In what it calls “a blistering letter” to top SEAL officers, CNN reports that rear Adm. Collin Green has given them until Aug. 7 to recommend how to stop unethical and unprofessional behavior in the ranks.
“We have a problem,” Green wrote in boldface in the letter, which was dated July 25 and obtained exclusively by CNN.
“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,” wrote Green, the head of the Naval Special Warfare Command.
“Although Green … does not mention specific incidents, the letter comes on the heels of an entire SEAL team being sent home from Iraq following allegations of sexual assault and drinking alcohol during their down time — which is against regulations,” CNN says.
Another recent case involves members of a SEAL team who allegedly used cocaine and “other illicit substances” while they were stationed in Virginia last year. They were later disciplined.
“The incidents are rising to the highest levels of the Pentagon,” says CNN. “Defense Secretary Mark Esper earlier this week spoke to the head of all special operations forces, Gen. Richard Clarke, about recent ethics violations in the military and how they are being addressed.”
Some military officials suggest that violations of discipline happen because of the pressure of constant deployments and dangerous missions faced by special operations troops.
Others say that’s simply not an excuse.
“Yes, they are being asked to go out and kill as part of their jobs but they are supposed to be able to do it with discipline and do it in ways that don’t allow them to lose their bearing and lose their discipline,” retired Marine Col. David Lapan told CNN.
The Marine Corps has also suffered ethical problems, including the recent case of 18 Marines and a sailor arrested at Camp Pendleton in California, on allegations of human trafficking.