Navy Commander Orders SEALS to Shape Up

Navy SEALS have been a focus of Navy leaders since High profile cases of misconduct have been in the limelight, including the highly publicized case of Eddie Gallagher. Although Gallagher was acquitted of murder after lengthy legal proceedings, he was found guilty of taking a photograph with a dead terrorist.

More recently SEALs in Iraq were reprimanded or pulled out for drug and alcohol use as Taskandpurpose reported.

A “Call to Action” directive released to senior leaders since Admiral Colin Green took command late July, obtained by Navy Times, returns the SEAL and boat teams to standards expected of service members across the fleet. Leaders are ordered to conduct “routine inspections of your units and strictly enforce all Navy grooming and uniform standards, including adherence to all Navy traditions, customs and ceremonies,” according to the Navy Times.

Earlier this year Admiral Green had ordered investigations into recent scandals. And immediately after he took command on the end of July, he issued a letter as reported and quoted by USNI, to include:

1. In our fast paced operational environment, the behavior of our people and the integrity of our organization are continually being tested. The trust placed in Naval Special Warfare by our military and civilian leaders, the TSOCs, and ultimately the American people must never be taken for granted. The responsibility for ethical and professional behavior must be taken seriously — by everyone, at every level of our organization.

2. We have a problem. Some of our subordinate formations have failed to maintain good order and discipline and as a result and for good reason, our NSW culture is being questioned. I don’t know yet if we have a culture problem, I do know that we have a good order and discipline problem that must be addressed immediately. Good order and discipline is the foundation for every military organization and it is a leadership responsibility. As Commander, I own it. As Commodores, you also own it. We must now take a proactive approach to prevent the next breach of ethical and professional behavior in our formations, instead of continuing on our current consequence management approach.

3. By 7 August 2019, I am directing you to provide I written commander’s estimate that describes how you and your command team will develop a plan of action that is informed by “Naval Special Warfare’s Force Ethics Assessment” dated 22 March 2019. This document gives a holistic assessment of the community to include a way forward. As professional development, I direct reading the first 2 chapters of “A Tactical Ethic ” by Dick Couch. This book describes how we have had these problems in the past. and thus provides a case study that we can use to recalibrate our culture and regain our credibility.

4. Additionally, I am directing you to engage everyone in your formations (in garrison and deployed) within the next 2 weeks on this issue; I want all hands to understand that “we have a problem” and that this is our main effort and my top priority. I will review and consider your recommended actions to develop my direction and way ahead to the Naval Special Warfare enterprise.

5. Your commander’s estimate will include:

• a. Develop a problem statement from lite ECH III and below perspective.
• b. Develop recommendations to ensure the NSW culture is aligned with our ETHOS.
• c. Develop a plus for “buy in” from the ranks, with a sense of urgency.
• d. Describe your plan for intrusive leadership at the ECH Ill and below level.

6. I expect good order and discipline to be instilled in and maintained by everyone in NSW. I know our leaders (officers and non-commissioned officers) are fully capable to take this on and I will strive to provide inspired arid inspiring leadership.

Rear Admiral Collin P. Green command tours include SEAL Team 3, where he deployed as commander, Naval Special Warfare Task Group – Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Naval Special Warfare Unit 3; Naval Special Warfare Group 1, and most recently as U.S. Special Operations Command South.