Admiral: SEAL shooter knew he'd lose benefits

Tony Lombardo, Navy Times | Navy Times

The "man who killed Osama bin Laden," featured in the March issue of Esquire magazine, knew full-well he was leaving the service short of a retirement and without benefits, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command says.

The so-called bin Laden "shooter" made world headlines this week after the story asserted that the former SEAL was "screwed" by losing his military health insurance benefits when he left service in September.

But Rear Adm. Sean Pybus said the SEAL in the article knew what he was giving up in leaving service with 16 years, shy of the 20-year retirement mark.

"Concerning recent writing and reporting on 'The Shooter' and his alleged situation, this former SEAL made a deliberate and informed decision to leave the NAVY several years short of Retirement status," Pybus said in a statement. "Months ahead of his separation, he was counseled on status and benefits, and provided with options to continue his career until Retirement eligible. Claims to the contrary in these matters are false."

Even so, Pybus adds, "Naval Special Warfare and the Navy are prepared to help this former service member address health or transition issues, as we would with other former members."

Lt. Cmdr. David McKinney, a spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Command, would not confirm if the subject of the Esquire article was indeed the SEAL who killed bin Laden.

"The Shooter," as he is referred to in the story, is never identified. According to Esquire, he had 12 long-term deployments and 30-plus kills.

"My health care for me and my family stopped at midnight Friday night," he said in the story, referring to his end of service. "I asked if there was some transition from my Tricare to Blue Cross Blue Shield. They said no. You're out of the service, your coverage is over. Thanks for your sixteen years."

He told Esquire he has lost some vision and was planning to buy private insurance for $486 a month but will have to pay out of pocket for some chiropractic care.

Stars and Stripes newspaper refuted the SEAL's claim in a report released Monday. All combat veterans, including the SEAL, are eligible for five years of free health care through the Veterans Affairs Department. And no service member who does less than 20 years gets a pension, unless he has to medically retire.

Phil Bronstein, who wrote the Esquire article, told Stars and Stripes the SEAL was unaware of the VA benefits at the time of the interview.

Esquire later revised its story, adding a correction that reads, "A previous version of this story misstated the extent of the five-year health care benefits offered to cover veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since the article, the ex-SEAL has visited with lawmakers to discuss veterans benefits.

His meetings included a sit-down with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who chairs the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Sanders was interested in gaining perspective on how long it takes the VA to process disability claims, said Michael Briggs, the senator's press spokesman.

Associates of the former SEAL set up the meeting, Briggs said. He declined to say whether the SEAL revealed his true identity.