US Navy SEALs reprimanded for involvement with Medal of Honor

9 Nov 2012

Seven US Navy SEALs said to have worked as consultants on the latest instalment of a video game franchise from Electronic Arts have been reprimanded for disclosing classified information.

According to CBS News, seven members of SEAL Team Six, one of four secretive counter-terrorism units in the US, worked as paid consultants on Medal of Honor: Warfighter, which was released last month.

This Special Mission Unit became well-known for Operation Neptune Spear, which led to the discovery and death of Osama bin Laden. One of the SEALs involved with Warfighter was involved in this mission.

EA strives for realism in the Medal of Honor series and is said to consult with real commandos to achieve this. However, the SEALs who acted as consultants on this project did not receive permission to do so and it is believed that they showed game designers some of their specially designed combat equipment, violating a non-disclosure agreement.

“We do not tolerate deviations from the policies that govern who we are and what we do as sailors in the United States Navy,” said deputy commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, rear admiral Garry Bonelli, adding that these punishments will “send a clear message throughout our force that we are and will be held to a high standard of accountability.”

Letters of reprimand have been sent to the SEALs in question and they have lost half their pay for two months as a penalty. What’s more, the indiscretion may harm their chances of promotion and career advancement.

Four other SEALs who are no longer part of Team Six are also said to be under investigation for their involvement with the video game.

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com