Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the “Evaluation of Medical Care Provided to Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Candidates.” Consistent with the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the evaluation was a comprehensive review of health care provided to Navy SEAL candidates, including assessing whether professionals providing health care to Navy SEAL candidates are properly trained, whether quality assurance mechanisms for this care are in place, and whether the DoD has put in place appropriate efforts to mitigate health stress to individuals undergoing this training.
“Our evaluation found that the Navy has introduced changes to enhance the medical care and overall safety of SEAL candidates during their rigorous training, but additional improvements can be made,” said IG Storch. “This is crucial because it preserves the well-being of DoD personnel, maintains the readiness of an important operational capability, and fosters a culture of trust and professionalism. By prioritizing the safety of its SEAL candidates, the Navy can reduce injuries, enhance training effectiveness, and ensure future SEALs are fully prepared to meet any challenges they face in service to our nation.”
To address the objective of the evaluation, the DoD OIG reviewed seven elements outlined by Congress in the NDAA to assess the changes implemented by the DoD since February 2022. The DoD OIG found that while the Navy and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) made a number of policy and procedural improvements that enhanced medical care and safety for Navy SEAL candidates, opportunities remain for the DoD and Navy to further improve their policies and better support Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM).
The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), Defense Health Agency Director, Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy, and Command Surgeon of USSOCOM, review, update, and implement drug testing policies related to performance-enhancing drugs. Also, the DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of NAVSPECWARCOM reassess the Naval Special Warfare Center’s (NSWCEN) medical capabilities to determine if the NSWCEN’s medical and communication equipment provide the appropriate standard of care to candidates and if medical manpower requirements meet clinical demand. Then, NAVSPECWARCOM should develop and implement a plan and policy to ensure NSWCEN has sufficient resources based on the reassessment of their medical capabilities. Finally, the DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of NAVSPECWARCOM develop and implement a sleep deprivation policy establishing written guidance that uses results from ongoing medical studies to provide functional guidance to ensure operationally relevant training while minimizing safety concerns for SEAL candidates during training.
The DoD OIG will monitor the Navy’s progress toward fully implementing these recommendations.