By: Danielle Hodes
https://justthenews.com/danielle-hodes
Navy Capt. Brian Drechsler has been removed from his post in connection to the death of a Navy SEAL candidate last year.
Candidate Kyle Mullen collapsed and died from acute pneumonia in February 2022, in Coronado Beach, Calif., hours after completing the Hell Week part of the SEAL tryout.
Three Navy officers including Drechsler, commander of the Naval Special Warfare Center, are being relocated one year after received “non-punitive” letters following Mullen's death.
They are not directly blamed for his death, but Drechsler issued a statement making clear the move was related.
>>"It is crucial that we maintain the momentum we have made to improve our training, safety, and medical oversight while balancing the need to forge the world’s greatest warriors," said Drechsler in a message to his command obtained by The Associated Press.
Drechsler, who was removed from his post two months before his planned retirement, will now serve as a special assistant at Naval Special Warfare command.
Further investigation will determine whether a harsher punishment is necessary for Drechsler.
The death has raised awareness of the brutal Hell Week test that candidates must pass and that pushes them to extremes.
The tryout aims to test physical endurance, pain, cold-ocean tolerance and mental toughness.
Over a five-and-a half-day period, candidates conduct basic underwater demolition, survival and other combat tactics all while running on fewer than four hours of sleep.
>>"Students perform evolutions that require them to think, lead, make sound decisions, and functionally operate when they are extremely sleep-deprived, approaching hypothermia, and even hallucinating" states the Navy SEALS site.
https://justthenews.com/government/security/navy-commander-removed-job-year-after-seal-candidate-died-during-hell-week