The Navy disciplined 18 members of SEAL Team Four after investigators found racist memes and messages in a private Signal chat that targeted a Black SEAL. Punishments ranged from rank reductions and pay forfeitures to administrative counseling; the SEAL who filed complaints had his revoked Trident later restored. Senior leaders publicly counseled unit commanders, held force-wide briefings and said corrective steps and reforms will follow after climate surveys revealed recurring reports of racial harassment.
18 Navy SEALs Disciplined After Racist Memes Targeted Black Teammate; Trident Later Restored
Two of the memes included in the Navy's investigation into racial harassment. (Redacted by the Navy) / Credit: U.S. Navy / released via Freedom of Information Act request
Washington — The Navy quietly disciplined 18 members of SEAL Team Four earlier this year after an investigation found racist memes and messages circulated in a private Signal group chat that targeted a Black SEAL who was also a member of the chat, according to Navy documents and a Naval Special Warfare spokesperson.
Investigation, Punishments and Leadership Response
Records obtained by CBS News under the Freedom of Information Act include the Navy's investigation into SEAL Team Four and several years of the unit's internal climate surveys. The documents show repeated incidents of racial harassment that prompted senior commanders to act in a force that emphasizes cohesion and honor.
Investigators highlighted multiple offensive images and messages shared between 2021 and 2024. Examples described in the report include a 2022 meme called "Slave in Chains," a 2022 image labeled "Monkey Face" that altered the SEAL's face, and a 2023 comparison to the movie character Radio. The messages also included admissions of using the n-word and derogatory references to an Asian service member, who was mocked as "dragon lady" and for her accent.
Punishments for those found responsible ranged from reductions in rank and forfeiture of pay to administrative measures such as formal letters of instruction and counseling. Naval Special Warfare said accountability was completed and that individuals accepted responsibility.
Impact On The Complainant
The Black SEAL filed harassment complaints in March after the memes surfaced. He wrote that before joining his platoon he had not experienced racial discrimination during the SEAL pipeline, but that once assigned the racism he experienced was "persistent, targeted and deeply dehumanizing." He also reported that his name had been scratched off two plaques honoring SEALs — an act he described as a deliberate message of exclusion.
Undated photo: A Black Navy SEAL said his name was scratched off two plaques where it once appeared alongside others serving on SEAL Team Four. On one, the names are etched into a piece of wood under a hatchet adorned with Navy SEAL Tridents, the physical pin that signifies a SEAL. (Retractions by U.S. Navy) / Credit: U.S. Navy
His Trident — the pin that signifies a qualified Navy SEAL — was revoked after review boards cited performance concerns. Records show he was a qualified sniper and a certified joint terminal attack controller (JTAC). After the investigation, his Trident was restored; his attorney, former SEAL William Brown, said the board that revoked the pin will face reforms. Brown represented the complainant pro bono.
Command Accountability And Reforms
Rear Adm. Milton Sands, then commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, moved quickly after the allegations were raised; he later was removed from that post by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though the Defense Department has not disclosed the reason for his removal. Brown praised Sands and other senior leaders for taking what he called "unprecedented action." Sands did not respond to a request for comment.
Naval Special Warfare said unit superiors did not create the chat content but were counseled publicly because the misconduct occurred on their watch. Those counseled included the commanding officer, executive officer and command master chief of SEAL Team Four. Leaders also held all-hands calls across the command to address the misconduct and to stress standards and accountability.
Climate Surveys And Broader Concerns
CBS News obtained Defense Organizational Climate Surveys for SEAL Team Four for 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The surveys are anonymous and voluntary, and they give commanders both statistics and comments about conditions in their units. Though SEAL teams typically have small numbers of racial and ethnic minorities, the records show recurring reports of racially harassing behavior: 18 out of 105 respondents reported such behavior in 2022, and 5 out of 105 reported it in 2024.
Investigators also noted that some misconduct came from recurring "meme drops" members posted on Fridays to lampoon events of the week. Four of the six memes under review were posted on a Friday, the report said.
Where Things Stand
"Individuals accepted responsibility for their actions, reinforcing NSW's commitment to accountability, transparency, and upholding the standard of the quiet professional," a Naval Special Warfare spokesperson said.
The complainant has since left the Navy. Naval Special Warfare said it has identified shortcomings and implemented corrective measures, and Brown said command action included extending the SEAL's tenure to allow medical care and arranging a transfer closer to family.
