I was watching a show on the military channel this morning. It was about a stryker unit rescuing a couple of Kiowa pilots. During one part of the show they were interviewing a captain in the army. On his uniform, he was wearing a trident. It struck me kind of odd. I was just wondering if there were any regulations on an army soldier wearing the trident.
Originally posted by 10203209: I was watching a show on the military channel this morning. It was about a stryker unit rescuing a couple of Kiowa pilots. During one part of the show they were interviewing a captain in the army. On his uniform, he was wearing a trident. It struck me kind of odd. I was just wondering if there were any regulations on an army soldier wearing the trident.
I know of at least two Army Helo pilots, past graduate SEALs, who are allowed by Army Regs to wear their SEAL Trident. One of these pilots has been Authenticated several times as he has appeared in more than one media outlet.
It is an Army Reg that allows what Badges may be worn by Army personnel. It is the basic Service, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, etc. that regulates who earns what while in the basic Service.
I came across the e-mail address of the Army Captain in question right after I watched the same Stryker episode on TV. Major John H**** is a former enlisted SEAL and current US Army Special Forces Officer. At the time the episode was filmed, CPT (now MAJ) H**** was in fact the commander of the Stryker unit on the documentary, as part of a professional development tour.
I'm an Army man I can say that on a case by case basis, officer or enlisted may be auth'd to wear other branch awards...Army wearing Trident, Marine wearing Ranger Tab, etc. I actually know of a First Sergeant who was prior enlisted SEAL that wears his ALL the time. I heard some punk Army LT tried to make him take it off and the 1SG told if the LT could take it off him without losing his army first, then he would...the LT never opened his mouth again! Respect!
I have a buddy who I am in the 'Bees with who is former SEAL. And he doesn't wear his. When command asked him why, he said, because teh unit you are with's warfare pin has to be on top, he certainly wasn't going to put his trident under his SCWs pin. I always told him to tell them, that when they earned the trident, then the could do what they wanted to as well.
We had an 0-4 Major in my Infantry battalion in Korea back in 1989 who wore the trident on his BDU's. He was prior service navy who had switched over to the Army.
i realize this is an old thread but i can testify for a 1LT in the Army who was a prior Navy SEAL. He wore his trident in OCS and got a lot of flack for it, but in the end, I think the Ranger qualified cadre had a lot of respect for the guy.
