Navy SEAL Archives

Navy Seal Accused of Child Molestation

May 10, 2017/in Military, Military News

We consider Navy SEALs to be honorable and to be among our heroes. They perform super missions for American putting themselves at extreme risk. However, we live in a less than perfect world, and there are some very disturbed people in it. It is with a heavy heart that Military Connection reports this story. We must all remember that by and large, the members of the Navy SEALs go to extraordinary lengths to protect our nation, and not allow one sick person to harm the high regard Americans hold for them.

SEAL Team One Petty Officer 1st Class Gregory Kyle Seerden, 31, was arrested in San Diego by federal marshals. Seerden is accused of filming himself molesting a sleeping girl and raping a woman in Virginia.

The alleged crimes “involved a prepubescent minor who had not attained the age of 12” when the acts purportedly took place about three months ago, according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia.

Agents investigating the reported rape of an unconscious Virginia woman, identified only as Jane Doe, uncovered the child sex crimes after a three-month investigation.

Doe accused Seerden of raping her January 27 after she blacked out after drinking with Seerden in his hotel room aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek- Fort Story, where he was on a temporary assignment.

He also kept a stash of child porn on his cellphone. NCIS agents investigating the accusations secured authorization to search Seerden’s iPhone 7, allegedly finding dozens of images of girls and boys engaged in sex acts on the device

Seerden faces felony child pornography and child sex assault charges in Virginia following the investigation by Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s Norfolk field office. If convicted, the mandatory minimum sentence for the charges is 15 years in prison.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Former Navy Seal, Founder of the Mission Continues Wins Governorship of Missouri

December 8, 2016/in Government

By Debbie Gregory.

In one of the most closely contested races, Republican Eric Greitens, a decorated former Navy SEAL who served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, won his election for governor of Missouri against Democrat opponent Chris Koster, the former State Attorney General.

The former Rhodes Scholar and White House Fellow is also the founder of The Mission Continues, an organization that encourages veterans to get involved in their communities.

In 2014, Greitens, who has never previously held elected office, was listed in Fortune Magazine as one of the world’s 50 greatest leaders. In 2013, he was named to Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Greitens is also an accomplished author. Strength and Compassion is a collection of photographs and essays published in 2008.

Greitens’ second book, The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL, was released in 2011. The book is Greitens’ memoir of service, featuring stories of his humanitarian work, his training as a naval officer and SEAL and the military experiences that led him to adopt the paradoxical philosophy that you have to be strong to do good, but you also have to do good to be strong. The book became a New York Times bestseller. A year later, Greitens’ publisher released a young adult edition of The Heart and the Fist titled The Warrior’s Heart.

March 2015 saw the release of Greitens’ book Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life. It draws on letters Greitens wrote to a fellow SEAL struggling with PTSD.

I had the honor of meeting Eric Greitens, and also the honor of hosting Mission Continues fellows.

Among, Greitens’ awards are the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation, Joint Service Achievement Medal Combat Action Ribbon and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

The Lowdown on Navy SEAL Leadership

June 22, 2016/in Government, Military, Military News

By Debbie Gregory.

Rear Adm. Tim Szymanski, named to assume command of the Naval Special Warfare headquarters in Coronado this summer, was confirmed for promotion to a second star by the U.S. Senate.

But questions have been raised by Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Marine Corps veteran who asked for an investigation of contracts that Szymanski played a role in earlier in his career.

The congressman, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, asked Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to investigate Navy SEAL training contracts for evidence of insider dealings by Szymanski. Hunter said he would stick to his demand for investigative scrutiny and continue to speak out against Szymanski’s rise to the top SEAL job in Coronado until he was satisfied.

A retired SEAL, Eric Deming of Virginia, wrote to Hunter saying that a 2008 formal complaint Deming filed alleging nepotism and misconduct led to reprisals that destroyed his career.

Bill Wilson, who retired as a Navy SEAL captain in 2014 and who served with Szymanski said, “Right when we need a good Naval Special Warfare leader, for Duncan Hunter to do this is baffling. I know all of these guys, and Tim is the best leader of all of his peer group.”

Wilson noted that Szymanski was co-author of the SEAL “Ethos,” a set of personal and professional codes that Naval Special Warfare adopted in 2005.

Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Brian Losey, the SEAL commander slated for retirement this summer after political pressure sunk his promotion to a second star, has broken his silence about what his camp calls a deeply flawed process for investigating military wrongdoing.

“I remain fully accountable for my actions in command. The highest priority of any line commander is in ensuring that our service members have the resources, guidance and empowerment to succeed,” Losey said.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Navy SEAL Dies in the Fight Against ISIS

May 5, 2016/in Military, Military News

By Debbie Gregory.

U.S. Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV was killed during a rescue mission north of Mosul. Keating was part of the Quick Reaction Force team sent in to rescue U.S. military advisors who were under attack by 120 plus ISIS fighters. The advisors and Kurdish Peshmerga forces were overwhelmed by a surprise ISIS offensive in Northern Iraq.

The attack took place near the town of Tel Askuf, about two miles away from the front lines. The team was able to evacuate the advisors, but Keating was struck by direct fire. In spite of the fact that he was received medical attention within an hour of his injury, his wound was not survivable, according to coalition spokesman Col. Steve Warren

A 2004 graduate of Arcadia High School in Phoenix, AZ, the star athlete was the grandson of prominent financier and World War II pilot Charles Keating Jr.

His decorations included: the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal and Rifle and Pistol Expert ribbons.

The 31-year-old Special Warfare Operator 1st Class was on his third tour in Iraq. Keating joined the Navy in 2007 and graduated from the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in 2008. His death serves as a reminder that even in an advisory role, our troops face imminent danger.

Warren said there were also Peshmerga casualties in addition to Keating, but did not have the figures on hand. He did say it was the largest clash between ISIS and collation forces at least since December.

We send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of this American hero, and thank them for their family’s sacrifice.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

So You Want to be a SEAL? Military Connection

August 15, 2015/in Military, Military News

By Debbie Gregory.

The United States Navy’s Sea, Air, Land Teams, commonly known as the Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy’s principal special operations force, and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command and United States Special Operations Command. SEAL training is extremely rigorous, with the dropout rate, at times, over 80 percent.

In order to be considered for the SEAL team, you must meet the age requirement of 18-28 years old. A 17 year old will require parental permission. If you don’t have a high school diploma or a GED, you must meet the High Performance Predictor Profile (HP3) criteria.

Additionally, you must be a U.S. citizen, and be proficient in reading, speaking, writing, and understanding the English language. You must have a clean record and not be under civil restraint, a substance abuser nor have a pattern of minor convictions or any non-minor, misdemeanor, or felony convictions (waivers are granted depending on number and severity).

You will be required to have a high score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a timed multi-aptitude test, which is given at over 14,000 schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) nationwide.

Uncorrected vision in the better eye can be no worse than 20/70, the worse eye no more than 20/100. Both eyes must be correctable to 20/20. Color deficiencies require approval.

As a civilian you can request to join the SEALs prior to enlisting through the SEAL Challenge Contract (Seaman to SEAL program). The SEAL Challenge Contract guarantees you the opportunity to become a SEAL candidate and entitles you to certain bonuses and benefits when you enlist. Additionally, you can volunteer to take the Physical Screening Test (PST) during the first week boot camp. If you successfully pass the PST, you will be interviewed by a Naval Special Operation Motivator who will submit a request for you to enter the Naval Special Warfare (BUD/S) training pipeline.

For more information, visit http://www.sealswcc.com/

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