I’ve been reading a lot about the charges against Chief Petty Officer Eddie Gallagher to include the latest hit piece, Eddie Gallagher's Navy SEAL platoon members blast him in leaked videos.
So, I decided to do something it appears few journalists want to do, get down to the basic of what a SEAL team is and how it’s organized.
Naval Special Warfare Development Group
The Naval Special Warfare Development Group, located in Little Creek, VA., is commanded by a Navy Captain (O-6). It is a major component command of the Naval Special Warfare Command. The Naval Special Warfare Development Group provides centralized management for the test, evaluation, and development of current and emerging technology applicable to Naval Special Warfare forces. This command also develops maritime ground and airborne tactics for Naval Special Warfare and possible Department of Defense-wide application. Administrative control is with Naval Special Warfare Command commanded by a flag officer.
Naval Special Warfare Groups
NSW Groups are echelon II Captain (O6) major commands established by NAVSPECWARCOM at NAB Coronado and NAB Little Creek to equip, support, and provide command and control elements and trained and ready SEAL and SDV platoons and forces to the geographic CINCs. NSW Groups ONE and TWO are organized into:
� Three SEAL Teams, comprised of eight 16-man platoons, which conduct reconnaissance, DA, UW, FID, and other operations in maritime or riverine environments.
� One SDV Team which operates and maintains submersible systems that deliver and recover SEALs in hostile areas and conduct reconnaissance and DA missions.
� NSW Units, which are small command and control elements located outside the continental United States, support other NSW forces assigned to theater SOCs or components of naval task forces.
Naval Special Warfare Command Combat Service Support Teams (CSST)
One CSST is assigned to each NSW Group to provide full-spectrum logistic support for designated SEAL Teams, Special Boat Units, NSW Task Groups/Task Units and/or special mission units. Tasking for each CSST shall include three primary mission elements:
� OPLAN/CONPLAN and crisis-action logistic planning and coordination
� In-theater contracting, small purchase and lease actions
� Comprehensive forward operating base support
Within these mission elements, the CSST is responsible for force embarkation, load-planning, multi-modal transport coordination, combat cargo handling, in-theater logistic coordination, Military Liaison Officer/Defense Attaché Officer liaison, exercise related construction, infrastructure support, contingency engineering, expeditionary camp siting and development, camp maintenance, NBC decontamination, and defensive combat planning and execution.
A pretty extensive and comprehensive organization with hundreds of people at all sorts of levels of command and control.
But, the bottom line rests with the 8 16-man platoons that do the dirty work.
The SEAL platoon is the largest operational element that will normally be employed to conduct a tactical mission. Multi-platoon operations should not be planned or conducted without extensive preparations and rehearsals. A SEAL platoon is normally commanded by a Navy Lieutenant (O- 3). A platoon consists of 16 SEALs and may divide into 2 squads or 4 elements. All SEAL platoon personnel are dive, parachute, and demolitions qualified.
There are Navy Special Warfare Groups where the teams are controlled. Plus all sorts of other outfits all designed to support the individual teams.
Each SEAL Team (or "squadron") is commanded by a Navy commander (O-5), and has eight operational SEAL platoons and a headquarters element. Operationally, the "Team" is divided into two to four 40-man "task units" (or "troops"). Each task unit consists of a headquarters element consisting of a task unit commander, typically a lieutenant commander (O-4), a task unit senior enlisted (E-8), a targeting/operations officer (O-2/3) and a targeting/operations leading/chief petty officer (E-6/7). Under the HQ element are two to four SEAL platoons of 16 men (two officers and 14 enlisted SEALs, and sometimes assigned non-NSW support personnel); a company-sized combat service support (CSS) and/or combat support (CS) consisting of staff N-codes (the Army and Marine Corps use S-codes); N1 Administrative support, N2 Intelligence, N3 Operations, N4 Logistics, N5 Plans and Targeting, N6 Communications, N7 Training, and N8 Air/Medical.
Each 16-man platoon can be task organized for operational purposes into two eight-man squads, of four four-man fire teams, or eight two-man sniper/reconnaissance teams. The size of each SEAL "Team", or "squadron", with two to four task units (containing a total of eight platoons) and support staff is approximately 300 personnel. The typical SEAL platoon has an OIC (officer in charge, usually a lieutenant (O-3), a platoon chief (E-7/E-8), and two squads commanded by a LTJG (O-2) and a squad leader (E-6). The remaining members of the squad are operators (E-4 to E-6) with their specialty skills in ordnance, communications, diving, and medical. The core leadership in the troop and platoon are the commander/OIC and the senior enlisted NCO (Senior Chief/chief).
Platoon core skills consist of: Sniper, Breacher, Communicator, Maritime/Engineering, Close Air Support, Corpsman, Point-man/Navigator, Primary Driver/Navigator (Rural/Urban/Protective Security), Heavy Weapons Operator, Sensitive Site Exploitation, Air Operations Master, Lead Climber, Lead Diver/Navigator, Interrogator, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Technical Surveillance, and Advanced Special Operations.
In other words, SEAL Teams are commanded by a Lieutenant, A platoon chief (Gallagher), a LtJG, and an E6 squad leader along with operators (E-4 to E-6) with their specialty skills in ordnance, communications, diving, and medical. Platoon core skills consist of: Sniper, Breacher, Communicator, Maritime/Engineering, Close Air Support, Corpsman, Point-man/Navigator, Primary Driver/Navigator (Rural/Urban/Protective Security), Heavy Weapons Operator, Sensitive Site Exploitation, Air Operations Master, Lead Climber, Lead Diver/Navigator, Interrogator, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Technical Surveillance, and Advanced Special Operations.
So, let’s get something straight right here. None of the things Gallagher was accused of could’ve happened in a vacuum. He always had a Lieutenant, a Jg, an assistant squad leader, and other members of the team watching him.
Three who made accusations against him retracted them. Not a peep out of any of the officers.
Okay, so maybe there’s another explanation. Gallagher went out on these missions while the officers stayed in base camp to warm their tootsies or something. And, from everything I’ve been able to find, charges were NOT made against him by an O-5 Platoon Leader, able to seat Summary Courts Martials and refer to Special Courts Martials! They came from higher levels with corps of JAG officers who were ordered to
“clean up” Naval Special Warfare Groups by a new Admiral out to make a poltitical statement.
So, you figure for yourself what the story is. I believe the president stepping in ensure Gallagher received justice. May he makes lots and lots of $$$$$ from all the books and personal appearances in his future.
So, I decided to do something it appears few journalists want to do, get down to the basic of what a SEAL team is and how it’s organized.
Naval Special Warfare Development Group
The Naval Special Warfare Development Group, located in Little Creek, VA., is commanded by a Navy Captain (O-6). It is a major component command of the Naval Special Warfare Command. The Naval Special Warfare Development Group provides centralized management for the test, evaluation, and development of current and emerging technology applicable to Naval Special Warfare forces. This command also develops maritime ground and airborne tactics for Naval Special Warfare and possible Department of Defense-wide application. Administrative control is with Naval Special Warfare Command commanded by a flag officer.
Naval Special Warfare Groups
NSW Groups are echelon II Captain (O6) major commands established by NAVSPECWARCOM at NAB Coronado and NAB Little Creek to equip, support, and provide command and control elements and trained and ready SEAL and SDV platoons and forces to the geographic CINCs. NSW Groups ONE and TWO are organized into:
� Three SEAL Teams, comprised of eight 16-man platoons, which conduct reconnaissance, DA, UW, FID, and other operations in maritime or riverine environments.
� One SDV Team which operates and maintains submersible systems that deliver and recover SEALs in hostile areas and conduct reconnaissance and DA missions.
� NSW Units, which are small command and control elements located outside the continental United States, support other NSW forces assigned to theater SOCs or components of naval task forces.
Naval Special Warfare Command Combat Service Support Teams (CSST)
One CSST is assigned to each NSW Group to provide full-spectrum logistic support for designated SEAL Teams, Special Boat Units, NSW Task Groups/Task Units and/or special mission units. Tasking for each CSST shall include three primary mission elements:
� OPLAN/CONPLAN and crisis-action logistic planning and coordination
� In-theater contracting, small purchase and lease actions
� Comprehensive forward operating base support
Within these mission elements, the CSST is responsible for force embarkation, load-planning, multi-modal transport coordination, combat cargo handling, in-theater logistic coordination, Military Liaison Officer/Defense Attaché Officer liaison, exercise related construction, infrastructure support, contingency engineering, expeditionary camp siting and development, camp maintenance, NBC decontamination, and defensive combat planning and execution.
A pretty extensive and comprehensive organization with hundreds of people at all sorts of levels of command and control.
But, the bottom line rests with the 8 16-man platoons that do the dirty work.
The SEAL platoon is the largest operational element that will normally be employed to conduct a tactical mission. Multi-platoon operations should not be planned or conducted without extensive preparations and rehearsals. A SEAL platoon is normally commanded by a Navy Lieutenant (O- 3). A platoon consists of 16 SEALs and may divide into 2 squads or 4 elements. All SEAL platoon personnel are dive, parachute, and demolitions qualified.
There are Navy Special Warfare Groups where the teams are controlled. Plus all sorts of other outfits all designed to support the individual teams.
Each SEAL Team (or "squadron") is commanded by a Navy commander (O-5), and has eight operational SEAL platoons and a headquarters element. Operationally, the "Team" is divided into two to four 40-man "task units" (or "troops"). Each task unit consists of a headquarters element consisting of a task unit commander, typically a lieutenant commander (O-4), a task unit senior enlisted (E-8), a targeting/operations officer (O-2/3) and a targeting/operations leading/chief petty officer (E-6/7). Under the HQ element are two to four SEAL platoons of 16 men (two officers and 14 enlisted SEALs, and sometimes assigned non-NSW support personnel); a company-sized combat service support (CSS) and/or combat support (CS) consisting of staff N-codes (the Army and Marine Corps use S-codes); N1 Administrative support, N2 Intelligence, N3 Operations, N4 Logistics, N5 Plans and Targeting, N6 Communications, N7 Training, and N8 Air/Medical.
Each 16-man platoon can be task organized for operational purposes into two eight-man squads, of four four-man fire teams, or eight two-man sniper/reconnaissance teams. The size of each SEAL "Team", or "squadron", with two to four task units (containing a total of eight platoons) and support staff is approximately 300 personnel. The typical SEAL platoon has an OIC (officer in charge, usually a lieutenant (O-3), a platoon chief (E-7/E-8), and two squads commanded by a LTJG (O-2) and a squad leader (E-6). The remaining members of the squad are operators (E-4 to E-6) with their specialty skills in ordnance, communications, diving, and medical. The core leadership in the troop and platoon are the commander/OIC and the senior enlisted NCO (Senior Chief/chief).
Platoon core skills consist of: Sniper, Breacher, Communicator, Maritime/Engineering, Close Air Support, Corpsman, Point-man/Navigator, Primary Driver/Navigator (Rural/Urban/Protective Security), Heavy Weapons Operator, Sensitive Site Exploitation, Air Operations Master, Lead Climber, Lead Diver/Navigator, Interrogator, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Technical Surveillance, and Advanced Special Operations.
In other words, SEAL Teams are commanded by a Lieutenant, A platoon chief (Gallagher), a LtJG, and an E6 squad leader along with operators (E-4 to E-6) with their specialty skills in ordnance, communications, diving, and medical. Platoon core skills consist of: Sniper, Breacher, Communicator, Maritime/Engineering, Close Air Support, Corpsman, Point-man/Navigator, Primary Driver/Navigator (Rural/Urban/Protective Security), Heavy Weapons Operator, Sensitive Site Exploitation, Air Operations Master, Lead Climber, Lead Diver/Navigator, Interrogator, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Technical Surveillance, and Advanced Special Operations.
So, let’s get something straight right here. None of the things Gallagher was accused of could’ve happened in a vacuum. He always had a Lieutenant, a Jg, an assistant squad leader, and other members of the team watching him.
Three who made accusations against him retracted them. Not a peep out of any of the officers.
Okay, so maybe there’s another explanation. Gallagher went out on these missions while the officers stayed in base camp to warm their tootsies or something. And, from everything I’ve been able to find, charges were NOT made against him by an O-5 Platoon Leader, able to seat Summary Courts Martials and refer to Special Courts Martials! They came from higher levels with corps of JAG officers who were ordered to
“clean up” Naval Special Warfare Groups by a new Admiral out to make a poltitical statement.
So, you figure for yourself what the story is. I believe the president stepping in ensure Gallagher received justice. May he makes lots and lots of $$$$$ from all the books and personal appearances in his future.
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