The Navy SEAL trident, officially called the Navy Special Warfare insignia, is awarded to sailors who complete BUD/S and SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). Its four elements — eagle, anchor, trident, and flintlock pistol — represent sea, air, and land readiness. The insignia can be reviewed and, in rare cases, revoked by a Trident Review Board.
Few military badges carry the weight of the Navy SEAL trident. Pinned above a sailor's ribbons, this small gold emblem represents years of selection, suffering, and training that most candidates never complete. It's also one of the only Navy insignia awarded identically to both officers and enlisted personnel — a detail that reflects how SEALs train, regardless of rank.
This post breaks down what the Navy SEAL trident is, what each of its four elements means, when it's awarded during the BUD/S-to-SQT pipeline, and the solemn tradition of pounding Tridents into a fallen SEAL's casket. We'll also look at whether the Navy SEAL trident can be revoked, using the well-documented 2019 Eddie Gallagher case as a reference point.
What Is the Navy SEAL Trident (Special Warfare Insignia)?
The Navy SEAL trident's official name is the Special Warfare insignia, though it's commonly nicknamed "the Budweiser." The Navy SEAL trident recognizes members of the U.S. Navy who have completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, finished SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), and been formally designated Navy SEALs.
The Navy Special Warfare insignia consists of an eagle clutching a Navy anchor, a trident, and a flintlock-style pistol. It's worn as a gold metal pin on the service dress uniform positioned on the left breast above ribbons and decorations, and as a black embroidered patch on fatigues,.
The insignia's history traces back to October 1969, when the Navy approved separate SEAL and Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) insignia. In March 1972, those were replaced with a single, unified Navy Special Warfare insignia for both UDT and SEAL personnel. Then, in August 1972, the Navy consolidated the gold (officer) and silver (enlisted) versions into one gold insignia worn by everyone who earned it — a practice that continues today.
What Does the Navy SEAL Trident Mean? Breaking Down the Four Elements
Understanding the Navy SEAL trident meaning requires looking at each component individually. Every element of the Navy Special Warfare insignia carries deliberate symbolism tied to the SEAL acronym itself: SEa, Air, Land.
What Does the Eagle on the Navy SEAL Trident Represent?
The eagle sits at the center of the Navy SEAL trident, with its talons reaching around and in front of the anchor below. It represents the air domain, along with the strength and courage expected of every Navy SEAL. The eagle's posture — wings outstretched, gripping the other three elements — ties the whole insignia together as a single emblem of readiness across sea, air, and land.
What Does the Anchor on the Navy SEAL Trident Mean?
The anchor is the most straightforward element of the Navy SEAL trident: it identifies the wearer as a member of the United States Navy. While the trident and pistol speak to the SEAL-specific skill set, the anchor grounds the insignia in naval service and tradition.
Why Is There a Trident on the Navy SEAL Trident Insignia?
The trident itself — held in the eagle's right talon — represents the sea. It's a direct reference to Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, who is traditionally depicted carrying a trident as his scepter. This element gives the entire insignia its popular name, even though "trident" technically refers to just one piece of the larger Special Warfare insignia.
What Does the Flintlock Pistol Symbolize on the SEAL Trident Pin?
Held in the eagle's left talon, in front of the trident, is a cocked flintlock-style pistol. The pistol represents the land environment where SEALs operate, and its cocked position symbolizes constant readiness for action. Together with the eagle (air) and trident (sea), the flintlock pistol completes the SEa-Air-Land symbolism that defines the entire SEAL trident pin.
When Is the Navy SEAL Trident Awarded in the BUD/S-to-SQT Pipeline?
The path to earning the Navy SEAL trident is long and demanding. Candidates begin with BUD/S, a 24-week course, followed by a three-week basic parachutist course, and then a 26-week SQT program. According to MILPERSMAN 1220-300 (MyNavyHR, June 24, 2022), "All SEALs attend BUD/S training at the Naval Special Warfare Center. Upon completion of BUD/S, all SEALs undergo SQT. Those who graduate SQT are awarded the trident insignia, which signifies a qualified SEAL, and are designated as Navy SOs."
In practice, this means the Navy SEAL trident isn't awarded at the end of BUD/S — the training phase most people associate with SEAL selection — but only after a candidate also completes SQT. Enlisted graduates receive the Special Warfare Operator (SO) rating, while commissioned officers receive the 1130 Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) Officer designation. Both receive the identical gold Navy SEAL trident insignia, regardless of rank. The training is about a year or more in duration.
It's worth noting that this policy has shifted over time. Author Tim Bosiljevac, writing in The Teams In 'Nam (1987), described an earlier practice from the early 1970s in which the breast insignia could only be worn by men who had graduated BUD/S and also completed a six-month probationary period within an active SEAL or UDT unit. Today's process, as outlined in current Navy policy, ties the award directly to SQT graduation rather than a separate probationary period.
The Tradition of Pounding Tridents Into a Fallen SEAL's Casket
One of the most powerful traditions associated with the Navy SEAL trident takes place at a fallen SEAL's funeral. At the funeral of Michael A. Monsoor, a Medal of Honor recipient, Navy SEALs formed a column of twos along both sides of the pallbearers' route. As the coffin passed, each SEAL removed the gold Navy SEAL trident from his own uniform and pressed it into the wooden casket.
The procession reportedly lasted nearly half an hour. President George W. Bush later described the coffin, covered in embedded Tridents, as a "gold-plated memorial to a hero." This tradition transforms the individual Navy SEAL trident — a personal symbol of qualification — into a collective tribute, with each pin representing one more teammate honoring a brother in arms.
Can the Navy SEAL Trident Be Revoked?
Yes. The Navy SEAL trident is not a permanent, unconditional credential. The Navy maintains a formal process called a Trident Review Board, made up of SEAL and Navy chiefs under Naval Special Warfare, to determine whether a sailor keeps the qualification and remains a SEAL.
This process drew national attention in November 2019, in the case of Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward "Eddie" Gallagher. After Gallagher was acquitted of most war crimes charges by a military jury, President Trump announced on Nov. 15, 2019, that he would restore Gallagher's rank. Pentagon leaders initially agreed to convene a Trident Review Board to decide whether Gallagher would keep his Navy SEAL trident.
However, then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper, acting at President Trump's direction, allowed Gallagher to keep his Trident without an administrative review. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer was fired on Nov. 24, 2019, over how he handled the matter. The Navy subsequently cancelled Gallagher's formal review board, and acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly later cancelled all remaining Trident review boards tied to the case — including one that had been scheduled for Lt. Jacob "Jake" Portier.
The Gallagher case illustrates two things clearly: first, that the Navy SEAL trident can, in principle, be reviewed and revoked through an internal board process centered on professional standards and conduct; and second, that high-level political intervention can override that process. Specific formal regulatory grounds for revocation beyond general "conduct and professional standards" reviews weren't part of the publicly available record referenced here, so it's worth treating this as an evolving area of military policy rather than a fixed rulebook.
Why the Navy SEAL Trident Still Matters
The Navy SEAL trident is more than a uniform decoration. It represents one of the most selective qualification processes in the U.S. military, encoded in four symbolic elements and awarded only after a candidate survives BUD/S and SQT. It's also a symbol with weight beyond the individual: SEALs have literally given up their own Tridents, hammered into a comrade's casket, as the ultimate form of tribute.
For anyone researching military insignia, the Navy SEAL trident offers a clear example of how symbolism, tradition, and institutional policy intersect. Readers interested in learning more about Naval Special Warfare history can explore primary sources like MILPERSMAN 1220-300 or the Naval Special Warfare Command's official materials for further detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Navy SEAL trident?
The Navy SEAL trident, officially the Navy Special Warfare insignia, is awarded to U.S. Navy personnel who complete BUD/S and SQT and are designated Navy SEALs. It features an eagle, anchor, trident, and flintlock pistol.
What does the Navy SEAL trident mean?
Each element symbolizes a different aspect of SEAL readiness: the eagle represents air and courage, the anchor represents the Navy, the trident represents the sea, and the flintlock pistol represents land operations and constant readiness.
When is the Navy SEAL trident awarded?
Under current Navy policy (MILPERSMAN 1220-300), the Navy SEAL trident is awarded after a candidate completes both BUD/S (24 weeks) and SQT (26 weeks), not after BUD/S alone.
Can the Navy SEAL trident be taken away?
Yes. The Navy can review a SEAL's qualification through a Trident Review Board. The 2019 Eddie Gallagher case showed that this process exists, though it can also be influenced by high-level intervention.
Is the Navy SEAL trident the same for officers and enlisted?
Yes. Since August 1972, the Navy SEAL trident has been issued as a single gold insignia worn identically by both officers and enlisted SEALs.