The nuclear powered fast-attack submarine USS Seawolf sails into Apra Harbor, outside of Naval Base Guam, in 2022. The Navy is conducting new training for many medical providers related to radiation examinations for service members. (Zachary Grooman/U.S. Navy)

The Navy has ordered medical providers who screen sailors for some of its most hazardous assignments to undergo training after finding unmet requirements during health exams.

The special duty examinations at issue are used to qualify sailors for diving, nuclear field duty, special operations and submarine assignments.

The directive last week from Rear Adm. Darin Via, the surgeon general of the Navy, was prompted by “substantiated allegations regarding improper performance and documentation” of exams.

It applies to undersea medical officers and examiners; aerospace medicine residents and specialists; and submarine independent duty corpsmen, among others. The focused training must be completed by Aug. 31.

The review also applies to radiation medical examinations that certify workers to receive occupational exposure to ionizing radiation, the Navy said.

Ionizing radiation is the release of energy in the form of atomic and subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves, such as X-rays or gamma rays.

The Aug. 8 order did not specify the allegations or say how many providers may not have met requirements, which include appropriate examination, documentation and program management. It also did not say how many sailors or civilians may be affected.

The Navy requires personnel in certain jobs, such as handling radioactive material, to undergo physicals to confirm they do not have a condition that could disqualify them from the work or endanger others, according to a 2022 Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program report.

Service members and other personnel are periodically reevaluated to ensure they still meet requirements, the report stated.

The Navy also monitors sailors and civilian personnel for radiation exposure, including those serving aboard nuclear-powered submarines, aircraft carriers and at facilities that build, maintain, overhaul and refuel the vessels.

Via’s order also requires medical commands to contact all sailors and civilian workers qualified for nuclear field duty or occupational exposure to ionizing radiation, in order to review their most recent special duty exam to ensure compliance with required standards.

Those who can’t recall their last such exam, can’t confirm that it was done appropriately or have incomplete or erroneous documentation must be reexamined, the order said.

Results of the audit must be reported to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, according to the order.