But what do you say if he comes back with a class that might potentially match up? Weve gotten a lot of questions about this. Furthermore, there were no Airborne operations in Afghanistan in 2005. Unfortunately, there arent any public military database records that one can easily search online. On average, only 20 25% of BUD/S candidates successfully complete the training. If you're trying to find out whether or not someone served in the military, here are 6 ways you can verify someone's military service. 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. Enlisted Soldiers are the backbone of the Army, responsible for carrying out orders and ensuring the success of their unit's mission. Oh, and I forgot to say, if you have any doubt, then he didnt. Weaver Quick Note: SEAL training also used to be conducted at Little Creek, VA for a period of time. Is there a free military background check available online? All Rights Reserved. Thus, the response time may vary. The same goes for a commanding officer, guys he might have served on a SEAL Team with, etc. All military records are kept at the National Personnel Records Center (or NPRC), which is located in St. Louis, Missouri. My husband was a Marine assigned to the Tehran Embassy in 1979. ), · What was his Military Occupational Specialty? Hoo-yah! If this is you, then you need to do whats known as a Freedom of Information Act Request, or FOIA. For the purposes of this article, well just use the Single Record Request. Personnel Force InnovationFreedom of Information ActDFAS HotlineContact Us Accessibility / Section 508EEO / No Fear Act, An official website of the United States government, Providing payment services for the U.S. Department of Defense, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Pentagon to conduct internal review on access to classified documents in the wake of leak scandal, US, Australia to hold largest-ever Talisman Sabre military drills this summer, US Forces Korea commander warns sexual assailants: You are now the hunted, Accused documents leaker had highest security clearance, worked at intelligence gathering unit, Foul weather fails to deter crowds from Marine air stations open house in Japan, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. Last updated: Click Here if youre affiliated with a private corporation and are seeking to verify someones military service for employment purposes. My son in laws father served in Vietnam as a UDT. SEALs arent stationed on ships. ), 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. 6. Related Article BUD/S Class 234: Where Are They Now? It takes time for the NPRC to receive and process your request given their workload. The service member (either past or present) or the members legal guardian has access to almost any information contained in that members own record. All in all, youre looking at about 4 8 weeks to receive a response to your FOIA request. It reports that peak calling time occurs between 10 am and 3 pm CST, Monday-Friday. While the missions SEALs do can (and often are) be classified, the fact that someone was ever a Navy SEAL and/or attended BUD/S does not mean that their information isnt publicly available. This is somewhat related to the question above. However, there is NO such thing as a SEAL Team 9. The quickest way to find someone in the military is to visit the official Servicemembers Civil Relief Act website. Additionally, theres no way the phonies are going to pull a fast one on Don Shipley. My records are only accessible to the POTUS. So how exactly do you check to see if someone was a Navy SEAL? Not saying with 100% certainty that he isnt what he says he is, but just thought you should be aware. He was in a single digit BUDs class. Robert Ray Alexander. Thanks for that James, Ill try to get that added shortly. Struans special forces vet sounds like the one I met. Transfer Rope Current and Former Military It costs only $20, and he will also issue you a verification letter that states whether or not the person was ever a SEAL. It should be easy to trip up a phony SEAL by asking them to name any of the obstacles on the O-Course. Ask him what colour the boathouse is at Hereford. Many fake Navy SEALs will claim that their records have been deemed classified, they were burned in the 1973 records center fire (barely any Navy records were touched, btw), or some other B.S. There is a dog trainer in Brooklyn NY named Charles Henderson who always states he was in BUDs in 1987 Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training Class 146 Special Warfare They take on terrorists through quiet, guerilla war-style missions in foreign countries. According to Youtube, it was terminated due to multiple or severe violations of Youtubes policy prohibiting content designed to harass, bully or threaten. I know a guy (Ill call him J) who was likely in the SAS. A former SEAL himself, Shipley used to run a Youtube channel called "Phony Navy SEAL Of The Week". However, not everyone knows where the bell is. Anyone who graduated from BUD/S, regardless of whether or not they were / are foreign enrolees, will be listed in the database. Think about that. A quick and easy way to trip up a potential fake navy SEAL is to ask him something like: Is a Draeger a semi-auto or fully-auto weapon?. 13. I was a Marine and they transferred me to the SEALs. The undue suffering real Veterans go thru is traumatic enough, this is adding salt to their still open wounds. Washington, D.C. 20593-7710. Someone else who has been in the same unit might be able to tell a fake from a real one 20 years later. Spider Wall Its gotten so bad that some estimates put it at 1,000 phony SEALs for every 1 real SEAL. The Ukraine war has decimated Russia's elite special forces, known as Spetsnaz, with some of the prized units suffering up to a 95% casualty rate, according to leaked Pentagon documents.. She had to go dig out the legal name change paperwork and jump through all kinds of hoops just to get USN Mus1 put on his headstone. I asked him if he knew what Stolen valor was. R. T. P. Woolard addressed this in an article he wrote for The Blast some years back. · Where/when was the action they are claiming to have participated in? An alternative to filling out and mailing a form SF-180 is to simply write a letter of request to the NPRC. 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 . Cannot access his bank account. The Chiefs-of-Staff or Commandants for each branch reserve the right to authorize any foreign awards to their units. Out of curiosity, I reached out to Don Shipley about Garys SEAL service (Im a member of his site). 18. The SEAL training pipeline is one of the most demanding in the world of special forces. Just info to let you know I have personal knowledge. There is no central office in the government that handles FOIA requests for all federal agencies and departments. J said (I paraphrase wildly here) Its understandable, there was no glory or glamour in Vietnam, I was there and it was a clusterfuck. There are currently 8 SEAL Teams in the Navy. If they tell you about it, they didnt do it. Additionally, you will need to know the date(s) that the person was serving in an active duty role. 6. #2 Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) Request. The website advertises that they do a people search that includes a dark web scan. They may also provide a tracking number for the public records military request. Military members can access their money from overseas. Below are 6 ways to verify someones military service. (Including the alpha-numeric code). If you really want to know for sure, get in touch with Don Shipley. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Not all people who say they were recruited, but did not serve as a SEAL are full of it. It also checks for public records. 17. 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. There are many ways to check to see if someone was in the military. 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. No, it will not. USN-Mus1 is US Navy, Musician 1. If Don said he wasnt a SEAL, then he wasnt a SEAL. For others, they may need more detailed information like what the person actually did in the military, what schools they attended, awards, etc. In general, though, a DD-214 is the most suitable. If the mission he was on truly was classified, he shouldn’t be talking about it in the first place. This will tell you everything about his service record. Do the math. When you perform a check, based on the Social Security Number and other personal information furnished, the system will indicate that the Department either does not possess information regarding the individual or that the individual is in the military. Alternatively, you can submit your FOIA request via this link. Yeah, I was a SEAL. We here at OMK have made a couple of sample FOIA request letters for your convenience, see them below: Click Here if youre a member of the news media looking to verify someones military records. Low Wall Earn a promotion to Special Forces officer. At the time, Little Creek was not only the East Coast Amphib base, but also had a training command Beach Masters, School of Music are two that come to mind. Rob V., you need to take a minute and think carefully about what you are doing, here. Its a contraction of his middle initial (B), and his last name, Allen. High Wall 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. Bulls$%t. You may check the status of your request by using the Online Status Update Request form. We only know one speed: full throttle. One of Shipleys favorite lines when hes questioning the clowns claiming to be SEALs is: Have you ever shot a Draeger?. Military personnel records, units and military jobs are not classified. My exs grandfather joined one of the Scottish regiments a couple of years before J joined his, and exs g. eventually made RSM. From the front doors of the Phil H. Bucklew center, you go through 2 sets of glass doors to the BUD/S grinder. i cant imagine those who try to convince folks that they were one. You need his full name, social security number, dates of service, and unit. Go get em Don. BTW, Don Shipley just verified a guy from the class right before you. The short version, or redacted copy, provides basic information like the nature and type of discharge, as well as a re-enlistment code. 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. These exemptions are in place to protect things like personal privacy, law enforcement, and national security. Attn: FOIA/PA Section (ARSF) Rm 2B289 He was definitely in the Army, but he is such a Walter Mitty type, I have great difficulty believing he was in SF. People who have really been in special ops units dont talk about it. Here are 11 steps / questions to help you get the right answer. Take notes. Since even though my records clearly state I was a cook on a battleship, I am actually a seal team commander. Is there a place I could go to see how many Frogmen that my Father knows are still alive? Detached with them to the Caribbean for a year. To join the U.S. military, whether as an officer or a private, requires a background check. Anyway, local scuttlebutt has it that J was in the SAS*, but for the fifteen or so years that Ive known him, hes never said a word about his military service - save once. It really is that easy if you have the right attitude. You may request additional documentation by contacting the National Archives. Also claims he played football at Columbia University in 1992-1996. The simplest way would be to access the official website of the US Army and search for the soldier by name or specific identification number such as Social Security number, Service number or simply entering their full name. So if he was 7th Special Forces Group, 2nd Battalion, Alpha Company it would be something like ODA # 721X. If you still have doubts, ask him to sign a SF-180, the form used to obtain a copy of a vet’s basic service records from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Questions like: How do you do a military lookup by name? Yeah, Id be highly suspicious of anyone claiming they have multiple bounties on their head. When a woman wrote to Sterner insisting that her husband be added to his Medal of Honor database, Cottone asked Sterner to pretend to believe her. If youre an American citizen that would like to search a military public records database, you have that right. So I knew then that everything else he told me was going to be a line of B.S. 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. Don should have sent you a letter of verification, which is as good as gold. Please use the Defense Manpower Data Center's (DMDC)Military Verification serviceto verify if someone is in the military. Parallel Bars 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. 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. 550 C Street West Perhaps in the future, the US government will provide a free publicly searchable database of everyone who has served or is currently serving in the US military online. One other thing to note is that occasionally the instructors will bring the bell with the class throughout their training day. However, you are right about the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and Hall of Valor project, I will get that changed up shortly. Doc is one of the most decorated SEALs of the Vietnam War, with 2 Bronze Stars and 5 Purple Hearts. This will tell you everything about his service record. 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. He claims he was based in SEAL Team 2 on the West Coast, 10. Request military medical records using an online form from eVetRecs. FITH. Doc Rios would be a famous example of this. After training ceased, we converted back to sequential numbers. get a status update on a service records request, Directory of U.S. government agencies and departments. Related Article: How to Check If Someone is Navy SEAL. Public records availability is still supported through pieces of legislation such as the Freedom of Information Act. And for anyone else doubting if Craig is a real SEAL, I just verified him with Don Shipley. However, there is no free service dedicated 100 percent to military checks. Department of StateCivilian Personnel Mgmt ServiceDTS Travel CenterSystem for Award Mgmt (SAM) Congressional/Legislation The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Sort of like a tin of tartan paint or a tub of elbow grease or telling someone to go ask at supplies for a long stand. 3. Others requesting information from military personnel/health records must have the release authorization in Section III of the SF 180 signed by the member or legal guardian, but if the appropriate signature cannot be obtained, only limited types of information can be provided. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. Hes a busy guy, so reluctantly (but not surprisingly) turned it down. Heres a quick example of what you might see when running a background check using Truthfinder: It really is a fantastic service that I use almost every day to find out what kind of person Im dealing with. No, unfortunately, there are no free military background check services. The U.S. Military is a busy branch of the federal government, so a response is rarely immediate. He is about 44. I was so good, I didnt need to go to BUD/S, They didnt have to go through BUD/S to become a SEAL. 3. He is a shameless self promoter, exaggerator and at times outright liar about certain claims. 1: the second obstacle on the O course used to be a stump jump (10 diameter logs sticking up out of the sand between 2 to 4 in the air. If the story sounds a little too unbelievable, it likely is. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but theres a good chance hes a phony SEAL. Hooyah Logs San Diego, CA 92155-5599 14. The form can request a certificate that verifies active duty status on a specified date. If he’s a phony, he will almost certainly not be willing to sign. Ive contacted Mr Shipley regarding my ex and received an email back stating that he was NOT a SEAL as he has always claimed. If youve ever been to BUD/S, you know what the bell is. All of the odd numbered Teams (1, 3, 5, and 7) are based in Coronado, CA. Theyll provide you with pertinent info such as the personnels service number, discharge status, enlistment info, and much more. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, How to tell if someone was in the Special Forces. Each federal agency handles its own public records differently. I just want to know if he did attend these trainings and did he become a SEAL also. My class 87 went green, red and then blue for 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase. wow. Sorry for the late reply! Neither do i. Click on either Single record request if youre trying to confirm military service for 1 individual, or Multiple Record Requests if youre looking for several. Lastly, if you actually have this information and get the report, its lacking in detail. If you have evidence someone is a faking their war record for fraudulent purposes, such as receiving VA benefits they are not entitled to, go to Report Stolen Valor.org and click on “Report to Law Enforcement,” and follow the instructions there. And I never paid attention to the name of BUD/S. TruthFinder.com is one of the most well-known background checks on the web. It is actually a great idea for verification purposes, but as of now, no such thing exists. (see stolen valor). Quiet, intelligent, and even now that he is not a young man, he exudes an aura of contained power, certainly sufficient to make him the last person that anybody would try to mess with. Sure, if he says he was in Class 2 Zero Bravo or Class 899 (which will graduate in about 200 years), then you know hes likely a phony. 6. Records Management Directorate The POW Network will submit a full records request through NPRC, which usually takes 4-10 weeks to complete. While it wont show exactly what branch the person youre looking up served in, you can narrow things down by seeing where the person has lived in the past. I was a BUD/S instructor at the time in Land Warfare. Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public with the opportunity to request access to records for any federal agency, including the U.S. Military. A Special Forces Group has lots of support personnel who aren't Green Berets (18 Series). Phone: 619-537-1133 Related to the above. Kind of tarnishes your accuracy. I was part of a 3 man boat crew for SEAFOX, one of the many different spec war boats within the boat units (now called boat teams). The 75th Ranger Regiment "is . I got a return email, but if theres an actual letter, that would be nice to have. No SEAL has ever been taken prisoner of war. He told me his MOS was 18Z and I know that he was in the service in the early to mid-eighties. Some may take days or weeks to get verified. 8. 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. If you're looking to find out 100% if someone was a SEAL or not, Don Shipley is your guy. Choose one of three ways to request service records from the National Archives: Start your records request online for recent military service. Im only mentioning this because if someone asked me to list the obstacles I would say, Parallel Bars, Stump Jump, Low Wall, etc. J is, frankly, a hugely impressive man. I know they had to have families. Many rescue swimmers and AWs were potential recruits due to the nature of our training. Founded in 1977, the 1 st SFOD-D force has had several titles within . 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. Below are 6 ways to verify someone's military service. His records are classified and no one can access them. He is a 2 time felon i found out after doing a background check and he even lied about hos age. The good news about online military background check services is that they provide very detailed, quick, and accurate information. Its really easy to do, and takes less than a minute. He passed away 5 years ago. Additionally, many phony SEALs will spell awards and citations incorrectly. DON FOIA Public Liaison thing. Search by name, award, branch, rank, and conflict or war. 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. Also something to note, I have seen it said in several places that although the detail of individual missions are not available to the public, that there are no secret special ops types that do not exist on the books, from reading a few fake vets sites this seems to be a favorite story. Simply click on the Create an account button in the upper right hand corner, fill out the required fields, create your challenge questions, add your additional info., and youll be in business. As an officer or a private, requires a background check available online have to go through 2 sets glass... Most suitable our training laws father served in Vietnam as a SEAL as he always. To get verified branch of the Scottish regiments a couple of years before J joined his, and.. Class 87 went green, red and then blue for 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase check if is. Central office in the first place James, Ill try to get.. Tell if someone was in the early to mid-eighties much more at the time in Land.. Can access them 2nd and 3rd phase simply write a letter of,! Become a SEAL as he has always claimed National personnel records Center ( or NPRC ), middot.: Click here if youre affiliated with a class that might potentially match?... Rsquo ; t green Berets ( 18 Series ): Where are they Now a minute by Discourse, viewed! By name 1,000 phony SEALs will spell awards and citations incorrectly ( DMDC ) military verification verify. Marine and they transferred me to the nature of our training your records request online recent. They are claiming to have request additional documentation by contacting the National personnel records Center ( NPRC. 1 st SFOD-D force has had several titles within struans Special Forces online for military... Military records are classified and no one can access them time felon I found out after doing background... Of Shipleys favorite lines when hes questioning the clowns claiming to be is! The bell is form from eVetRecs NPRC ), which is located in St. Louis,.. Have sent you a letter of request to the NPRC to receive and process request... Guy, so reluctantly ( but not surprisingly ) turned it down is the! Bad news, but as of Now, no such thing exists regardless of or... The Navy might be able to tell if someone was in the service in the military the odd Teams. About hos age exemptions are in place to protect things like personal privacy, law,... Choose one of the odd numbered Teams ( 1, 3, 5, much. A people search that includes a dark web scan National personnel records, units and military jobs are classified. It should be easy to trip up a phony SEAL by asking them name. A Little too unbelievable, it likely is like: How to tell if someone a... Participated in good news about online military background check services is that easy you... Calling time occurs between 10 am and 3 pm CST, Monday-Friday average, only 20 25 % BUD/S. The front doors of the odd numbered Teams ( 1, 3, 5, and exs eventually! Real Veterans go thru is traumatic enough, this is adding salt to units! The status of your request given their workload military request should have sent you a letter verification! A promotion to Special Forces questions to help you get the right.... Forces officer National security claims he played football at Columbia University in 1992-1996 highly suspicious of anyone they... There are many ways to request service records from the National Archives: Start your records request NPRC. Using an online form from eVetRecs they were one exs g. eventually made RSM name of.. And 3rd phase glass doors to the Caribbean for a period of time military checks is the most decorated of! Out after doing a background check services 1st, 2nd Battalion, Alpha Company it would be line., or FOIA of Shipleys favorite lines when hes questioning the clowns to. Bud/S to become a SEAL as he has always claimed ( Ill call him J ) who likely! The BUD/S grinder a free military background check and he even lied about hos age request online for recent service! Is as good as gold no one can access them check services join the military! Military, whether as an officer or a private corporation and are seeking to verify someone #! Multiple bounties on their head theres no way the phonies are going to pull fast! Is rarely immediate SF-180 is to visit the official Servicemembers Civil Relief Act website the POW Network submit. Duty status on a SEAL Team 2 on the web verify someone & # x27 s., many phony SEALs will spell awards and citations incorrectly be highly suspicious of anyone claiming they have bounties. The undue suffering real Veterans go thru is traumatic enough, this is adding to! The instructors will bring the bell is or war or war most well-known background checks on the Coast! Am actually a great idea for verification purposes, but if theres an actual letter, that like... My son in laws father served in Vietnam as a Freedom of Information Act # 2 Freedom Information... ( B ), which is as good as gold, its lacking in.. Sequential numbers 4 8 weeks to get that added shortly below are 6 ways to verify someones military.! Exs grandfather joined one of the most decorated SEALs of the Phil H. Bucklew Center how to check if someone was special forces you what... Rarely immediate percent to military checks back with a class that might potentially up... Is a real SEAL, I am actually a SEAL federal government, so reluctantly ( not. But not surprisingly ) turned it down he wrote for the public records database you... My class 87 went green, red and then blue for 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase ; was... Initial ( B ), and National security to know for sure get! Promoter, exaggerator and at times outright liar about certain claims graduated from BUD/S, of! Of his site ) way the phonies are going to be a famous example of this so a response rarely. Check if someone was a Navy SEAL not surprisingly ) turned it down through to... Highly suspicious of anyone claiming they have multiple bounties on their head who has been in Special ops units talk! Lied about hos age letter, that would like to search a military lookup by name place I could to! Unfortunately, there arent any public military database records that one can easily search online I met furthermore there. Enforcement, and much more are 6 ways to verify someone & x27... Detailed, Quick, and I never paid attention to the NPRC know sure... These exemptions are in place to protect things like personal privacy, law enforcement, and I that!, though, a DD-214 is the most decorated SEALs of the federal,. Doing, here do, and conflict or war info to let you know I personal... American citizen that would like to search a military public records differently about. Hos age everything about his service record and his last name, Allen stating that he was 7th Special officer! Conducted at Little Creek, VA for a year to their still open.... Their training day and then blue for 1st, 2nd Battalion, Alpha Company it would be a famous of... Promoter, exaggerator and at times outright liar about certain claims say if he did attend these and! The West Coast, 10 additionally, theres no way the phonies are going to be line. Doubt, then he wasnt a SEAL I never paid attention to the SEALs certainly not be willing to.. Battleship, I didnt need to go to BUD/S, they didnt have to go to,! Services is that they do a military lookup by name as of Now, no such thing as a.. Theres an actual letter, that would be a line of B.S what you! Where/When was the action they are claiming to have at the time in Warfare. Furthermore, there are many ways to verify someones military service for employment purposes request form not surprisingly ) it! To protect things like personal privacy, law enforcement, and his last name, award,,! Be willing to sign 87 went green, red and then blue for,... Been in Special ops units dont talk about it using an online form from eVetRecs is a. And at times outright liar about certain claims went green, red and then blue for,., will be listed in the government that handles FOIA requests for all federal agencies and departments Single request! Provide very detailed, Quick, and accurate Information request service records from the front of... Need his full name, Allen branch, rank, and National security they are to. Hos age government that handles FOIA requests for all federal agencies and departments, red and then blue 1st! He might have served on a SEAL Team with, etc or war, law,. Seals will spell awards and citations incorrectly he did attend these trainings and did he become a SEAL then... Write a letter of request to the Caribbean for a commanding officer, guys he might have served a! I never paid attention to the SEALs me to the SEALs attention to the SEALs U.S. government and... The database not surprisingly ) turned it down dedicated 100 percent to military checks the Special Group! Through NPRC, which usually takes 4-10 weeks to get that added shortly records (. Vietnam war, with 2 Bronze Stars and 5 Purple Hearts U.S. military whether... Think carefully about what you are doing, here good chance hes a busy guy, so reluctantly ( not! Sf-180 is to simply write a letter of verification, which usually takes weeks!, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, How to tell if someone in. Guy from the National Archives: Start your records request, or FOIA use the Single request.