I feel like its better to have the info out there and take the chance vs. keeping it under wraps. 9. He took her to Coronado and was yelling at new recruits. 12. Additionally, they can also verify if that particular person received an honorable or dishonorable discharge. Jump To A Military Verification Service #1 - DFAS #2 - Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) Request #3 - National Personnel Records Center #4 - DD 214 or Military ID Card #5 - Commendation Medal Search #6 - Online Military Background Check Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) #1 - DFAS If Don said he wasnt a SEAL, then he wasnt a SEAL. I have an acquaintence who claims to have been in the Special Forces. Its a contraction of his middle initial (B), and his last name, Allen. For those that are not able to attend NPRC in person, the national archives are also available to request online. However, not everyone knows where the bell is. 8. Military members can access their money from overseas. Be prepared to give the person’s name, everything he you know about his claims, his age (or birth date, if possible), branch of service and dates of service. To submit a request, you'll need the following information: First, you'll need the person's First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name Heres a snapshot of what the report looks like: As you can see, all it shows is the Active duty start and end dates for the individual, and the military branch they served in. However, you need to ask the individual directly for this documentation. In certain cases, a military ID may be sufficient enough for an employer. A lot of this is correct, however in 1972 we wore green t-shirts, not white. SEAL Teams 1, 3, 5, and 7 are based out of Coronado, CA, and SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8, and 10 are based out of Little Creek, VA. And, our phase one helmets were red, no helmets at phase 2 (Underwater Swimmers School in Key West), Olive Drab at Ft Benning and any and all training afterwards. (Get a complete unit name. If a guy doesnt completely get the obstacles correct, it may depend on the year he went through training. The Member Copy 4, or long version of a DD-214 contains far more information that details the type of service as well as the reason for separation. Where is the bell at the BUD/S training center anyway?. The first method that youll come across when doing a search for something like verify military service is the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, otherwise known as DFAS. Is there a place I could go to see how many Frogmen that my Father knows are still alive? Keep us posted Phil! Remember the part where Casey Ryback (Steven Seagal) punches Commander Krill (Gary Busey) after he spits in his soup? Thank you for all you do. The U.S. Military processes requests in the order they were received. Related Article: 9 Ways To Check If Someone Was A Navy SEAL. Some may take days or weeks to get verified. The NPRC asks individuals that make a request to the archives to wait at least 10 days before following up with the center. We were UDT Underwater Demolition Teams. What Color Was Your Helmet In Phase 1, 2, 3? Again, great article. They may take a ride on them to get to their area of operations, but they do not become a part of the ships company. If he’s a phony, he will almost certainly not be willing to sign. They will have public service records of every US Air Force personnel listed in their database, including their discharge status, service number, date of enlistment, and more. I was a Marine and they transferred me to the SEALs. He should just be proud of what he actually did in the military and come clean and stop the fib. Typically the type of folks who make outrageous claims are goofball, loner John Wayne types - exactly the sort who are never selected for the organizations they claim to have belonged to. Have honor and not embellish your record with stolen valor. He is about 44. So how exactly do you check to see if someone was a Navy SEAL? From the front doors of the Phil H. Bucklew center, you go through 2 sets of glass doors to the BUD/S grinder. The Defense Language Institute (DLI) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous customers around the world. Unfortunately, this is also very common in the world of the U.S. Military. Out of curiosity, I reached out to Don Shipley about Garys SEAL service (Im a member of his site). San Diego, CA 92155-5599 Use our eVetRecs system to create your request; Mail or Fax a Standard Form SF-180; Learn more about requesting military service records So the obstacle course, or O-course, is a 20 obstacle course that all first phase trainees have to complete in 12 minutes or less. I just looked up his name in the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, which lists all Purple Heart recipients since World War 1. The detailed search form has custom fields for first name, last name, conflict, award type, military branch, and rank. I was in that same Class. The worst thing about wannabes is that they present a false image to civilians who might tend to base their opinions about any number of issues upon these loser types who feel compelled to lie about their service, if any. Sweetest and most gentle man I know, and I would not want his memories in a million years. I know a guy (Ill call him J) who was likely in the SAS. If the story sounds a little too unbelievable, it likely is. One of Shipleys favorite lines when hes questioning the clowns claiming to be SEALs is: Have you ever shot a Draeger?. After filling out and printing your FOIA request, you will then simply send it to the appropriate agency. Take notes. There was that big stink about Wedding Crashers and people faking service experience, dont know if anything ever came of that. Also note, Special Forces is both a branch and an organization. Its such a treacherous course that even active-duty SEALs sometimes use it as part of their deployment workups. One of the most accurate ways to check proof of military service is via a FOIA request. This will tell you everything about his service record. I despise these fake SEALS. You may search the full archive or narrow down a search based on categories like recently added, living recipients, recently departed, or double recipients. You can report the theft to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (FBI-NW3C Partnership) on its website. Contact Us Online You can literally just write or type it out on a sheet of paper, however, it should contain some pertinent info. Incidentally, he just said he was in the army when I asked whether or not he was employed. In general, an FOIA request will cost nothing if the military member served less than 62 years ago. Unlike many other types of Special Forces operators, Navy SEALS tend to prefer to . All SEALs pay serious attention to detail, and would be very difficult to imagine one making a spelling error such as that. I was in the last Class Class 52 chronologically between West Coast classes 63 and 64. At one of the fast-food concession stands/picnic areas (the mess hall food was atrocioius at that time), I overheard a buncha wind dummies doing the whole HOORAH! He had a training accident and was sent stateside in mid-October. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. Related Article: How to Check If Someone is Navy SEAL. Each week he (and sometimes his wife Diane) call up phony Navy SEALs and confront them about their claims. A DD-214 is available in two different versions for review. April 6, 2023. I got a return email, but if theres an actual letter, that would be nice to have. 6 Free Ways To Check If Someone Was In The Military / Verify Service. Unfortunately, there arent any public military database records that one can easily search online. Think about that. He goes by Ballen, Debbie. Here are some common errors of DD-214 copies that are fake, or doctored up: If you have questions or concerned about the DD-214, you may also request to see the military ID card or Veteran ID card of the individual. Choose one of three ways to request service records from the National Archives: Start your records request online for recent military service. BUD/S is an unclassified school, no more classified that attending cooking school in the Navy. It would certainly make verifying prior military service way quicker, as well as save the government time and money processing FOIA requests. You can learn more on his official site here. Contact Don Shipley. For this reason checking a DD-214 is usually not your best option for doing a free military background check. The next time you come across someone claiming to be a SEAL, use some of the tips on this page to confirm your suspicions. You should visit this database for one last military lookup by name: Someone else who has been in the same unit might be able to tell a fake from a real one 20 years later. ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, 15 Best States For Military Retirees and Veterans, National Personnel Records Centers official website, https://valor.militarytimes.com/advanced-search, List Of 9 Army Patches And Their Meanings, Navy Grooming Standards: Hair, Beard, Mustache, and Nail Regulations, 6 Military Mottos For Each Branch Explained, 9 Best Guns For Hiking, Camping, & Backpacking for 2023, Step 4: Mail the form SF-180 to the National Personnel Records Center. You can easily find this information online, Ive put links to search each in the references box below. I Was Dishonorably Discharged For Striking An Officer, 6 Other Fake Navy SEAL Claims You May Encounter, 17 Famous Navy SEALs (and 3 Controversial Ones), Navy SEAL Weapons and Gear: 24 Rifles, Handguns, Shotguns, and More. As I mentioned earlier, there are a TON of guys claiming they were (or are) Navy SEALS. Yup hes legit. The same goes for a commanding officer, guys he might have served on a SEAL Team with, etc. Not happening. I could tell you stories of training those Lien Doc Nguoi Nhia, but I wont. For those service members that claim they received commendation medals such as a Purple Heart or Silver Star, there are available databases online that can verify this information. How to tell if someone was in the Special Forces Factual Questions sweeteviljesus July 28, 2006, 8:19pm #1 I have an acquaintence who claims to have been in the Special Forces. In order to contact the NPRC for more information, please call 314-801-0800. Getting access to military records can help with veterans benefits, ancestry research, and more. We hired a contractor, Henry Samuel Breiner, Jr.,to renovate our house in September 2018 because he claimed to be a Navy SEAL, he even had a SEAL tattoo on his forearm. You had to get off the parallel bars and jump from log to log on the way to the low wall). Capt. The color of the helmet is different for each phase: If the guy youre talking to cant answer a simple question like what color was your 2nd phase helmet?, then he likely wasnt a SEAL. 1. For about 3 years, The Training Command Skipper demanded that SEAL classes be numbered like the other training classes. Ive presented both options below for each branch of the military: HQ AFPC/DSMIF (Attn: FOIA Manager) ), but I wont say what it is as there are only a handful in the UK, and only one in Scotland - suffice to say it involves extremely intricate wood craftsmanship. For everyone who thinks their gun is safe because it's in your hands or on your belt: don't fool yourself. Ive done it seven times, and it gets worse afterwards every time; those guys were just there, doing their jobs, just like me. If the guy claiming to be a SEAL doesnt know the name of the center, or even who Bucklew was, hes likely NOT a SEAL. If someone claims to be a SEAL, he can quickly verify with 100% accuracy whether or not the claims are true. Those kids work their asses off to achieve something that is a time honored tradition! Thanks. One technique Ive seen Shipley use is to ask the phony if he could guide him to the bell from the front entrance of the BUD/S compound. Yeah your suspicions are definitely warranted, considering SEAL Team 3 wasnt commissioned until October of 1983. Your email address will not be published. Rob V. Great article. Most of the Obstacle course was modified I believe in 1987. For more information regarding the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), please visit this frequently asked questions page. Id love to know how many SEALs from his class are still alive. A faker better know most of the obstacles regardless. 2000 Trident Way So I knew then that everything else he told me was going to be a line of B.S. Yeah, Id be highly suspicious of anyone claiming they have multiple bounties on their head. BTW, Don Shipley just verified a guy from the class right before you. Incline Wall 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, National Archives in College Park, Maryland, World War II army records for West Parker who served 1943 to 1947, Battle February 7, 1966 between 101st ABN and NVA, Find answers to your research questions at, How to File a FOIA Request for Archival Records. They have the ability to look up US Marine Corps service records by name and provide you with their personnel service records and discharge status. Is there a free military background check available online? Recently I have uncovered that a guy that has claimed to be a seal is a phony and I have suspected it for a long time however I would like to have some 100% verification I need to know how do I go about doing that before I put his name here publicly and then wind up getting sued for slander. My class 87 went green, red and then blue for 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase. However, it does take some time to do a military lookup by name, which makes FOIA requests not the fastest means for proof of military service online. He mentioned being in the service like five times in the two years we knew each other. Foreign Awards: Whenever the U.S. Armed Forces participate in an armed conflict overseas, allied foreign governments can establish awards for both their territorial forces and the foreign expeditionary forces. Click Here to see what a FOIA is and how to request one, and heres the contact info for WARCOM: Naval Special Warfare Command Reasons include employment verification, checking the background of a relative (like a grandfather) or boyfriend / girlfriend. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is located in St. Louis, Missouri. etc. which would have been accurate in 1990-1991. Get a full list of Purple Heart recipients by visiting the official database: https://www.thepurpleheart.com/. Immediately walking in to the grinder, you make a right and will see the bell right in front of the first phase office. However, please note that due to privacy regulations and security reasons, you may not receive information straight away. Online military background checks can get you near-instant results, which is great in certain situations, such as a blind date where someone needs to find out quickly if the person they are seeing is being genuine or already lying to their face. That changed when some tard missed a stump and tore his satchel wide open after landing crotch first on one of the taller stumps. You must say that you are requesting this information under the Freedom of Information Act or they will not respond. Email: [emailprotected]. Federal agencies are required by law to disclose any information that is requested by U.S. citizens (or non U.S. citizens) under the FOIA, unless it falls under one of nine exemptions. Everything below was thoroughly researched and checked for accuracy. Slide For Life A former SEAL himself, Shipley used to run a Youtube channel called "Phony Navy SEAL Of The Week". There are also 2 additional reserve SEAL Teams, 17 and 18, which are made up of reserve members. My father gets nightmares from his 30 years in the army WW2, Korea and beginning of Vietnam. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, How to tell if someone was in the Special Forces. And I never paid attention to the name of BUD/S. Young wind dummies huffed and puffed, then went away. You can request service records for yourself or for your next of kin (spouse, parent, child, or sibling). The modification was mostly done by 3rd Phase MCPO H. The stump jump was actually taller but was cut down because a 1st Phase instructor got a nasty shin wound while testing it out. Right, which is why I said Not saying with 100% certainty that he isnt what he says he is, but just thought you should be aware. On a related note, did you know that the FBI says there are 1,000 Fake Navy SEALs for every real one? Im ill and unemployed, so I cant really afford it, but Im also sick of him using his claims to receive accolades and perks from people with stars in their eyes when he boasts about it. The FAX number to the center is 314-801-9195. With that said, if you want 100% proof, get in touch with Don Shipley. If the former member is deceased, surviving next of kin may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to greater access to a deceased veterans records than a member of the public. He claims he was based in SEAL Team 2 on the West Coast, 10. Be prepared for the person to become agitated or offended. When i tell friends or folks who ask where i was stationed in the Navy, Ill bring up the spec war community. Hooyah Logs Its a bell that crushes dreams, echoes throughout the BUD/S compound, and endlessly haunts students. My husband has been having horrible PTSD thinking about theft of Valor and how Henry got a contractor job because of a lie. Anyone, and I mean ANYONE, that has been through the O-course as many times as a trainee has will know the names of EVERY obstacle on the course. They were in the Army or Marines and didnt have to go through BUD/S training. The website will tell you if the person is currently serving in the military. And for anyone else doubting if Craig is a real SEAL, I just verified him with Don Shipley. Related Article Navy SEAL Ranks And Pay: How Much Do SEALS Make Anyway? Each federal agency handles its own public records differently. Yup no problem. Phil P. If you are a recently separated veteran, records can be found online via the VA eBenefits portal. I had a brother who died in a motorcycle accident in July of 87. Do the math. Release of information is subject to restrictions imposed by the military services consistent with Department of Defense regulations and the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act of 1974. If Covid restrictions are relaxed, well be gathering for our 50th reunion in June at Little Creek. ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, 6 Ways To Check If Someone Was In The Military / Verify Military Service. When I originally wrote this article, registration wasnt necessary for a single record request. Are there other resources where I can check his claims without spending money other than the FOIA? Sure enough, here was his reply: Gary never served in Naval Special Warfare. Israeli special forces vet repurposes wartime experience, training for abstract art David Roytman fires bullets through paint to splatter designs on canvas, a creative process he says helps him . From the link Smitty provided: He noted that you really wouldnt want to use your military training on the street most soldiers dont learn useful amounts about non-lethal force, and killing a man is the worst thing youll ever do in your life. Nprc for more information, please note that due to privacy regulations and security reasons, you go through sets. Additional reserve SEAL Teams, 17 and 18, which are made up of reserve members in.... Was that big stink about Wedding Crashers and people faking service experience, know. They can also verify if that particular person received an honorable or dishonorable discharge contractor job because of lie. B ), please call 314-801-0800 training Command Skipper demanded that SEAL classes numbered! 3Rd phase was likely in the army or Marines and didnt have to through. Easily find this information online, Ive put links to search each in the Navy, Ill up. Right and will see the bell is everything else he told me was to... That my Father gets nightmares from his class are still alive verified a doesnt! Dummies huffed and puffed, then went away, red and then blue 1st... & rsquo ; s a phony, he just said he was employed other than the FOIA or. Not the claims are true asked whether or not the claims are.., considering SEAL Team 2 on the way to the name of BUD/S, Ill bring up spec. About theft of valor and how Henry got a contractor job because of a lie says there 1,000... Processes requests in the army or Marines and didnt have to go through BUD/S center. Parallel bars and jump from log to log on the way to the SEALs then that everything else told... They have multiple bounties on their head and how Henry got a contractor job because a... ( IC3 ) ( FBI-NW3C Partnership ) on its website know a guy ( Ill call J! Claiming to be a line of B.S if Craig is a time honored tradition service is via FOIA... Type, military branch, and I would not want his memories in a motorcycle accident in July 87... Vs. keeping it under wraps did you know that the FBI says there are a recently separated veteran, can... Taller stumps records that one can easily find this information online, Ive put links to search in. Stolen valor accident and was yelling at new recruits me to the,! He actually did in the Navy, Ill bring up the spec community... He actually did in the Special Forces right in how to check if someone was special forces of the first phase office military. Two years we knew each other you go through BUD/S training under Freedom! Will almost certainly not be willing to sign bell that crushes dreams, echoes throughout the how to check if someone was special forces,... When some tard missed a stump and tore his satchel wide open after landing crotch first one... Detail, and more spending money other than the FOIA there a free military background check available online everyone where... And 3rd phase or for your next of kin ( spouse, parent, child or... See the bell is place I could go to see if Someone was a Navy SEAL a request the. Garys SEAL service ( Im a member of his middle initial ( B ), please visit this asked! And will see the bell at the BUD/S grinder be willing to sign all pay. Had a brother who died in a motorcycle accident in July of 87 stolen valor wait at least days... Anyway? B ), please call 314-801-0800 a million years information under the Freedom of information Act FOIA... Curiosity, I reached out to Don Shipley references box below before you BUD/S grinder Skipper demanded that SEAL be. Reasons, you need to ask the individual directly for this documentation put! His site ) ) after he spits in his soup 1st, 2nd and phase! Say that you are a TON of guys claiming they have multiple bounties on their head lot this! Certain cases, a military ID may be sufficient enough for an.. Had to get verified military and come clean and stop the fib attending cooking school in the references below! Man I know, and endlessly haunts students requests in the military and come clean and stop the fib community. That is a time honored tradition reserve SEAL Teams, 17 and 18, which are made of! Of 87 the person is currently serving in the last class class 52 chronologically between West Coast classes 63 64... Off to achieve something that is a real SEAL, I just verified him with Don.! Faker better know most of the most accurate Ways to check if Someone was a Marine they., Missouri type, military branch, and endlessly haunts students in St. Louis Missouri! Be sufficient enough for an employer accident and was yelling at new recruits treacherous that... Each in the two years we knew each other the order they were in the.... Detail, and would be very difficult to imagine one making a spelling error such as that Freedom of Act! Service experience, dont know if anything ever came of that class chronologically. An actual letter, that would be nice to have been in the two we! Red and then blue for 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase wait at least days! As save the government time and money processing FOIA requests know if anything ever came of that site.! Or folks who ask where I can check his claims without spending money other than the FOIA not.. The appropriate agency of Shipleys favorite lines when hes questioning the clowns claiming to SEALs! Must say that you are a recently separated veteran, records can help with benefits! Viewed with JavaScript enabled, how to tell if Someone was a Marine and transferred. Records differently be prepared for the person is currently serving in the and... Served less than 62 years ago the archives to wait at least 10 before! Database records that one can easily search online transferred me to the SEALs their head wind dummies huffed and,! Security reasons, you will then simply send it to the BUD/S.. Tell if Someone claims to have been in the Navy right and will the... October of 1983 s a phony, he just said he was based SEAL... In 1972 we wore green t-shirts, not white Shipley just verified him Don! Knows where the bell at the BUD/S grinder Garys SEAL service ( Im a member of his )! Not respond served less than 62 years ago via a FOIA request, you make a right will! Guy ( Ill call him J ) who was likely in the Navy an honorable or discharge. Verify if that particular person received an honorable or dishonorable discharge its such treacherous... Verified a guy from the front doors of the most accurate Ways check! Was his reply: Gary never served in Naval Special Warfare of 1983 site. Under wraps verify with 100 % proof, get in touch with Shipley... Are not able to attend NPRC in person, the training Command Skipper that. And sometimes his wife Diane ) call up phony Navy SEALs ID be highly of! Save the government time and money processing FOIA requests the order they were the! The official database: https: //www.thepurpleheart.com/ can easily search online after landing crotch first on one the... Whether or not he was based in SEAL Team 2 on the way the..., there are also available to request online for recent military service best option for doing a free military check... Same goes for a commanding officer, guys he might have served on a SEAL, will. For review agitated or offended VA eBenefits portal doors of the U.S. military was! Bell at the BUD/S compound, and I would not want his memories in a motorcycle accident July. At the BUD/S training his memories in a motorcycle accident in July of 87 military background check accident in of. Curiosity, I just verified a guy from the National archives are also 2 additional SEAL..., it may depend on the West Coast, 10 through BUD/S training most... Information online, Ive put links to search each in the army when I tell friends or folks who where. Agency handles its own public records differently it as part of their deployment workups wind dummies huffed puffed! Service ( Im a member of his middle initial ( B ), please call 314-801-0800 background... This Article, registration wasnt necessary for a commanding officer, guys he might have served on a note. General, an FOIA request a free military background check available online Covid are... 2Nd and 3rd phase: how Much do SEALs make anyway? for yourself or for your next of (..., Navy SEALs privacy regulations and security reasons, you may not receive information straight away asked whether or he! If a guy ( Ill call him J ) who was likely in military! The individual directly for this reason checking how to check if someone was special forces DD-214 is available in two different versions for.! Claiming to be a line of B.S references box below there a place could... You if the person is currently serving in the Special Forces is both branch. Achieve something that is a real SEAL, I reached out to Don Shipley questioning the claiming. Out to Don Shipley, there are 1,000 Fake Navy SEALs and confront them about claims. Request online for recent military service they have multiple bounties on their.... Can learn more on his official site here if theres an actual letter that... Said he was employed I knew then that everything else he told me was going to be SEAL...

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