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This is for the old timers here. I saw a Marines shadow box from his time in Vietnam. He had the seal trident on display with all of his other medals and ribbons. Back in that time could a Marine have earned the trident?
Posted in these groups: 
Special Forces
Stolen Valor
Navy SEALs
Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School (BUD/S)
Special Forces Stolen Valor Navy SEALs Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School (BUD/S)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
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Only Sailors and a very select few foreigners have gone through BUDs. Master Chief Don Shipley has answered this a few times on his "Phony SEAL of the Week" videos.
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He may have served in the navy then went marines or vice- versa ask before you jump to conclusions
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LCDR (Join to see)
I would give your scenario a slim to none grade. SEALs are all about team. I had multiple friends that I was stationed with that were offered the same deal I took. All of them, save none, turned their commission down and stayed enlisted because they were not guaranteed to be in the Teams once they were "O"s. Now with that said I think the chances were pretty good but they would not take that chance. Why would a SEAL leave the Navy then join the Marines? There was a period after Vietnam when the Navy was allowing vets to come back in because they could not find employment on the outside, this program was called NAVETS. Not sure the Marines had a similar program. Again if you let the professional look into it they have everyone who ever passed BUDs on one list. Pasing BUDs does not make you a SEAL but you cannot be a SEAL without passing BUDs.
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CPO (Join to see)
LCDR (Join to see) - Sir, hate to tell you this, but service transfers for SEAL's do and can happen all the time. There are several that have crossed over to Army as Doctors and Chaplains, also Pilots, so yes it does happen. There are also to famous SEAL's one was Force then went SEAL and other went SEAL to Raiders so yes it can and does happen. Today passing BUD's does make you a SEAL because it is now third phase SQT, they get their Pin after that. They use to do a 6-12 month Probation on a Team then get the trident, now they do SQT and earn trident and on to a team.
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Suspended Profile
CPO (Join to see) - You are only partially right. Yes, there are service transfers and I know of SEALs who left the Teams to become Navy doctors, Army pilots, etc. However, you do not become a SEAL after third phase of BUD/S. SQT immediately follows BUD/S, but it is not BUD/S and it is certainly not 3rd phase. Passing BUD/S gets you in the door to starting your process to become a SEAL, but it does not mean you have made it.
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I am not a Naval Special Warfare expert, but the Naval Special Warfare insignia was not created until October 1970. Prior to that there was a UDT badge which is similar but not the same.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Warfare_insignia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Warfare_insignia
Special Warfare insignia - Wikipedia
The Special Warfare insignia, also known as the “SEAL Trident” or its more popular nickname, "The Budweiser," recognizes those members of the United States Navy who have completed the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, completed SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) and have been designated as U.S. Navy SEALs. It is one of the most recognizable breast insignia of the U.S. Navy.
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