US Military Cracks Down on Drug Use with Random Tests
The US military is launching random drug tests for its elite forces from November. Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces are in the firing line as the military battles the threat of performance-enhancing drug use.
Rear Admiral Keith Davids, head of Naval Special Warfare Command, stressed the tests are crucial to keeping units fit and ready for action.
Navy Leads, Army Trails – Air Force and Marines Hold Back
- The Navy kicks off random testing this November.
- Army Special Operations Command will follow, though no start date is set.
- Air Force and Marine Corps special forces have yet to sign up, showing split views on drug testing.
Previously, testing occurred only when suspicion arose. Now, special Pentagon approval allows random testing across four military units each month. About 15% of these units will be tested, meaning up to 200 sailors face monthly urine tests.
Tragic Death Triggers Tougher Measures
This crackdown comes after the death of Navy SEAL candidate Kyle Mullen last year. The 24-year-old died of acute pneumonia after enduring the brutal Hell Week 1. Though tests found no drugs in his system, a Naval report revealed Mullen wasn’t screened for some steroids because the samples weren’t available.
The Naval Education and Training Command’s wider probe found worrying signs that some SEAL candidates turn to performance enhancers. Similar investigations in 2011, 2013 and 2018 led to disciplinary actions but also exposed gaps in testing protocols.
How Testing Will Work
- Two urine samples collected from each sailor tested.
- One tested at the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory – a gold standard used in international sports.
- Other sample screened for standard drugs at Navy Drug Screening Laboratory, Great Lakes.
- Positive results trigger inquiries, possible disciplinary action, and removal from duty unless use is legally justified.
The military’s fresh drug testing plan aims to clean up its special forces and keep the most elite warriors sharp and drug-free.
