There is one medal that all Navy SEALs will acquire during their years of service.  This medal is commonly referred to as the “SEAL Trident.”  However, it is also known as the Special Warfare Insignia or “The Budweiser”.  This medal is a sign that the person who wears it has successfully passed the Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training.  This is a special training session that must be passed by all individuals before they become an official Navy SEAL.

This medal was created in the 1960’s and is now a symbol of stature and respect.  When this medal was first formulated it came in two specific types: silver and gold.  The silver medal was awarded for those who enlisted in the Navy and the gold was specific to officers.  However, in the 1970’s this medal was dropped to gold alone for all individuals who passed BUD/S training.

Over the years individuals who have not passed BUD/S training on their own have purchased variations of this medal to wear in honor of their family members or children who have passed BUD/S training.   The only difference between these store bought “SEAL Trident” medals and the actual “SEAL Trident” medals, is the fact that the actual medal is issued by the Navy.

For those men who do wear the “SEAL Trident” and have passed their BUD/S training, they will consider their medal to be one of their most prized possessions and a constant reminder of the hard work and great accomplishment that they have made in their Navy life.