Mark Edwin Steffener – U.S. Navy SEAL, Blog of Shame
1405/23/2019 by militaryphonies
BACKGROUND
Mark Edwin Steffener comes to us from Seminole, Florida. Steffener is 57 years old as of May 2019.
Steffener was in the Navy for almost 9 years and then went in the Navy Reserve. It was while he was in the Navy Reserve that he was called to active duty and sent to Iraq with his Seabee unit. In a span of just a few days in late April – early May 2004, seven men from Steffner’s unit were Killed in Action.
Mark Steffener was wounded around this same time period and was awarded a Purple Heart on June 2, 2004.

The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOURTEEN held a ceremony honoring the seven men that were killed. At this ceremony, Steffener spoke and was designated a SEAL. From the article:
The ceremony included the playing of the national anthem followed by an invocation by LCDR Lulrick Balzora, Chaplain of NMCB 14; Commanding Officer, CDR John Prien; Command Master Chief (SCW), Kevin Trost; Chief Construction Mechanic (SCW) Benjamin Slaughter; Construction Mechanic 1st Class (SEAL) Mark Steffner all spoke of their fallen comrades. The 21 gun salute, taps and the final good byes finalized the memorial commemorating the lives of FOURTEEN’s fallen brothers.
SOURCE: https://www.public.navy.mil/seabee/nmcb14/Pages/history.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1CWGz29QNgEcwAG7oXdWKJa3176yOr1fSfSvvSAoE1LzSabzsNBInUb1U
An official U.S. Navy photo captured Steffener as he rendered a salute to the Battlefield Cross.

In the official U.S. Navy photo caption, they spelled his name incorrectly – it should be ‘STEFFENER’ vs. ‘STEFFNER’ [sic]. You can see the correct spelling on the nametag, along with the U.S. Navy SEAL Trident on the opposite side of his chest.

Steffener eventually left the U.S. Navy Reserve and went into the Army National Guard.
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ACTIONS CONDUCTED BY MILITARY PHONIES
After contacting the UDT/SEAL archives, the Naval Special Warfare Center and checking the UDT/SEAL database we found that there is NO record of “Mark Edwin Steffener” ever completing BUD/S Training.
Mark Steffener’s military records were ordered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
CRIMINAL
https://www.rapsheets.org/florida/clearwater-jail/STEFFENER_MARK/1663003
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DISCUSSION and SUMMARY
SUMMARY SHEET & ASSIGNMENTS
Mark Steffener had an impressive career.
He was assigned to SEAL Team Six in a support role, but he never went to BUD/S and never earned the SEAL Trident.
It is quite remarkable how no admin clerk ever caught that and questioned his Trident. We wonder how long that he wore it?
STOLEN VALOR
If the SEAL claims by Mark Steffener was used to leverage work, promotions, or anything else of value, Steffener may be in violation of Stolen Valor laws. State laws may also apply.
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PHOTOS

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SOCIAL MEDIA
[NONE]
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Thanks for sharing! 🙏🏼🇺🇸👍
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Why didn’t anyone in his Seabees unit catch it?
Reserve unit it’s hard, but an Active duty assigned as RSO should have caught it, from what I understand that is what happen years later. I had heard about some guy in 14 being a SEAL, when I was at an active duty unit where his Reserve unit is, but never saw the guy. This was also before I ever knew of Stolen Valor.
Another one with a fabulous servo a record, now forever f’cd-up FOR LIFE due to embelishing and/or lying. It MUST BE a mental disorder. I can’t see all the guys the military phonies investigates as well as Don Shipley at extremesealexperience.com, trashing their lives and destroying the trust of family, friends and members of their communities?
People! Bit the DONATE button (And hit the monthly auto-pay!) for both MilitaryPhony.com and Don Shipley’s, extremesealexperience.com. These teams are doing a far greater service to this nation than we will a we know!
Embellishing POS. Had good paper and what appears to be honorable service. Gonna suck to be you very soon. The Troops over on TAH are gonna help make you Google Famous Mark Steffener, Phony SEAL.
[…] folks at Military Phony send us their work on Mark Edwin Steffener. Steffener lives in Seminole, Florida and is 57 years […]
What’s the story with the photo if him wearing Army BDUs?
He later joined the Army National Guard.
Wow, this is super heart-breaking. All of the Seabees I ever knew were absolutely awesome people. It sounds like he would have been one of them, but had to embellish a perfectly respectable and impressive career. What an absolute shame!
He earned or was awarded a PH , and still had to embellish ? Why do people ruin themselves when they have already served honorably? As a Vet, let me just ask why some people can’t be proud of what they did, and if you lie or embellished your actions , you will always be outed.
The problem is he embellished before he was wounded , earned NAVCOM “V” and CAR. All of that was after he was playing as a former SEAL, to his Battalion.
Ok, I have been retired for a while, but I see Combat Operations Insignia on his DD-214. Is that the new device that goes on the CAR?
No, it is the small 1/8th inch Globe and Anchor that goes on the Campaign Medals, like Iraq or Afghanistan or any Campaign the Navy member was attached with a Marine or assigned unit conducting Combat Operations. I have two. Most Seabees that have been in Combat Operations and attached with Marine units conducting Combat Operations would have one. The same with Corpsman and other Fleet sailors assigned with Marines and have been in Combat Operations.
Sorry 5/16th. Here is the wiki definition of it, and explains what and who would earn it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_Marine_Force_Combat_Operation_Insignia