Enlisted
Surface Warfare Specialist: This is the Big Kahuna of Seafaring
Pins. This Warfare Designator indicates that the sailor wearing it
has a broad knowledge of all Naval Vessels and primary mission and in depth
knowledge of the ship they achieved the warfare designator on (including
the combat/weapons systems, Engineering Plant & characteristics
and ship's capabilities). To indicate a Sailor has a Surface Warfare
designator, (SW) is annotated next to his rate (i.e. RM1(SW).
Small Boat/Combat Craft Warfare Designator: This Pin also
requires an NEC (9533) as well as a Combat Craft PQS and Small Arms PQS
book. Originally conceived in the hostile infested rivers of the
Mekong Delta (Viet Nam), this very small community designator is a sub component
of the Navy Special Warfare Community (yeah, the same people that run the
Navy SEAL Teams, one of the means these commandos get where they're going).
The enlisted man that wore this pin was authorized to wear in on the right
front pocket, if he was a "Boat Captain". Once he was transferred
from the unit or off the Boat, he shifted the Pin to either the primary
or secondary position of his left pocket (depending if he already rated
an other warfare designator). This is one of the few pins authorized
to be worn by enlisted personnel in a command position. It is also
only obtainable while a sailor is attached to a unit that is authorized
by BUPERS to award the pin. As of 1990, the Navy re-established the
Special Warfare Combat Craft School, which is taught at Coronado Amphibious
Base, San Diego, CA. The course is a pre requisite of the 9533 NEC.
Canvasser Recruiting Badge with Gold Wreath of Excellence:
This is a badge worn only while attached to a Recruiting Station and/or
Command. It also designates an NEC (9585). I wore this badge
from 1982 through 1985, while attached to Commander, Naval Reserve Force
Recruiting Command (Naval & Marine Corps Reserve Centers Rochester
& Buffalo, NY respectively). I primarily recruited for the U.S.
Naval Reserve (aka "week-end warriors), with a secondary Regular Navy goal.
This was the time when Ronny Ragan was manning up a 600 ship Navy and large
Active Naval Reserve force to oppose the big red bear, so quotas of
4 and 5 a month per recruiter was not unheard of. Long hours and
6 day weeks where pretty common. In today's more peaceful world,
the quotas have change drastically, and along with the criteria for obtaining
an Excellence Wreath. I laugh when I hear Recruiters these day say
it's hard, but on the other hand, it's about time that we can look forward
a gentler, kinder world (I wish somebody would convey that to all those
fanatics in the Middle East!).
This image is the rating badge I wear on my front left sleeve of my uniform
blouse. I apologize that the imagine isn't the best, but when you
work on a shoe string budget.... you get what you pay for. The Eagle
(commonly referred to as a "Crow" in Navy Speak) designates
a rated Petty Officer. The lightening bolts (4 total) reflects
job specialty. the three red chevrons indicate rank, so in this case,
means E-6. So what's that all translate to? Radioman First
Class Petty Officer, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Combat Craft
Warfare Specialist. It's written as: RM1(SW/CC). I'd like to thank Commodore Jimmi Jackson (Captian, USN) for this graphical image of the 1st Class Petty Officer Badge.
