Surface warfare insignia
The line and enlisted surface warfare badges may be earned by United States Coast Guard personnel assigned to Navy commands.
Specifically the criteria in 1979 to qualify was as follows: OPNAVINST 1414.9 is the Navy instruction that governs the enlisted warfare qualification programs.
The ESWS pin is authorized for wear by any enlisted member of the United States Navy who is permanently stationed aboard a navy afloat command and completes the enlisted surface warfare qualification program and personal qualification standards (PQS).
It is extremely uncommon for sailors in paygrade E-3 and below to earn their ESWS pin but strongly encouraged to stand among their peers for promotion.
An enlisted person who has qualified for his or her ESWS pin places the designator SW after his or her rate and rating; for example, Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Petty Officer Second Class Yefremov, having qualified for his ESWS pin, is identified as CTR2(SW) Yefremov.
This derives from the sword being a symbol of naval officers and their authority, while cutlasses were traditionally issued for battle to enlisted sailors during the age of sail.
In attempts to improve damage control and ship survivability, the updated program will add more prerequisite PQS, including the following: Surface warfare medical corps insignia: A gold metal pin, with a spread oak leaf surcharged with a silver acorn on two crossed swords, on a background of ocean swells.
Surface warfare nurse corps insignia: A gold metal pin, with a spread oak leaf on two crossed swords, on a background of ocean swells.
Surface warfare dental corps insignia: A gold metal pin, with a spread oak leaf, a silver acorn on each side of the stem on two crossed swords, on a background of ocean swells.
Surface warfare medical service corps insignia: A gold metal pin, with a spread oak leaf, attached to a slanting twig on two crossed swords, on a background of ocean swells.
Depending on the ship type they will receive training in shipboard flight operations as the Helicopter Control Officer.
The cutterman insignia is awarded on a temporary basis upon completion of a PQS and is made permanent upon accumulation of five years sea time.
