Cancel culture comes to the SEALs.
The Navy has modified its SEAL ethos and creed for special warfare combatant crewmen to remove references to "man" and "brotherhood" in favor of gender-neutral language, a Navy official said Monday.
"The previous versions of the SEAL Ethos and SWCC Creed were written prior to the law allowing women to serve as operators in Naval Special Warfare," said Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Stroup, a spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Command.
"Updates were overdue," Stroup added, noting that the changes were "favorably endorsed" by each of the unit's major commanders and command master chiefs. The changes were first reported by American Military News.
Adjustments were made to just a handful of words. The SWCC creed, which originally mentioned an "elite brotherhood of sailors" standing ready in our nation's time and need, was changed to an "elite group of maritime warriors."
The SEAL Ethos, meanwhile, declares its special breed of warriors are "common citizens" with an uncommon desire to succeed, in contrast to the "common man" of the original.
"Forged by adversity," the ethos continues, "they stand alongside America's finest special operations forces to serve their country, the American people, and protect their way of life. I am that warrior." (Original: "I am that man.")
Additionally, the final line of the ethos, which formerly opened with "brave men," was changed to "brave SEALs," which, it continues, "have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail."