Navy SEAL Candidates Sickened From Training in Sewer Tainted Waters – Guy D. McCardle
In the relentless pursuit of excellence, Navy SEAL candidates undergo some of the most grueling training regimens known to man. However, recent revelations have highlighted a concerning aspect of their preparation: repeated exposure to waters contaminated with high levels of fecal matter during training exercises. This exposure tests their physical endurance and poses significant health risks.
The Training Grounds: A Double-Edged Sword
The beaches of Coronado, California, serve as primary training grounds for SEAL candidates. While the Pacific Ocean offers an ideal environment for rigorous aquatic drills, it also presents unforeseen challenges. According to Task and Purpose, a report from the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoD IG) revealed that between January 2019 and May 2023, there were 1,168 documented cases of acute gastrointestinal illnesses among SEAL and Special Warfare Combat Crewman candidates. Alarmingly, 39% of these cases were diagnosed within a week of the candidates being exposed to water that exceeded state limits for fecal indicator bacteria.
Coronado offers a nearly perfect setting for SEAL training. The Naval Amphibious Base Coronado houses the Naval Special Warfare Center, which oversees the rigorous SEAL training pipeline. The nearby Silver Strand Training Complex, a 450-acre facility, provides an unparalleled mix of training environments, including ocean and bay access for waterborne operations. The base’s layout also allows for urban warfare simulations, adding another layer of realism to the training experience. Coronado’s beaches and waterways serve as key locations for various exercises, including the grueling Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, a fundamental step in becoming a Navy SEAL.
However, despite the area’s strategic advantages, the surrounding waters are frequently contaminated with high levels of fecal indicator bacteria. The pollution largely stems from the Tijuana River Valley in Mexico, where untreated sewage and runoff flow into the Pacific Ocean. This has led to frequent beach closures, yet training often continues despite clear health risks. Water testing from February to September 2024 found that beaches near the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado exceeded state safety levels for enterococcus bacteria in 76% of samples. The result has been a staggering number of water-borne bacterial illnesses among SEAL candidates.
This situation creates a significant challenge for the Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM). While the training environment at Coronado is crucial in preparing SEAL candidates for real-world missions, persistent water contamination poses an undeniable health threat. Despite these dangers, training exercises are rarely relocated or rescheduled. During the February to September 2024 period, only about 5% of waterborne training exercises were moved to avoid polluted areas.
The dilemma facing NAVSPECWARCOM underscores the difficult balance between maintaining realistic, high-intensity training and safeguarding the health of SEAL candidates. While the military prides itself on pushing warriors to their limits, exposure to preventable health risks should not be part of the equation. Finding a way to preserve training integrity while addressing these environmental hazards remains a critical issue for the future of SEAL training.
Ignoring the Warnings
Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) has repeatedly ignored warnings about sewage contamination in the waters used for SEAL candidate training. Even when high levels of fecal indicator bacteria were detected, the command rarely relocated or rescheduled training exercises.
In the relentless pursuit of excellence, Navy SEAL candidates undergo some of the most grueling training regimens known to man. However, recent revelations have highlighted a concerning aspect of their preparation: repeated exposure to waters contaminated with high levels of fecal matter during training exercises. This exposure tests their physical endurance and poses significant health risks.
The Training Grounds: A Double-Edged Sword
The beaches of Coronado, California, serve as primary training grounds for SEAL candidates. While the Pacific Ocean offers an ideal environment for rigorous aquatic drills, it also presents unforeseen challenges. According to Task and Purpose, a report from the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoD IG) revealed that between January 2019 and May 2023, there were 1,168 documented cases of acute gastrointestinal illnesses among SEAL and Special Warfare Combat Crewman candidates. Alarmingly, 39% of these cases were diagnosed within a week of the candidates being exposed to water that exceeded state limits for fecal indicator bacteria.
Coronado offers a nearly perfect setting for SEAL training. The Naval Amphibious Base Coronado houses the Naval Special Warfare Center, which oversees the rigorous SEAL training pipeline. The nearby Silver Strand Training Complex, a 450-acre facility, provides an unparalleled mix of training environments, including ocean and bay access for waterborne operations. The base’s layout also allows for urban warfare simulations, adding another layer of realism to the training experience. Coronado’s beaches and waterways serve as key locations for various exercises, including the grueling Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, a fundamental step in becoming a Navy SEAL.
However, despite the area’s strategic advantages, the surrounding waters are frequently contaminated with high levels of fecal indicator bacteria. The pollution largely stems from the Tijuana River Valley in Mexico, where untreated sewage and runoff flow into the Pacific Ocean. This has led to frequent beach closures, yet training often continues despite clear health risks. Water testing from February to September 2024 found that beaches near the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado exceeded state safety levels for enterococcus bacteria in 76% of samples. The result has been a staggering number of water-borne bacterial illnesses among SEAL candidates.
This situation creates a significant challenge for the Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM). While the training environment at Coronado is crucial in preparing SEAL candidates for real-world missions, persistent water contamination poses an undeniable health threat. Despite these dangers, training exercises are rarely relocated or rescheduled. During the February to September 2024 period, only about 5% of waterborne training exercises were moved to avoid polluted areas.
The dilemma facing NAVSPECWARCOM underscores the difficult balance between maintaining realistic, high-intensity training and safeguarding the health of SEAL candidates. While the military prides itself on pushing warriors to their limits, exposure to preventable health risks should not be part of the equation. Finding a way to preserve training integrity while addressing these environmental hazards remains a critical issue for the future of SEAL training.
Ignoring the Warnings
Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) has repeatedly ignored warnings about sewage contamination in the waters used for SEAL candidate training. Even when high levels of fecal indicator bacteria were detected, the command rarely relocated or rescheduled training exercises.
One of the most concerning examples of this disregard came during a “Hell Week” training in September 2023. Local officials had issued beach closure advisories due to dangerous bacteria levels, yet NAVSPECWARCOM proceeded with three scheduled water training events without any adjustments. The command also failed to follow San Diego County’s Beach and Bay Water Quality Program’s beach closure postings, allowing SEAL candidates to train in contaminated water, increasing their risk of illness and potentially affecting the success of their training.
Despite the growing concerns, NAVSPECWARCOM has expressed doubts about the feasibility of relocating or canceling a large portion of its water training activities. This highlights the ongoing struggle between maintaining the intensity and realism of SEAL training while ensuring the health and safety of its candidates. While SEAL training is designed to push candidates beyond their limits, exposure to hazardous water should not be part of the test. Addressing this issue remains a critical challenge for the future of Naval Special Warfare training.
Ok, so let me stop for a second and address the elephant in the room. I know what a lot of you are thinking. You’re thinking, “Dammit, you think succumbing to the freezing cold water and the possibility of having your head bashed in against rocks aren’t a major hazard as well? SEAL training isn’t supposed to be safe; we’re trying to build warriors here!!” And you are 100% right. I’m just saying that if we can spare candidates the additional unnecessary hazard of swimming in Mexican shit while they are doing that, maybe we should give that a try.
Health Implications
Swimming in contaminated waters presents serious health risks for Navy SEAL candidates, with the potential for both immediate and long-term health issues. One of the most common concerns is acute gastrointestinal illness. And we’re not talking about a tummy ache here. Infection from some of these fecal bacteria could cause a candidate to be recycled or perhaps put out of the SEAL pipeline altogether. No one wants to see that happen.
Beyond gastrointestinal issues, exposure to fecal-contaminated water increases the risk of contracting various waterborne infections. Cryptosporidium, a resilient parasite, can cause severe diarrhea and even survive in chlorinated water. Giardia, another parasite, is known for causing long-lasting digestive problems. Harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) can lead to severe cramping, bloody diarrhea, and, in extreme cases, kidney failure. Campylobacter, the leading cause of diarrheal illness in the U.S., can trigger cramping, fever, and digestive distress. Yes, candidates are always going to get sick, but let’s avoid it where we can.
In rare but severe instances, exposure to contaminated water can lead to life-threatening complications. Certain strains of E. coli, such as O157:H7, can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which may result in kidney failure and, in some cases, death. I’ve seen it happen in my former civilian occupation. In that case, a little girl initially got sick from visiting a petting zoo. It can happen anywhere to anyone.
Long-term exposure to poor water quality could have lasting effects, potentially contributing to digestive diseases, respiratory issues, and even increasing the risk of certain cancers due to the presence of harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and bacteria. The fact that 76% of water quality tests near Coronado exceeded state safety levels—and that only 5% of training exercises were relocated—means SEAL candidates are routinely exposed to these health risks. Despite the extreme physical and mental challenges SEAL training is designed to impose, the avoidable threat of preventable serious illness should not be one of them.
A Call for Change
In response to the disturbing findings noted above, the DoD IG has called for several urgent changes. First, NAVSPECWARCOM should establish a formal protocol for monitoring water quality and relocating training when contamination exceeds safe levels. Second, the command needs to improve communication within its ranks, ensuring that key decision-makers are promptly informed about water quality concerns. Lastly, the report recommends that water training be rescheduled, moved, or even canceled when conditions pose a serious health risk.
I have another idea I’d like to add to the list. Granted, this is more of a long-term fix. How about we take action to have the Mexican government stop dumping raw sewage into bodies of water in the Tijuana River Valley?
Summing Up
While the path to becoming a Navy SEAL is inherently fraught with challenges, intentional exposure to contaminated water during training scenarios should not be one of them. As the NSWC moves forward, it is imperative to balance rigorous training with the health and safety of its candidates, ensuring that the elite warriors of tomorrow are not unduly compromised today.
