The Small Craft Insignia (more commonly known as the Small Craft Pin) is a

military award Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion. Civil decorations awarded ...

of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. It was created after the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

to give recognition to the specially trained naval personnel of the inshore boat units and river assault commands. The Small Craft Pin (commonly called the 'Coxswain Pin' or 'Boat Pin' by U.S. Navy sailors) is issued in gold for officers and silver for enlisted personnel. It shows a small craft circumscribed by anchor flukes on the sides and bottom and a three-star pennant on top. The three stars represent the three main areas of U.S. Navy riverine operations in Vietnam:

Game Warden A conservation officer is a law enforcement officer who protects wildlife and the environment. A conservation officer may also be referred to as an environmental technician/technologist, game warden, park ranger, forest watcher, forest guar ...

, Market Time, and Sealords (Southeast Asia, Lakes, Oceans, Rivers and Deltas Strategy). Waves under the small craft represent the past, present, and future. The anchor represents the Navy. To qualify for the Small Craft insignia, a service member must complete full qualifications at every watch station of a small craft. This normally includes positions as crewman/gunner, engineer, navigator, and coxswain. Enlisted personnel must have served as the Petty Officer in Charge (POIC) of a small craft for six months. Officers must hold the additional qualification of Watch Officer. Small Craft Insignia is also worn by Maritime Expeditionary Squadron (MSRON) sailors and Coast Guardsmen attached to MSRON squadrons who qualify as Tactical Craft Coxswain. The Tactical Craft Coxswain is overall responsible for the safety of the craft and crew, as well as tactical movements, and weapons employment. The Tactical Craft Coxswain must complete the Tactical Craft Operations (TCO) PQS, as well as, attend various schools pertaining to navigation, tactical maneuvers, and defense tactics. The Tactical Craft Coxswain possesses weapons release authority and is the ultimate authority on board for all decisions, unless embarked with a Patrol Leader or SOPA (Senior Line Officer Present Afloat). Their authority comes from Article 1033 (Chapter 10 of ALNAV PRECEDENCE, AUTHORITY AND COMMAND) which states: "Authority in a Boat" Except when embarked in a boat authorized by the Chief of Naval Operations to have an officer or petty officer in charge, the senior line officer (including commissioned warrant and warrant officer) eligible for command at sea has authority over all persons embarked therein, and is responsible for the safety and management of the boat." As such, the Tactical Craft Coxswain is petty officer in charge of a boat authorized by the CNO and may not be relieved of command of the craft unless by their Patrol Leader, or authorizing Commander. Sailors who have earned the silver pin while enlisted, then become commissioned officers are authorized to begin wearing the gold pin. (This is the only enlisted device that is authorized to change color upon the wearer's commissioning without further qualification.) The pin may be awarded, by default, to any officer given command of a unit that uses small boats, upon receipt of the Command Ashore Pin, regardless of previous qualifications. The Small Craft Pin is authorized by local commanders and is not considered a warfare qualification badge, such as the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) insignia. People who served on small craft during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

may receive the pin by asking the Department of the Navy.

The Navy maintains a similar pin, the Craftmaster Insignia, for those qualified in the operation of vessels such as

Landing Craft Utility A Landing Craft Utility (LCU) is a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or pi ...

, Landing Craft Air Cushioned, large harbor tugs, and various other tugs and barges. It is also awarded to certain staff officers and some

midshipmen A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afric ...

References

* "Awards and Decorations Instruction", Naval Coastal Warfare group one * "https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/US%20Navy%20Regulations/Chapter%2010%20-%20Precedence,%20Authority%20and%20Command.pdf"

External links

MILPERSMAN 1200-030
Small Craft Insignia United States military badges Military boats

See also

References

External links