U.S. military (Navy and Marine) divers and soldiers wearing G-Shock watches on duty

While it now does double duty as a fashion brand, G-Shock was originally created by Kikuo Ibe with the idea of being an unbreakable watch for people like construction workers who couldn’t wear ordinary watches due to the risk of damage. Following its 1983 release, G-Shock would go on to become popular with skateboarders and surfers in the United States and would build a reputation as an extremely rugged and dependable tool watch. It naturally became a preferred choice for military personnel and first responders, and it continues to be popular in those fields.

We previously documented how U.S. Navy SEALs were known to be issued the G-Shock DW6600 in the past. We examined U.S. military photos from the past few decades and found that G-Shock watches are still widely used by some Navy and Marine divers and soldiers, although we can’t say with certainty if they are officially issued. The DW6600’s successor, DW6900, appears be a popular model in recent times. The DW6900-1V is one of the most affordable G-Shock watches that can be found for around $55 at online retailers and in military exchanges.

Disclaimer: The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

Person, Unit: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class, Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 6
Activity: Cutlass Express 2024
Year: 2024
Photo by: Arif Patani
G-Shock: DW6900

Person, Unit: Maritime Raid Force, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Activity: Amphibious insertion onto maritime infrastructure while training foreign Marines.
Year: 2013
Photo by: Christopher Q. Stone
G-Shock: DW9052

Person, Unit: Diver Seaman, Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2
Activity: Snow Crab Exercise 23-1
Year: 2023
Photo by: Keith Nowak
G-Shock: DW6900

Person, Unit: Diver 1st Class, Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2
Activity: Exploring an underwater wreck during a joint dive with Colombian divers.
Year: 2014
Photo by: Brett Cote
G-Shock: DW6900

Person, Unit: Petty Officer 3rd Class, Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2
Activity: Placing magnet training mine on a coast guard ship during training.
Year: 2011
Photo by: Jayme Pastoric
G-Shock: DW6600

Person, Unit: Diver 1st Class, Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2
Activity: Observing Peruvian navy divers cleaning helmets after conducting deep dives and surface decompression drills.
Year: 2021
Photo by: Mitchell Meppelink
G-Shock: GD350

Person, Unit: Diver 1st Class, Maintenance Facility Detachment Everett Dive Locker
Activity: Demonstrating how to dawn scuba gear to middle school students during a community outreach event.
Year: 2016
Photo by: Joseph Montemarano
G-Shock: Frogman GW200

Person, Unit: Builder 2nd Class, Navy Underwater Construction Team 2
Activity: Seabea diver inspects a buoy in Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Year: 2020
Photo by: Cole Pielop
G-Shock: DW6900

Person, Unit: Diver 1st Class, Navy Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 1
Activity: Conducting air quality test on diving equipment with Sri Lankan navy divers.
Year: 2017
Photo by: Arthurgwain Marquez
G-Shock: DW6600

Person, Unit: Commander, USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) Crew 104
Activity: Discussing the capabilities of the Tow Fish side scan sonar system at Changi Naval Base, Singapore.
Year: 2015
Photo by: Jay Pugh
G-Shock: GW7900

Person, Unit: Diver 1st Class, Navy Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2
Activity: Tending diver after conducting surface-supplied diving operations.
Year: 2021
Photo by: Arthurgwain Marquez
G-Shock: DW6900

Person, Unit: Sergeant, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Force Reconnaissance Platoon
Activity: Reconnaissance Marine riding aboard a Combat Rubber Raiding Craft during dive training in Okinawa.
Year:
Photo by: Kevan Dunlop
G-Shock: DW6900

Person, Unit: Marines 4th Force Reconnaissance Battalion
Activity: Scuba diving operations in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Year: 2016
Photo by: Aaron S. Patterson
G-Shock: DW6900

Caption: “U.S. Marines participate in dive training alongside Netherlands Marines with the 32nd Raiding Squadron near Savaneta, Aruba, Nov. 20.”
Year: 2021
Photo by: Brian Bolin Jr.
G-Shock: DW6900

Person, Unit: Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Maritime Raid Force, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Activity: Providing security in amphibious insertion training.
Year: 2013
Photo by: Christopher Q. Stone
G-Shock: DW9052

Caption: “Every Marine diver has a watch and a depth gauge to monitor their time underwater and how deep they are.”
Year: 2008
Photo by: Joseph Day
G-Shock: G100