Post: #1

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/...-says?lite

Seven members of SEAL Team Six have been punished for supporting development of a video game released last month, according to a U.S. military official.

The SEALs worked as paid consultants for Electronic Arts, the company that made "Medal of Honor Warfighter." They received letters of reprimand and forfeited half of their pay for two months. The SEALs do not face jail time.

The video game hit store shelves on October 23. In a press release, EA said "Medal of Honor Warfighter" was "written by actual U.S. Tier 1 Operators while deployed overseas," and that it "features a dotted line to real world events and provides players a view into globally recognized threats and situations letting them experience the action as it might have unfolded."

In September, "No Easy Day," a book written under the pseudonym Mark Owen, was released to the public. The book gives a firsthand account of the killing of Osama bin Laden.

I think the brass feels like the men that operate in this unit are beginning to lose their grip on one of the most important conditions under which they operate - secrecy. Between the video game and a book, they felt like they had to put an end to it now. I feel bad that these men, that put themselves into some of the most dangerous situations, are losing half their pay for two months (since they're largely underpaid for what they do in the first place). I would have preferred just a reprimand, but I guess they feel it wouldn't have had the impact necessary on them, and those that will come behind them. How do you guys feel about this?

Post: #2

They've fallen victim to the attention whoring epidemic. Even SEALS now want their 15 minutes of fame.

Post: #3

The SEALs have always been like this, they barely get any action compared to SOF units in the other branches yet they are in the media the most. While they are on TV doing interviews or making videogames, Green Berets or PJs or Delta is out kicking ass. And because of this, kids everywhere want to grow up and join the military and be bad ass action heroes like they see in the movies. Its a very good marketing ploy by the military, just look at that movie Act of Valor. It was a total propaganda film for the military.

Post: #4

SEALs annoy the shit out of me. Always have. Take the biggest bunch of frat boy jock assholes, give them full auto weapons, and you have SEALs. They never shut up. I've trained with, and by guys from every every Special Ops branch (except for the Air Force) and they were all top notch. Just Google search how many former SEALs have written books, or are on T.V. giving interviews. Most recently, one of the SEALs killed in Benghazi gave an interview before his death claiming that they're on a mission looking for dangerous weapons in Libya. That should've been classified considering he was working for the CIA or the Department of State. Special Ops lives by the motto of "quiet profession". Well, some of the do.

Post: #5

anything they say reduces elements of surprise, just by the choice of subject alone ' i can't tell you what kind of machine gun we use" reveals a lot if you analyze it.

Post: #6

They're attention whoring and will inflict serious damage on the integrity of their department. In the age where the public is already highly distrustful of its own special forces and secret agents, this is not a good thing.

Does James Bond go on national TV and give interviews about how he defeated the villain? Hell no.

Post: #7

Our culture is obsessed with fame.

Post: #8

(11-09-2012 03:01 AM)Handsome Creepy Eel Wrote:  They're attention whoring and will inflict serious damage on the integrity of their department. In the age where the public is already highly distrustful of its own special forces and secret agents, this is not a good thing.

Does James Bond go on national TV and give interviews about how he defeated the villain? Hell no.

Yeah....Sean Connery, wouldnt say shit.

Post: #9

I gotta disagree with the allegations of "attention-whoring" regarding the SEALs. I owned the last Medal Of Honor game, which was decent, and there was a short video on the disc that featured active members of the Special Ops community who had acted as consultants on the game to ensure it was as realistic as possible. I don't recall if they were from a SEAL Team, but I believe a couple were. Their faces were blacked out and no personal info was mentioned as to their identity. They just talked about their involvement with EA in developing the game. Anyone ever hear of the SOCOM video game series? Actual SEALs also helped participate in the creation of those games as well. Were those guys punished as well or is this all post 9/11 related? Those guys don't make much money for the job that they do. I have absolutely no issue with them helping out a company to produce a game for a little bit of coin. Video games have become a pop-culture phenomenon, and I'm sure in their little bit of free time those guys pick up a controller to have some fun themselves. Like us, ages 25+, they grew up in an era where video games were an extremely popular hobby. Check out the link below for some info on the SEALs income and what the Navy bases their payscale on. Most make less than $30,000 per year.

US Navy Special Ops

Post: #10

(11-08-2012 11:35 PM)Alpha Hunter Zero Wrote:  They've fallen victim to the attention whoring epidemic. Even SEALS now want their 15 minutes of fame.

Dick comment.

I've got friends that are SEALs, they don't make very much money. This was a chance to get some extra cash. Most guys become advisers after they get out. There's no secrecy about techniques only about contents of missions.

Plus there's the personal pride in making sure your unit is represented accurately.

Post: #11

I remember having a discussion with a SEAL once whom had just returned from the Middle East. When I asked him something that was apparently too risque, he simply said "Op Sec" and walked away. For those of you who don't know what that means, it's operation security. They often times won't talk about past, present, or future missions with anyone outside of their teammates. It's the way it goes. I respect their ability to keep their mouths shut. It would be awfully easy for the guy that killed Osama Bin Laden to step forward and become a national hero. Sure, he'd be putting a target on his back, but still. He could do it. Has he? Nope. Another SEAL saying: "Loose lips sink ships." Trust me, these guys weren't going to do anything to risk national security. That dick that just wrote the book about the raid on the Bin Laden complex in Pakistan? Different story. He should be thrown in jail.

Post: #12

(11-09-2012 02:42 PM)Fisto Wrote:  Plus there's the personal pride in making sure your unit is represented accurately.

Yup. They emphasized that if the game was going to be made, and they were involved, it would be done accurately.

Post: #13

I think the government is uncomfortable with current or former SEALS having their identities revealed period. They aren't comfortable with them showing their faces at all. Consulting on the games is fine. They just don't want them talking about it, or putting their faces out there saying they consulted on the game. As I stated in the OP, I wasn't cool with them losing pay for this. But I would also think that part of the responsibility of being part of one of these elite units is having as few people as possible know that you're part of the unit. It's human nature to want recognition for what you do (as we became aware of during the rep points discussion here on the forum...HA HA!), but that's one of the thankless parts of what they do. They have to be content with the respect of their peers and superiors, and that's it.