Seven Navy SEALs disciplined for involvement with Medal of Honor Warfighter (update)

Seven members of the U.S. Navy SEALs have been reprimanded and face further punishment for their participation in the development of EA's Medal of Honor Warfighter, CBS News reports.

According to the report, the members are currently under investigation for serving as paid consultants on Warfighter. It is believed that the Navy SEALs used classified material which had been given to them by the Navy while consulting on the game. In addition, CBS reports that their participation as consultants is a violation of an unwritten code that "SEALs are silent warriors who shun the spotlight."

While it is unclear what classified information the SEALs provided to EA, the game publisher has publicized that real members of the military — both active and retired — served as consultants on the game to make it as authentic as possible.

The seven members of SEAL Team 6 who served as paid consultants on the game are still on active duty, with CBS reporting that one of them was on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Four other members who have since transferred out of the unit but are still on duty are also under investigation.

The seven have reportedly received letters of reprimand and had half their pay taken away for two months.

Polygon has reached out to the Navy's media center and EA for comment.

Update: When reached for comment about whether EA was briefed on what the Navy SEALs could or could not discuss and the involvement of the U.S. Department of Defense, EA said: "We do not know if the veterans who consulted on the game were in contact with the Department of Defense."

Update 2: The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed with Polygon that seven Naval Special Warfare personnel are facing administrative proceedings over violations that resulted from their involvement with Medal of Honor Warfighter. We were issued the following statement:

A non-judicial punishment hearing was conducted yesterday, Nov. 7 and seven Naval Special Warfare (NSW) personnel faced administrative proceedings. An additional NSW investigation is ongoing to determine if more personnel may be involved.

They are being charged with violation of Article 92: Orders violation, misuse of command gear and violation of Article 92: Dereliction of duty, disclosure of classified material.

Two Senior Chief Special Operators and five Chief Special Operators received the punishment. They received a punitive letter of reprimand and forfeiture of ½ month's pay for two months.