The Patriot Post® · SEAL Patch Spat Correction

Monday, we reported on a Navy directive prohibiting SEALs from using The First Navy Jack with the words “Don’t Tread On Me.” That information came to us from former SEAL Team 10 veteran Carl Higbie. Soon after publishing, we were contacted by one of our Patriot readers with information to the contrary. Indeed, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Sarah Flaherty told Navy Times, “As of September 2013, all Naval Special Warfare personnel are authorized to wear the U.S. flag and the ‘Don’t Tread on me’ uniform patches. In the past, NSW did not authorize wearing either patch unless one was deployed or in a work-up cycle. However, NSW recently sought special permission from the Chief of Naval Operations staff to wear the patches within the continental United States.” While someone downstream from the CNO may have issued a directive to the contrary, the current directive as noted by Lt. Cmdr. Flaherty trumps any other.