(Washington) A US Navy investigation released Thursday identified major problems in the particularly harsh training of its elite unit, the Navy Seals.
The investigation, launched after the February 2022 death of Kyle Mullen, a special forces sailor in training, uncovered numerous “failures” that “placed many candidates at high risk of serious injury”.
In particular, it highlighted insufficient supervision by officials, a lack of risk assessment, a medical system that was neither “trained, organized, integrated or trained to guarantee effective and continuous medical monitoring and care”. as well as the use of doping substances by recruits.
Kyle Mullen died of pneumonia after completing a week of hazing called “Hell Week” (“week from hell”) where candidates are pushed to the limits of their physical abilities while being deprived of sleep. Other members of his group were hospitalized after the training, according to the investigation.
Mr Mullen had received treatment for respiratory problems during the intensive week, but this information did not reach the clinic who carried out his final health check, leaving him to go to rest at the barracks .
Once in his quarters, the recruit’s state of health deteriorated, leading young officers on duty, without medical training, to call a military doctor on watch.
This doctor suggested that he go to the hospital if he wished, adding that all candidates would be assessed the next day. But Kyle Mullen repeatedly refused to be hospitalized.
The Navy Seals are the US Navy’s special forces that carry out some of the most dangerous US military operations, such as the 2011 raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.