL Team 10 had tested positive for using cocaine.
In May, Chief Petty Officer Adam Matthews, a member of the elite SEAL Team Six, was sentenced to a year in military prison after pleading guilty to his role in the June 2017 strangulation death of Army Green Beret Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar during a hazing incident in the west African country of Mali.
Staff Sgt. Kevin Maxwell, a special operations Marine, was sentenced to four years in prison after he too pleaded guilty for his role in Melgar's death.
No trial dates have been set for another SEAL and Marine involved in Melgar's death.
"We're actively reinforcing, with the entire Force, basic leadership, readiness, responsibility, and ethical principles that must form the foundation of special operations," said Lawrence. "Leaders at all levels must lead in a way that sustains and sharpens that foundation. Discipline is a competitive advantage and enforcing those standards is critical to our success on the battlefield."
FAQs
Military units are prohibited from drinking alcohol during combat deployments. In a rare move, a platoon of Navy SEALs deployed to Iraq has been ordered back to the United States after an ongoing investigation found they had been drinking alcohol during their deployment, according to a U.S. defense official.
Do Navy SEALs go to Iraq? ›
The CIA's highly secretive and elite Special Operations Group (SOG) recruits operators from SEAL Teams, with joint operations going back to the MACV-SOG during the Vietnam War. This cooperation still exists today, as evidenced by military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Do deployed soldiers drink alcohol? ›
Understanding Military Alcohol Policy
According to the U.S. Department of the Army, while alcohol consumption during deployment is discouraged, it is not illegal.
How many men in a Navy SEAL platoon? ›
The basic operational SEAL unit is the platoon, numbering approximately 16 men, which may be divided into smaller squads and fire teams as needed. Several platoons plus headquarters and other elements make up a SEAL team; each team is assigned to a specific area of the world and may have a specialized skill set.
Who was the first navy seal killed in Iraq? ›
Navy SEAL PO2 Marc Lee died August 2, 2006, during combat operations while on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. Lee was the first Navy SEAL to be killed in Iraq. On August 2, 2006, Lee and his teammates were supporting an Iraqi Army unit during military operations with Army forces in Ramadi, a site of frequent insurgent attacks.
How many Navy SEALs served in Iraq? ›
In Operation Desert Storm, the first war with Iraq, the SEALs were peripheral to the main action, said Schibler, who served in that conflict. This time, “we were very central” to the war effort, he said. Nearly 250 SEALs were deployed in and around Iraq – the largest single deployment since Vietnam.
What is the average size of a Navy SEAL? ›
AVERAGE SEAL STATISTICS
Height: 5 ft. 10 in.
Which branch of the military drinks the most? ›
Marine Corps: The highest rate of heavy alcohol use in the military occurs in the Marine Corps. There, 38.6 percent of young men and 12.9 percent of young women—or 35.4 percent of all marines—admit to drinking heavily.
Can you drink while on military orders? ›
c. Consumption of an alcoholic beverage while in an on-duty status (during the work shift or tour of duty) is prohibited. On-duty status is determined by a commander, director, or supervisor and is not necessarily related to uniform wear or the normal duty hours of an installation command or directorate.
Do soldiers have their phones on deployment? ›
Chances are you won't be able to use your cellphone if you're deployed overseas, and many service providers allow active duty service members to pause their accounts.
The typical SEAL platoon has an OIC (Officer in Charge, usually an O-3), an AOIC (Assistant Officer in Charge, usually an O-2), a platoon chief (E-7), an LPO (Leading Petty Officer, E-6) and others ranging from E-6 to E-4 (most are E-5).
Who is the deadliest Navy SEAL? ›
Christopher Scott Kyle (April 8, 1974 – February 2, 2013) was a United States Navy SEAL sniper. He served four tours in the Iraq War and was awarded several commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat.
What is the most elite seal team? ›
SEAL Team Six became the U.S. Navy's premier hostage rescue and counter-terrorism unit. It has been compared to the U.S. Army's elite Delta Force.
What is the divorce rate of Navy SEALs? ›
The Air Force has the highest divorce rate among enlisted troops of any military branch at 4.3 percent. 34. The divorce rate among U.S. Navy Seals is over 90 percent.
How many men have died in SEAL training? ›
Eleven people, including Kyle Mullen, have died in BUD/S training since then, according to Naval Special Warfare. Each one is a tragedy, but few, if any, have had the impact of Kyle Mullen's death.
Did a Navy SEAL go rogue in Iraq? ›
Gallagher was accused of multiple offenses during his final deployment to Iraq and during the Battle for Mosul. The most prominent accusation and the best-attested to was the murder of a prisoner of war, a war crime.
Are U.S. special forces still in Iraq? ›
The coalition officially concluded its combat mission in Iraq in December 2021, but U.S. troops remain in Iraq to advise, train, and assist Iraqi security forces against the ongoing ISIL insurgency, including providing air support and military aid.
Do Navy SEALs go on deployment? ›
Once a SEAL is assigned to a platoon, he begins a 24-month cycle. The first 18 months is pre-deployment training. The platoon will attend numerous courses for intense training in all phases of the SEAL mission. This is followed by a 6-month deployment.
How many SEALs died in the Iraq war? ›
Sixty eight US Navy Seals and Navy personnel assigned to SEAL teams have been killed in action since September 2001. Most of them (55) died in Afghanistan, while 13 were killed in Iraq.
