The US military will begin implementing random drug tests on its special forces, including the Navy SEALs and the Army's Delta Force, Green Berets, and Ranger Regiment, starting in November. This decision was announced by Rear Admiral Keith Davids, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, on Friday. The purpose of the testing, according to Davids, is to protect the health of soldiers and maintain military readiness.

The Navy will be the first branch to initiate random drug testing in November, with the US Army Special Operations Command following suit at an unspecified date. However, the US Air Force and Marine Corps special forces commands have not yet requested a similar policy for random drug testing.

The use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs has been a persistent but limited problem within the US military. Despite this, leaders in the armed forces have been hesitant to increase testing. Currently, the military services only conduct occasional tests when they suspect an individual service member is using drugs, requiring special permission from the Pentagon to conduct routine, random testing.

Under the new policy, four military units will be randomly selected each month, with 15% of each unit being tested. This could amount to around 200 sailors being tested monthly. Those who test positive for drugs will face disciplinary action or removal from the force.

One of the driving factors behind the implementation of random drug testing was the death of Navy SEAL candidate Kyle Mullen last year. Mullen collapsed and died of acute pneumonia shortly after completing the SEALs' demanding Hell Week test. Although no evidence of performance-enhancing drugs was found in his system, a report by the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) discovered that Mullen was not screened for certain steroids due to a lack of available blood and urine samples. Additionally, multiple vials of drugs and syringes were later found in his car.

The NETC's broader investigation into SEAL training revealed the significant use of performance-enhancing drugs among those seeking to become elite US commandos. As a result, the report recommended more robust testing procedures. Previous investigations in 2011, 2013, and 2018 into suspected steroid use by SEAL candidates have led to disciplinary actions and calls for enhanced testing.

The new random drug testing policy will require sailors to provide two urine samples. One sample will be sent to the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, a cutting-edge lab used by international sports organizations for doping tests. The other sample will be sent to the Navy Drug Screening Laboratory Great Lakes to check for standard drugs. If a sailor tests positive for drugs, they will be notified and subjected to a preliminary inquiry. If there is no legal reason for the drugs, the sailor may face disciplinary action and removal from the force.

The US military has long resisted implementing random drug testing due to the specialized and costly nature of the testing process, as well as the limited number of labs that can perform such tests. However, Naval Special Warfare Command's request for a policy change to allow screening was approved by the Pentagon in January. The testing will only apply to the approximately 9,000 active-duty military personnel and reservists on active-duty orders within the command.

Rear Admiral Davids emphasized the importance of the new testing initiative, stating that any number above zero of personnel using illegal drugs is unacceptable. He called on sailors to discuss the risks of drug use with their teammates and commanders, highlighting the commitment and resilience of the Naval Special Warfare community.

Despite the implementation of random drug testing, command leaders stress that there is only anecdotal evidence of performance-enhancing drug use among special forces ranks. The Naval Special Warfare Center conducted over 2,500 screening tests between February 2022 and March 2023, detecting 74 SEAL or Special Warfare Combat Crewmen with elevated testosterone levels. Only three candidates ultimately tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The testing will help in identifying steroid use, as testosterone tests are less precise.

The recent report by the NETC indicated that SEAL candidates may have received conflicting messages about the use of performance-enhancing drugs. An instructor reportedly made a joke about "steroid monkeys," which some candidates interpreted as an implicit endorsement. The report also highlighted instances where drugs were found during routine barracks inspections or admitted to by sailors.

The Navy has allocated $225,000 to fund the testing contract until the end of this month, with an estimated annual cost of $4.5 million for the next two years. The testing program seeks to ensure that SEAL trainees and veteran special forces members do not resort to performance-enhancing drugs to cope with the physical demands of their missions. By implementing random drug testing, the US military aims to maintain the integrity, health, and readiness of its special forces.