 | ||
There are two Command insignia: Command at Sea and Command Ashore/Project Manager. Both are a command military badge of the United States Navy.
Contents
The Command at Sea insignia was established in the U.S. Navy in 1960 and is for commissioned officers between the ranks of Lieutenant (O-3) and Captain (O-6) who are in or have been in command of a commissioned ship or submarine, an operational fleet air unit, or a SEAL command at the O-5 or O-6 level.
The Command Ashore/Project Manager insignia, designates senior officers who are in command of, or have previously commanded, a ship, submarine, operational/deployable fleet air unit in naval aviation, or a special warfare (SEAL) unit. This includes those in charge of a major program or project (the latter being primarily in the Naval Air Systems Command or Naval Sea Systems Command).
Prior to late 2015, USN Flag Officers previously awarded the Command at Sea pin upon promotion to Rear Admiral, Lower Half (O-7). In 2015, wear by USN Flag Officers was authorized. However, these Flag Officers, even if holding operational command, are only authorized to wear the badge in the post-completion position on the pocket flap.
Either is worn centered over the right pocket while the wearer is holding an active command at sea billet as an incumbent, and is worn centered on the upper portion of the left pocket flap, under the warfare insignia and ribbons, after completion of the command tour.
A post tour officer wears the insignia on the left breast 1/4 inch below the top of the pocket/flap. If a warfare or qualification insignia is already occupying that position, it is then worn 1/4 inch below that insignia, or on uniforms with pocket flaps, 1/4 inch below the flap. Women in full dress will wear post tour command insignia 1/4 inch above the left pocket, medals or primary breast insignia. Men in full dress will wear their post-tour insignia below the bottom row of medals, or below their second qualification or warfare badge if they have one. Only one post-tour command insignia may be worn.
The six stars on the Command at Sea insignia represent the first six ships of the Continental Navy: USS United States, USS Constellation, USS Constitution, USS President, USS Congress, and USS Chesapeake.
U.S. Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard uses an equivalent insignia to the U.S. Navy's Command at Sea pin, called the Command Afloat Badge. The Command Afloat insignia is a gold and silver metal device with a miniature Coast Guard officer cap device superimposed on a ribbon of gold with thirteen stars to represent the thirteen original American colonies. The Command Afloat insignia is worn in the same manner as the Command Ashore insignia and is considered superior to the Officer-in-Charge Afloat insignia.
NOAA Commissioned Corps
The NOAA Commissioned Corps Command at Sea badge is a gold-colored pin consisting of a triangle superimposed on anchor flukes and an unfurled commissioning pennant showing six triangles. The NOAA Command-at-Sea insignia is authorized for incumbents serving under orders designating them in command of Class 1 through Class 5 NOAA commissioned vessels. A NOAA Corps officer who previously successfully held command (but is not currently in command) of a NOAA commissioned vessel for at least six months during which the vessel was engaged for at least four months in operations at sea, is authorized to wear the Command-at-Sea insignia.