Navy SEALs Training Under Fire: Critical Report Reveals Pervasive Problems.
A Navy report has revealed that the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL course, known as BUD/S, was plagued by overzealous instructors, unchecked drug use, and inadequate leadership and medical oversight, leading to injuries, hospitalizations, and one death. The report found that instructors pushed students to exhaustion, and medical personnel often failed to intervene when needed. The Navy has reassigned eight sailors and officers for failing to perform their duties, including the commodore of the Navy Special Warfare training center and the training command’s chief medical officer. The Navy has made changes to the course, including increased oversight of instructors and better communication among the medical staff.