My deep dive on Navy SEAL training in Rolling Stone
The Navy has taken the rare step of moving to punish three senior officers involved in SEAL training
Rolling Stone last night published my investigation into what led to the death of SEAL trainee Kyle Mullen last night.
Mullen, a former Yale football star, died after completing Hell Week, five days of training that push candidates to their mental and physical breaking point.
I had been working on this story for a while, but the story moved last night because of a big development: The Navy is moving to punish three senior officers following an investigation (actually multiple investigations) into Mullen’s death.
Capt. Brad Geary, former commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare’s Basic Training Command; Capt. Brian Drechsler, the former commanding officer of the Naval Special Warfare Center; and Dr. Erik Ramey, the former head of BUD/S medical, face charges of negligent dereliction of duty.
The three officers have been recommended for an admiral’s mast, a form of non-judicial punishment that dates back to the days of sailing ships when captains meted out discipline under the mast.
T…