On Monday, Phil Bronstein published an article in Esquire magazine about “the Shooter” of Osama bin Laden, his recollection of the raid, details of killing the terrorist who had been hiding since 9/11 and what his life is like now that he’s retiring from service.
Retired Navy SEAL Rick Woolard has a message for “the Shooter” and others feeling compelled to share their insider stories too: show some “professional dignity.” Others part of SEAL Team 6 have written books and helped with video game consulting based on their experiences.

his product image released by Electronic Arts shows action from the video game “Medal of Honor: Warfighter.” Seven members of the secretive Navy SEAL Team 6, including one involved in the mission to kill Osama bin Laden, have been punished for allegedly divulging classified information to the maker of the game, senior Navy officials said Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. (Photo: AP)

A copy of “No Easy Day”, an account of the killing of Osama Bin Laden on May 2, 2011 by the Navy SEALs who executed the mission, is viewed on the shelf of the bookstore Shakespeare and Company on September 4, 2012 in New York City. The controversial book by Mark Owen, a believed pen name for former SEAL Matt Bissonnette, was criticized d by the Pentagon for breaching nondisclosure agreements. (Photo:Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Woolard, who was a SEAL captain, shared his thoughts on SOFREP.com (the Special Operations Forces Report) starting with that he is not only disappointed with the SEAL for allowing an interview — “if in fact he did” — but also that Esquire published “too much info about the shooter’s command in the story.”
Here’s more of Woolard’s thoughts:
But before the usual retired SEALs rush in front of cameras to opine about The Shooter and further embarass the community, they should know that The Shooter’s command bent over backward and worked for months to keep him on active duty until he could retire. This included the Commander, Command Master Chief, and others who knew him well. The Shooter could have transferred to another less rigorous job at the command or to another SEAL organization and stayed on for another few years and then received retirement benefits. The command was saddened and disappointed when he got out.
I do feel for The Shooter, but no one made him leave the Navy before retirement age. To leave at 16 years was his call. He thought he had a plan that would make his retirement pension unnecessary and it did not work out.
As TheBlaze pointed out in its coverage of the The Shooter’s story in Esquire, his lack of healthcare as reported by Bronstein, who is the executive chairman of the Center for Investigative Reporting, might not be accurate. Woolard addressed this point as well writing that every Iraq and Afghanistan veteran is eligible for free healthcare from Veterans Affairs. Not only that but vocational rehabilitation is available as well.
“Did he attended his transition briefings?” Woolard wonders. “If so, he would have been told of these programs; they are no secret.”
SOFREP’s Brandon Webb wrote in the lead-in to Woolard’s opinion that the “SEAL community could learn a few lessons from Delta when it comes to setting clear guidelines on what’s appropriate and what’s not.”
Woolard ended with these words to the Shooter: “Maybe maintain some professional dignity, and stop helping to enrich people in the entertainment, book, and news businesses to the detriment of the honorable SEAL reputation many of us have bled to create.”





















































































































Derfel Cadarn
Feb. 16, 2013 at 5:31pmJust how does one maintain “:professional dignity” while shooting unarmed people ?
Report this comment
oldincarolina
Feb. 16, 2013 at 9:20amThis Navy Seal and many more men and women in uniform are making it possible for the politicians in Washington to get filthy rich . Without our military there would be no politicians to get rich , and there would be no Washington. It would have ceased to exist long ago. When are those in Washington going to realize that if they want to get rich , they must pay for protection to do so .
Report this comment
Dismayed Veteran
Feb. 14, 2013 at 3:18pmIn Vietnam, we knew heard about the SEALs but not a lot. We knew not to screw with them. They were ghosts and liked it that way. They should have stayed in the dark.
Report this comment
LeFaux Jew
Feb. 14, 2013 at 4:20pmYeah…movies etc.
Its like the reality “SWAT shows?
How moronic is that to give your enemies some possible tactical pointers?
Our culture is so messed up.
Report this comment
SlyOldDog
Feb. 14, 2013 at 4:30pmIf you were MI in Nam you know about Phoenix and you knew not to mess with them either.
Report this comment
JRook
Feb. 14, 2013 at 5:21pm“Retired Navy SEAL Rick Woolard has a message for “the Shooter” and others feeling compelled to share their insider stories too: show some “professional dignity.” So it seems in many areas such as the media on journalism professional ethics and integrity were more important that personal ideology and personal gain. But hey they are just exhibiting capitalistic spirit. Clearly as noted by their Seal critic they are not exhibiting their patriotism or citizenship very well.
Report this comment
Saff SGT
Feb. 14, 2013 at 3:02pmI done 12 years Army and dint get anything from them, but I am grateful they taught me how to kill Communist really well. this is going to come in handy i think in the next few years or earlier
Report this comment
DaveIn84
Feb. 14, 2013 at 3:22pmHow did they teach you to “kill communists really well”?
Report this comment
CanadaRocks
Feb. 14, 2013 at 3:26pmDude. You really need to seek help. No joke. There is something seriously wrong with you.
Report this comment
Verceofreason
Feb. 14, 2013 at 8:26pmDid you know, it’s perfectly legal to be a communist in America?
They even have papers on the newstand. That’s politics.
On the religious front, it’s perfectly legal to be a Muslim -and millions are.
WAAAAAAAAAAY over your head, I know.
Report this comment
sapper
Feb. 15, 2013 at 3:47pm@davein84
well son, what you do is chamber a cartridge, take careful aim and slowly squeeze the trigger. That’s how they trained me to kill communists anyway. Bearing in mind that we served during the cold war when the soviet union was still around. Now the communists are our own leaders…so what do we do…..maybe move to Russia?
Report this comment
Verceofreason
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:58pmHe left on his own free will.
No story here. Never was.
Move along.
No wonder Sharon Stone divorces Bronstein – he’s a schmuck.
Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:42pmLook at the congressmen and senators who have corners cut for them all the time when it comes to whatever they might want,it’s all BS with these prog criminals in our one party system. I see it this way the man had multiple deployments in places where 99.9999999% of the American population would fill their pants just thinking of going so cut some corners for the man he only risked his life multiple times as opposed to congressmen who sit around making laws and regulations they can break and suffer no consequences for. He didn’t reveal classified information because the Marxist POS hasn’t had him arrested and sent to GITMO. The fact that he’s walking free proves he didn’t reveal any classified information because Barry would have him sent to GITMO if there was a shred of evidence that he did.
Report this comment
barber2
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:22pmLook at me. Look at me. Me. Me. Me. Maybe mothers are just not holding their babies enough anymore.
Report this comment
LeFaux Jew
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:19pmIt is a point that some have made.
Think of all the “regulars” who do their time (20 years), have had injuries etc..
What kind of message is that sending to them?
They are less important, less valuable a soldier, sailor, marine, etc.?
Its the same thing in police work…people often make assumptions that the TACTICAL/ SWAT team is the most dangerous job. Its not. No way inferring that they are not important.
The grunt walking the beat that has to respond to domestics, or human service child removals from homes where everyone owns a firearm, is not nearly in the same controlled and team oriented environment….it is a far more dangerous job.
Obviously there is some huge stress issues going on here……Please don’t abandon him.
Report this comment
omgfolks
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:55pmTo the Seal’s past and current, I thank you for your service and the sacrifice you have made to defend this Great Nation. As a prior member of the Armed Forces I understand the need for secrecy I am dismayed that in our most elite of service members some how chosen to disregard the oath and share these secrets which could quite possibly put fellow Service Members in harms way. I for one do not care who pulled the trigger ending the life of that terrorist, what I care about is that the mission was completed. The Seal’s have long tradition of keeping secret the tasked set before only to share among fellow seals which is the way it should be. Being in a unit whereby you place you own life in the hands of unit members to entrust you as well as your team members to be successful and come home I feel sad that squeaky wheels are threatening this core values held by the team members. Our oath supersedes out personal gain even past our active duty status. To shop our missions in hollywood seeking fame and fortune goes against all I know and all I beleive in. We have been trained to adapt and overcome and this too is true in our civilian lives. So there is no excuse to compromise the units integrity. These seals who have broken this code need re-activated and dealt with, NOT BY DISMISSING THEM FROM SERVICE but by further training and involvement. They still deserve our respect but they need to heal the wounds created…. God Bless our Armed Forces past present and future….
Report this comment
Jenny Lind
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:54pmI am glad he spoke up. My nephew, retired seal, has never spoken out about his experiences to other than family and not even to all of them.
Report this comment
cemerius
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:16pmFor those who fought for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know.” ~ unknown
I had a heart felt response to your comment but I felt the above quote may protray it better than my long and drawn out response. Thank your Nephew for his service from this Combat Vet….Semper Fi
Report this comment
Jenny Lind
Feb. 14, 2013 at 3:11pmPS, my Marine Corps son is pretty tight lipped too.
Report this comment
Zoe
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:53pm“Maybe maintain some professional dignity, and stop helping to enrich people in the entertainment, book, and news businesses to the detriment of the honorable SEAL reputation many of us have bled to create.”
- AMEN! It’s a Young Guns Mentality? IMO, Just wasn’t the code where I come from-
Thank you ALL for serving!
Report this comment
strawberry411a
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:58pmYES! Thank you. ENOUGH already. At least 6 separate movies on Navy Seals, one with ACTIVE SEAL personnel while we still have troops n the ground in combat. Enough. What is with these current cohort of specops soldiers? And yet we never hear a word about the Army’s “18″ series MOS. These are the true quiet professionals. I think I have heard enough from “former” SEALs and current seals and the future SEALS>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Report this comment
media-bias-steals-elections
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:52pmI’m confused, I thought the guy that shot Bin Laden comitted suicide?
Dear soldiers, please accept our dear apologies for voting for these people, we are doing what we can to get you out of situations that violate our civil rights, your existence in Islamic states, helps support the religion of Islam, violating the 1st Amendment, and we are doing what you can not, petition common sense back into Congress?
Report this comment
Winedude
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:11pmConservatives, as stereotyped by Teabaggers, are America’s lost souls. A maladjusted generation who will waste themselves away pining for their fantasy white America that is long lost forevermore, unable to understand that they lost not because of how they said things but because of the things they said. When they lose, they can only lose because somebody cheated them. When they win, it was God’s grace or their manifest destiny. The sooner these cyclops die out, the easier the transition of the USA into the 21st century. Obama is the now and for the next four years. Get over it, or not. Really makes no big difference to me; we don’t need you anymore.
Report this comment
Cavallo
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:13pmThey think they are defending freedom, all the while back at home we’ve sold it all away for BoboPhones, false senses of security, and over reaching fascist schemes. It is one of the most tragic professions that exists. I just pray that someday they will defend or revive the freedoms we have lost.
Report this comment
PhantomsPhorever
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:16pmYa know he’s not a “soldier” right?
Report this comment
SquidVetOhio
Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:20pmReally makes no big difference to me; we don’t need you anymore.
Then why, O communist, are you hanging out on a conservative news site? Just to tell us how irrelevant we are? Oh yea, you’re really smart. That’s makes a lot of since. You’re a nobody. A parasite. You try to make yourself feel important by trashing us. The dirty little secret is, you’re not important. You’re opinion does not matter. You’re not persuading anyone. You are pathetic and I pity you. I hope you find some friends and a purpose for your life.
Report this comment
richauthor
Feb. 14, 2013 at 3:26pmWhinedude…
Obama ABANDONED our heroes in Benghazi, after taking full credit for what happened in Abbotabad. ‘Seems like the Tea Party and the existing military are the only ones who can see the folly in Obama’s missing leadership.
Report this comment
Osco
Feb. 14, 2013 at 3:32pmWine dude your Obama phone is ringing.
Report this comment
katzkiner
Feb. 14, 2013 at 5:06pmWineman: You Obamacytes are like a punk with a handfuls of credit cards who are drunk with living large. When none of the cards work you will sober up. We cyclopes are looking over your shoulder at the trainwreck coming down the tracks, but you are so busy laughing in our faces you never realise why we step off the tracks. Your guy is printing or borrowing .46 cents of every dollar he spends. Pride goeth before a fall. Enjoy the Obama train wreck. Maybe the Chinese will feed you, we won’t anymore.
Report this comment
Farmhand82
Feb. 14, 2013 at 6:11pmYep how’s that 21st century thinking treating Europe right now? Haha apparently us “teabaggers” are the only people who can rub two brain cells together and realize borrowing forty cents of every dollar spent just might not work out well in the long run. I know! Real shocker. It’s great for buying short term votes though, and that’s why it’s so hard to resist.
Report this comment
SamIamTwo
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:50pmAs the world churns, eh? More to it…pretty much a given since the Military are sticklers about taking care of their own. His plan for big bucks fizzled and he does this.
Report this comment
SquidVetOhio
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:49pmOh yea. Any Navy guy can now tell you that the Shooter was an enlisted guy. Great OPSEC guys.
Report this comment
SquidVetOhio
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:46pm“Did he attended his transition briefings?” Woolard wonders. “If so, he would have been told of these programs; they are no secret.”
First of all, you have to attend “SEPS” class (separation training) or the Navy will not outprocess you. This a 2 or 3 day class.
However, they (purposefully I believe) don’t necessarily tell you of all the benefits afforded to you. I went to the local VA a few months after separating to start my GI Bill to go to college. I was amazed at how many more benefits were available than the Navy’s SEP’s class told me about.
Report this comment
SamIamTwo
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:51pm100% correct…you’ve been dead on from the get go…excuse the pun.
Report this comment
vbell
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:42pm“. . . . show some “professional dignity”, even though the presidency (Biden) did not when he revealed the identity of Seal Team 6! ! !
Report this comment