Navy SEALs are renowned for their resilience and endurance, enduring some of the most grueling training regimens in the military. However, a recent report from the Department of War (DoW) Inspector General (IG) has shed light on a concerning health hazard faced by SEAL candidates—routine exposure to contaminated water during training exercises.
According to the DoW IG’s Feb. 7 advisory, SEAL candidates frequently trained in ocean waters off Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado, California, even when local beaches were closed due to excessive levels of fecal indicator bacteria. These bacteria, particularly enterococcus, signal possible contamination by fecal matter, posing serious health risks.
“Navy SEAL candidate exposure to contaminated water occurred because [Naval Special Warfare Command] did not follow San Diego County’s Beach and Bay Water Quality Program’s beach closure postings,” the advisory stated. “As a result of Navy SEAL candidate exposure to contaminated water during training, candidates are presented with increased health risks and [Naval Special Warfare Command’s] training mission could be impacted.”
The report revealed that between January 2019 and May 2023, there were 1,168 documented cases of acute gastrointestinal illness among SEAL and Special Warfare Combat Crewman candidates. Notably, 39% of those cases occurred within a week of the candidates' exposure to water with bacterial levels exceeding state health standards.
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Testing of water samples taken from beaches near NAB Coronado between February and September 2024 showed alarming results—76% of samples from the north beach and 75% from the south beach exceeded state bacteria limits. Despite these findings, Naval Special Warfare Command proceeded with 253 out of 265 scheduled water training events, adjusting or relocating only 12 sessions (5%) to avoid exposure to contaminated water.
Particularly concerning was the command’s decision not to modify or relocate three water training events during the Hell Week phase of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training from Sept. 3 to Sept. 8, 2023, despite San Diego County’s closure advisories due to high bacteria levels. The failure to adjust training plans meant that candidates were knowingly exposed to hazardous water conditions.
A key finding of the DoW IG report is that Naval Special Warfare Command does not conduct its own water quality testing. Instead, it relies on reports from San Diego County’s Beach and Bay Water Quality Program. The IG recommended that the command implement a policy to actively monitor water quality and relocate, reschedule, or cancel training when bacterial contamination exceeds state health limits.
Additionally, the report called for the establishment of internal procedures to ensure proper notification of key officials about water quality results and training adjustments.
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In response, Naval Special Warfare Command has agreed to implement these recommendations by Dec. 31, 2024. However, Rear Adm. Milton Sands III, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, emphasized the need for flexibility in operational decision-making.
“As a federal entity, [Naval Special Warfare Command] retains flexibility to determine [standard operating procedures] independent from state requirements,” Sands wrote in his Jan. 10 response to the IG. “Additional analysis would be required to determine the fiscal impact of relocating from the local area or rescheduling or canceling in-water training evolutions when bacteria levels exceed state health standards.”
Naval Inspector General Vice Adm. John Fuller acknowledged the risks posed by contaminated water but noted that canceling or relocating 75% of water training activities would be a significant challenge for the SEAL program.
A spokesperson for Naval Special Warfare Command stated that the command has multiple training sites that are continuously monitored by instructors and qualified safety personnel to ensure safety. The spokesperson also affirmed that the command follows San Diego County’s Beach and Bay Water Quality Program and modifies training as needed.
“If a training site is unsafe, NSW [Naval Special Warfare] implements mitigation strategies to reschedule or relocate evolutions to minimize impacts to training,” the spokesperson said. “NSW’s top priority is conducting training evolutions safely and using the resources available to make informed decisions. As a learning organization, NSW continues to assess procedures in place to enhance safety and operational readiness.”
The findings from the DoW IG report raise serious concerns about the health and safety of SEAL candidates, highlighting the need for stricter adherence to environmental health advisories. While Naval Special Warfare Command has committed to improving monitoring and response protocols, questions remain about how effectively these changes will be implemented without disrupting SEAL training operations.
With a history of pushing candidates to their limits, the SEAL training program faces a delicate balance between maintaining its rigorous standards and ensuring the well-being of its recruits. The next several months will be crucial in determining whether the command’s promised reforms will lead to meaningful changes in protecting SEAL candidates from unnecessary health risks while maintaining the integrity of their training.
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