U.S. Special Operations Command said in a statement Wednesday night that the platoon was forced out early to San Diego by Maj. Gen. Eric T. Hill, the commander of the task force, “due to a perceived deterioration of good order and discipline within the team during non-operational periods” of their deployment.
“The Commander lost confidence in the team’s ability to accomplish the mission,” the statement said. “Commanders have worked to mitigate the operational impact as this SEAL platoon follows a deliberate redeployment.”
The statement did not say what led to the decision, but a defense official with knowledge of the situation said that a female service member working with their platoon reported being sexually assaulted by a senior enlisted SEAL in the platoon during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said the report triggered scrutiny of the platoon, including drinking while deployed.
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