US Navy Seals and Rolex watches - crosspost from GShock Wiki

[Rscmaine]

http://mygshock.com/wiki/Trivia

Cost and RSC turnaround time was the big reason they stopped issuing Rolex.

Is it true that Seals used to be issued Rolex's to be used as cash if they ever got stuck somewhere? If so, do they still issue them. If not when did they stop? "Sooner or later this subject was bound to come up why and who was responsible for the discontinuation of the issue of the Rolex watches.

First, it is TRUE that Navy Frogmen were issued Rolex watches. While I have never heard of a Frogman using his watch for barganing, that is probably an ole Navy handme down joke. Each Frogman was responsible or accountable for his Rolex. Sometimes a watch would be lost during training, or a mission. But when you left the Teams, you turned in the watches.

In 1981, while I was the Diving Officer for UDT-11, I was tasked with operating the diving locker budget. Needless to say, it was my responsibility to ensure the budget was used effectively. Unfortuantly the high costs to repair a damaged Rolex, which by the way, stood up to nearly impossible treatment, was too high and at that time, and the advent of the new digital watches was making its name on the Diving Industry.

The Navy rules stated that a "Divers Watch" must have a sweep second hand", which was elimiated the new digital watches. I placed a phone to NAVSEA, who made the rules for equipment used in the Navy. I asked the simple question, "why must an authorized Navy watch have a "Sweep Second Hand"? I obviously knew the answer, but needed the answer to come from NAVSEA.

The answer: "TO MEASURE LAPSED TIME". So, I asked another question: IF that is THE REQUIREMENT for a DIVING WATCH, why not just say that the watch mush have a means to measure lapsed time, instead of a sweep second hand?

Problem resolved. I submitted a letter to NAVSEA, the rule was changed, and I started issuing the Casio G-Shock Watches instead of the Rolex. Sorry Rolex!

This change enable the diving budget to focus on much needed new diving equipment and there you have it.

Blame me for being efficient and effective with the UDT/SEAL diving budgets.

When a Casio watch was lost or damaged, the costs to replace was minimum and compared to the costs to repair a Rolex and the time it took to get the Rolex back, made all the difference.

By the way, the Casio G-shock watch did more than just measured lapsed time. Stopwatch, countdown timer..etc

Let me make a comment about the watches sold on NSC. You will find that these watches have been used and tested by SEALs. NSC does not compromise its integirty nor it's commitment to provide the very best. So have confidence if you do get a watch from NSC, you will also have a watch that has my SEAL OF APPROVAL too! Hooyah!

AP

Lieutenant Commander, USN (Retired)

Navy SEAL" -frogman80

__________________

"When I checked into the TEAMS we were not issued dive watches! Almost all the guys used iron man watches because of the stop watch and the ability for it to light up under water so you could see your time! We swam 100 meters every 3 minutes....so we could manage our dive plan based on time! Around 1992 Casio came out with the G-Shock Circa 92 (DW-6100C) http://www.gshock.com/history/ that had the larger button in the middle/bottom of the watch...and it stayed lit for 5 seconds without holding it down!! So you could just reach over and touch it....or just touch it once on your attack board...and be able to continue to kick hard and regain total control of the board....the more you kept your elbows on your side...the more accurate swimming the board was/is...so if you didn't have to hold a button down....then you could manage the attack board better!! The G-shock also had a larger face....so easier to see the time!!! Everyone at our TEAM began buying them....because there was no comparison.....and it is still the watch of choice of TEAM guys!!" -bud/s 184