Navy SEALS punished for betraying secrets to . . . Electronic Arts

[Syt]

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/09/navy-seals-busted-for-giving-secrets-to-make-video-game-more-real/?sr=fbmain

Navy SEALs punished for revealing secrets to video game maker

By Mike Mount

Seven U.S. Navy SEALs have been reprimanded for giving up classified information connected to their tradecraft so a video game could seem more realistic, according to a navy official.

The seven were charged with the unauthorized showing of their official combat gear and dereliction of duty for disclosing classified material after an investigation found the seven to have worked as paid consultants for two days with the video game company Electronic Arts, according to a U.S. Navy official familiar with the investigation.

The work, done around the late spring and early summer, was unauthorized by their commanders and against military regulations according to the Navy official.

All seven are active duty members of SEAL Team 6, considered the most elite of the Navy's SEAL community. CBS News, which first reported this story, says at least one of the members was on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden last year.

The seven, all senior enlisted sailors, received their punishment Thursday at their base in Virginia. All seven were given a letter of reprimand and their pay taken for two months. The move essentially prevents their chances for promotion and ends their military careers.

Four other SEALs who have since transferred to west coast SEAL teams are still under investigation, according to the official.

The seven members were consulting with Electronic Arts on the game "Medal of Honor: Warfighter," according to the official. The game touts that it is developed with the help of former and active duty commandos.

"Naval Special Warfare (NSW) takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and conducts investigations to determine the facts. We likewise take seriously the Non-Disclosure Agreements signed by Sailors and adherence to the articles of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice," said Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli, Deputy Commander of the Naval Special Warfare Center in a statement given to Security Clearance.

"We do not tolerate deviations from the policies that govern who we are and what we do as Sailors in the United States Navy. The non-judicial punishment decisions made today send a clear message throughout our Force that we are and will be held to a high standard of accountability," Bonelli, said.

The disclosure of the extra curricular activities of the SEALs comes on the heels of recently retired SEAL who was on the bin Laden raid and wrote a book about the operation.

The publication of the book released a firestorm of complaints toward the author by the Pentagon which said the book revealed secret information about how the SEALs operate. Pentagon officials threatened the author with legal action if the book was published.

To date there has been no further action toward the author Matt Bissonette, who wrote the book under the name Mark Owen.

[CountDeMoney]

The disclosure of the extra curricular activities of the SEALs comes on the heels of recently retired SEAL who was on the bin Laden raid and wrote a book about the operation.

What the hell, man?  What the hell is happening to the goddamned code of silence with this stuff?

Too many of these SpecOps guys are seeing themselves more as rock stars than servicemen. 

[Valmy]

The Navy SEALS sure are a leaky bunch.

[Ed Anger]

One of the dudes on tv sez they got caught in the middle of the pentagon changing rules, and the brass had already opened up a bit to EA.

[CountDeMoney]

One of the dudes on tv sez they got caught in the middle of the pentagon changing rules, and the brass had already opened up a bit to EA.

That's the brass' call, not theirs.

[celedhring]

So by buying it I can get my dirty foreign hands on US military secrets?   

[Ed Anger]

So by buying it I can get my dirty foreign hands on US military secrets?   

I can teach you on how to team kill for free.

[merithyn]

So by buying it I can get my dirty foreign hands on US military secrets?   

I can teach you on how to team kill for free.

He'll just show you a video of his kids swarming on someone.

[Ed Anger]

So by buying it I can get my dirty foreign hands on US military secrets?   

I can teach you on how to team kill for free.

He'll just show you a video of his kids swarming on someone.

[The Brain]

Wow, talk about an elite unit. USA! USA! USA!

[DGuller]

Wow, talk about an elite unit.

[Neil]

The disclosure of the extra curricular activities of the SEALs comes on the heels of recently retired SEAL who was on the bin Laden raid and wrote a book about the operation.

What the hell, man?  What the hell is happening to the goddamned code of silence with this stuff?

Too many of these SpecOps guys are seeing themselves more as rock stars than servicemen.

It's the 21st century.  How can they be asked not to whore themselves out in every way, when that's the entire point of our society?

[DontSayBanana]

Wow, talk about an elite unit. USA! USA! USA!

Well, 3l337, anyway.

[The Brain]

The SEALs clearly have big problems. One retarded man-child is an accident. Seven is a structural problem. I can't get over that they thought a video game more important than their mission and careers.

[Camerus]

What Neil said is the truth.