06-02-2004, 20:10
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
Posts: 931
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Special Forces Ring
What's the history and tradition behind the Special Forces ring? I've seen a few variations of them, but the general design is essentially what I've attached below.
The first time I saw them was when I attended SFAS and every point sitter seem to have one. I vividly remember staring at Mr. Simmon's ring when he was recording my time in one of my STAR score cards.
I've noticed that the younger SF guys don't usually wear them (E-6 to most new E-8s, and even fewer officers). Is this a tradition that is dying? Is there more to this?
PS - If we ever add another forum, we should have an "SF History and Traditions" forum. I think it is important for us young guys to learn from our past. If another forum is deemed necessary, that is.
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- Retired Special Forces Officer -
Special Forces Association Lifetime Member
Last edited by Basenshukai; 06-02-2004 at 20:14.
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Basenshukai is offline
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06-02-2004, 20:18
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,824
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I probably fall under the "old guy" category, but when I wear rings, I wear my mine.
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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06-02-2004, 20:34
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LA
Posts: 1,653
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I like the forum idea. Never cared for the rings. They weren't all that popular with our guys in my day - not Quiet Professional style.
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Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.
Still want to quit?
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NousDefionsDoc is offline
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06-02-2004, 20:40
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
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Quote:
Originally posted by NousDefionsDoc
I like the forum idea. Never cared for the rings. They weren't all that popular with our guys in my day - not Quiet Professional style.
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Sorry amigo, I guess I should have gotten some Tribal Ink instead. Mine was a wedding gift from the wife and my SFQC G Chief.
Forum idea works for me as well.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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06-02-2004, 20:51
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LA
Posts: 1,653
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Not criticizing Boss. Poor choice of words I guess.
__________________
Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.
Still want to quit?
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NousDefionsDoc is offline
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06-02-2004, 21:08
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 581
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Mine was a gift from my Dad, as a graduation present from the SFQC......
The tribal ink was my idea......and there is more to come......
Interesting tidbit that came up about rings today......some friends just returned from Lebanon, where we havent been for ages. While there, thier team sergeant inquired with a local jewler about making SF rings for them. The jewler proceeded to pull out 3 dusty rings, of different designs, that he said he origionally made in the late early 80s......All of similar style to what guys get made today at Heritage......I thought that was pretty cool, accually I'd have probably bought the 3 origionals from him
mp
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v/r
MDP
"May God be with you and may the devil be crushed underfoot as you march for peace on the skulls of our enemies, for goodwill, security and a quality of life that comes only with democracy, " - Ted Nugent
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mffjm8509 is offline
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06-02-2004, 21:19
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Williamston, SC
Posts: 2,018
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I have to say that in my day SF Rings were rare. Perhaps because they weren't appropriate for wear in a tropical climate.
OTOH "The In Thing" for SF in SEA was a star saphire ring and gold Rolex. I last saw my saphire ring as it flew through the air and into a klong on the hwy from Bangkok to Pataya. I was driving and as I tossed a Singha bottle out the window the ring went with it. I don't know if it's the age, and/or diabetes but my ring size fluctuates and I have lost enough rings to stock a Pawn Shop. I gave up on rings. 
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QRQ 30 is offline
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06-02-2004, 21:22
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 581
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Quote:
Originally posted by QRQ 30
OTOH "The In Thing" for SF in SEA was a star saphire ring and gold Rolex.
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I beilve there was also a Randall Knife included with the ring and rolex......
mp
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v/r
MDP
"May God be with you and may the devil be crushed underfoot as you march for peace on the skulls of our enemies, for goodwill, security and a quality of life that comes only with democracy, " - Ted Nugent
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mffjm8509 is offline
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06-02-2004, 22:11
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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I had an SF ring for a few months (I think I was a SSG). Never cared for it really, got in the way of holding a pistol proper and it was shiny. I didn’t wear wedding rings either, not in the field, just dog tags, a Casio watch and a smile.
TS
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"The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy, but where they are."
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Team Sergeant is offline
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06-02-2004, 22:23
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#10
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 581
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I dont wear mine either....its sitting in a 10th Group 45th Anniversary Ball wine glass with my wedding ring. Occasionally my wife brings them to me when we are going out, but normally it just sits on display in my "Warroom".....
Accually there are many things like that, I have just accumulated more for the sake of having than as a functional item......
I've still got to get that Yarborough Knife though.......maybee I can put that on my Fathers day wish list?
mp
__________________
v/r
MDP
"May God be with you and may the devil be crushed underfoot as you march for peace on the skulls of our enemies, for goodwill, security and a quality of life that comes only with democracy, " - Ted Nugent
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mffjm8509 is offline
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06-02-2004, 22:30
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#11
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
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Quote:
Originally posted by Team Sergeant
I didn’t wear wedding rings either, not in the field, just dog tags, a Casio watch and a smile.
TS
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Dayum, TS!! That MUST have impressed the enemy!
What kind of nudist special unit was that? Musta been one of them secret squirrel outfits.
Where did you carry your spare ammo, or should I ask?
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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06-02-2004, 23:30
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#12
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Ryndon, NV
Posts: 339
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Spare ammo, hell. I'm wondering how many cammo sticks it took to handle that. 
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"I have seen much war in my lifetime and I hate it profoundly. But there are things worse than war; and all of them come with defeat." -- Hemingway
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DanUCSB is offline
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06-03-2004, 07:21
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Vermont
Posts: 3,093
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Quote:
Originally posted by mffjm8509
I beilve there was also a Randall Knife included with the ring and rolex......
mp
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That is the way I remember it also. My first A-Team (A246/Mang Buk) gave a Randall to all guys that departed. Seems to me that for those that did not have Randalls the going personnal equipment of the day for SF was the saphire ring, rolex(which replaced the Seiko which was sort of considered the rolex with training wheels), and a demo knife. Had the sahpire ring reset for the wife, still have a bunch of demo knives and my Randall, and the rolex is still working a lot better than am I.
Jack Moroney
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Jack Moroney (RIP) is offline
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06-03-2004, 07:47
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#14
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JAWBREAKER
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Gulf coast
Posts: 1,906
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Quote:
Originally posted by The Reaper
What kind of nudist special unit was that? Musta been one of them secret squirrel outfits.
Where did you carry your spare ammo, or should I ask?
TR
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We know where he had to keep it.... 
Last edited by Sacamuelas; 06-03-2004 at 12:07.
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Sacamuelas is offline
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06-03-2004, 08:14
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#15
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Williamston, SC
Posts: 2,018
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Other Status Symbols
Germany: 1, Hand-made mountain boots. Also extremely practical.
2. Custom made blazer from "Hong Kong Charlie". Most were SF Green mohair with the SF Crest embroidered on the pocket.
3. Tailor made mono-gramed shirts, also by Hong Kong Charlie.
Thailand, RVN and anywhere else in the Pacific AO: Tailor made, double-knit walking suits.
Jewelry was rare.
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