Three senior Navy SEAL officers have been charged with dereliction of duty following the death of Kyle Mullen, a SEAL candidate who died during the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training’s “Hell Week” in February 2022. Mullen passed away due to untreated pneumonia which developed during the strenuous training, with the Navy’s investigation highlighting medical and command shortcomings at BUD/S. Despite these charges, Regina Mullen, the deceased’s mother, has been pushing for greater accountability and believes more individuals should face repercussions for her son’s death.
Key Points:
- Kyle Mullen, a SEAL candidate, died hours after completing “Hell Week” of the BUD/S training in February 2022.
- An investigation revealed that Mullen’s untreated pneumonia was a result of deficiencies in the medical teams and leadership at the Naval Special Warfare Center and BUD/S.
- Capt. Brian Drechsler, Capt. Bradley Geary, and Cmdr. Erk Ramey, senior officers at the time, face charges and can either accept these charges via an Admiral’s mast or opt for a court martial.
- Regina Mullen, the deceased’s mother, has been vocal about a culture of unaccountability, hazing, and poor leadership at BUD/S and wants more individuals, including Rear Admiral Hugh Howard, held responsible.
- An Admiral’s mast is a non-judicial punishment process where a commander reviews charges against subordinates, with punishments ranging from minor reprimands to significant career-affecting consequences.
Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-seal-hell-week-admirals-mast/
