Integrated Undersea Surveillance System Badge
Encyclopedia
Military badges of the United States
Military badges of the United States are awards authorized by the United States armed forces that signify rating, qualification, or accomplishment in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments. Personal recognition is granted to...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
which has been in existence since the 1990s. The insignia is awarded to those personnel who have been trained and qualified in naval sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
and undersea surveillance technology
SOSUS
SOSUS, an acronym for Sound Surveillance System, is a chain of underwater listening posts across the northern Atlantic Ocean near Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom — the GIUK gap. It was originally operated by the United States Navy for tracking Soviet submarines, which had to pass...
.
A direct result of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System insignia was originally created due to the rise in Soviet submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
technology during the 1960s and 1970s. With the fall of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System insignia became a symbol of the “brown water” submarine threats of such nations as North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
To be awarded the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System insignia, a service member must have completed initial sonar technology training followed by 18–24 months of field experience in naval undersea surveillance. The Integrated Undersea Surveillance System insignia is only presented following completion of prescribed personal qualification standards (PQS), as well as a successful completion of a written and oral examination board.
The insignia, itself, consists of a seahorse
Seahorse
Seahorses compose the fish genus Hippocampus within the family Syngnathidae, in order Syngnathiformes. Syngnathidae also includes the pipefishes. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning “sea monster”.There are nearly 50 species of seahorse...
superimposed on a winged globe. The insignia is issued in two degrees: silver for enlisted personnel and gold for officers. The Integrated Undersea Surveillance System insignia is one of the rarest insignia of the Navy as it is only presented to enlisted sailors who hold sonar ratings and to limited duty and restricted line officers trained in sonar operations.
An enlisted member who receives the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System Specialist warfare qualification are authorized to place the designator (IUSS) after his/her rating designator. For example, if Bob Jones is an IUSS-qualified Sonar Technician Surface First Class Petty Officer, then his written name would be STG1(IUSS) Jones or if he is a Sonar Technician Submarine First Class Petty Officer, then his written name would be STS1 (IUSS) Jones.
See also
- List of United States Navy enlisted warfare designations
- Badges of the United States NavyBadges of the United States NavyInsignia and badges of the United States Navy are military "badges" issued by the United States Department of the Navy to naval service members who achieve certain qualifications and accomplishments while serving on both active and reserve duty in the United States Navy...
- Military badges of the United StatesMilitary badges of the United StatesMilitary badges of the United States are awards authorized by the United States armed forces that signify rating, qualification, or accomplishment in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments. Personal recognition is granted to...
- Obsolete badges of the United States militaryObsolete badges of the United States militaryObsolete badges of the United States military are a number of U.S. military insignia which were issued in the early 20th century leading up to and including badges issued during the Second World War. Such badges were eventually phased out of the United States armed forces in favor of the modern...
- Uniforms of the United States NavyUniforms of the United States NavyThis article examines dress uniforms, daily service uniforms, working uniforms, special situations, and the history of uniforms of the United States Navy...