The US Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Command will be conducting incremental, random force-wide urinalysis to combat performance-enhancing drug (PED) use.
The move is being made to eliminate the use of PEDs while ensuring the health, safety, and readiness of the force.
This will be the first time that everyone in the command, not just trainees, will undergo random screening for PEDS.
The move comes after the death of Seaman Kyle Mullen during training, whose untimely passing led to the US Navy probing the effects of PEDs on both candidates and officers.
An Integral Task
NSW Command Rear Adm. Keith Davids stressed the importance of the test in a press release.
“My intent is to ensure every NSW teammate operates at their innate best while preserving the distinguished standards of excellence that define NSW,” he said.
“This incremental, random force-wide testing initiative is far more than a regulatory step—it’s a steadfast commitment to the health, safety, and operational readiness of every member of the NSW community.”
Davids added that the command’s leadership knows that there are legitimate medical conditions that require personnel to be treated with medication, but that it should be taken under military medical supervision.
Ongoing Measures
Both the Navy and the Department of Defense have mandated rules and regulations to combat drug use and abuse in the force.
Defense Instruction 6130.06, also known as Use of Dietary Supplements in the DoD, prohibits the use of PEDs and other products on the DoD’s Prohibited Substance Ingredients List, unless authorized by a DoD healthcare provider.
The navy’s Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Program also provides substance abuse screening, treatment, and continuing care for military personnel.