The Coxswain Insignia ( ) is a qualification device of the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...

which is issued to enlisted personnel who qualify as a

coxswain The coxswain ( , or ) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from ''cock'', referring to the cockboat, a type of ship's boat ...

. The Coxswain on a Coast Guard Small Boat is in charge of the vessel and all personnel on board. Coxswains, while underway, operate without regard to rank or seniority. A Coxswain in the Coast Guard has a responsibility that is normally only undertaken by officers in other branches of the military. The Coxswain Insignia and the

Surfman Badge The Surfman Badge is a military badge of the United States Coast Guard, issued to enlisted or officer personnel who qualify as Coxswains authorized to operate surf boats in heavy surf. Those so qualified are referred to as surfmen, a term that ...

may not be worn simultaneously. The

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

equivalent of the Coxswain badge is the Small Craft Enlisted Pin. The Coxswain Pin can be awarded Temporarily or Permanently. To be awarded the Coxswain Insignia permanently a member has to have 5 years of certification with at least 2 years on a Standard Boat and retain certification by retaking and passing the appropriate tests. The

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA, USCGAUX, CGAux, or USCG Aux) is the civilian uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. Congress established the unit on 23 June 1939, as the United States Coast Guard Reserve ...

also issues its own version of the insignia. The insignia is similar to the Coast Guard version but is bronze instead of pewter, and has the Auxiliary insignia located in the center of the device in place of the compass rose.

References

United States military badges {{USCG-stub

See also

References