May 3, 2007:
The U.S. Navy, desperate to increase
the number SEAL commandos, has overruled its lawyers, and allowed recruiters to
give potential recruits a swimming test. Swimming takes up a large part of SEAL
training, and difficulty in the water has been the cause of many, otherwise
suitable, candidates failing the training course. For over a year now, the navy
has hired former SEALs to act as part-time scouts, to find and encourage
potential SEAL recruits. But the navy would not allow the scouts to administer
swimming tests to potential recruits, because navy lawyers pointed out that
there were potential liability issues. The admirals decided that the SEAL
shortage issue outranked the legal liability issue, and has ordered its scouts
to give swimming tests to potential
recruits.