navy seals warned about speaking of chief's war crimes

But that reputation has been blotted repeatedly in recent years by investigations of illegal beatings, killings and theft, and reports of drug use in the ranks. Navy SEALs are regarded as the most elite commando force in the American military. The enlisted aide, Master Chief Petty Officer Brian Alazzawi, warned them that the “frag radius” - the area damaged by an explosion - from a war-crime investigation of Chief Gallagher could be wide enough to take down a lot of other SEALs as well, the report said. Their careers could be sidetracked, he said, and their elite status revoked referring to the eagle-and-trident badges worn by SEALs, he said the Navy “will pull your birds.” Robert Breisch, said in the meeting that while the SEALs were free to report the killings, the Navy might not look kindly on rank-and-file team members making allegations against a chief. The platoon members eventually forced the referral of their concerns to authorities outside the SEALs, and Chief Gallagher now faces a court-martial, with his trial set to begin May 28.īut the account of the March 2018 meeting and myriad other details in the 439-page report paint a disturbing picture of a subculture within the SEALs that prized aggression, even when it crossed the line, and that protected wrongdoers.Īccording to the investigation report, the troop commander, Lt. The clear message, one of the seven told investigators, was “Stop talking about it.” According to a confidential Navy criminal investigation report obtained by The New York Times, they gave him the bloody details and asked for a formal investigation.īut instead of launching an investigation that day, the troop commander and his senior enlisted aide - both longtime comrades of the accused platoon leader, Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher - warned the seven platoon members that speaking out could cost them and others their careers, according to the report. Tired of being brushed off, seven members of the platoon called a private meeting with their troop commander in March 2018 at Naval Base Coronado near San Diego. But their frustration grew as months passed and they saw no sign of official action. Navy SEAL commandos from Team 7’s Alpha Platoon said they had seen their highly decorated platoon chief commit shocking acts in Iraq. Indiscriminately spraying neighborhoods with rockets and machine-gun fire.

navy seals warned about speaking of chief

Picking off a school-age girl and an old man from a sniper’s roost. Stabbing a defenseless teenage captive to death.

Navy seals warned about speaking of chief's war crimes