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

Badges of the United States Navy

Insignia 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...

 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 was first created in the 1970s following the close of the Vietnam War

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

. The intent in creating the Small Craft Pin was to give recognition to the specially trained naval personnel who comprised 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 two grades for both officers and enlisted. The gold (officer) or silver (enlisted) metal pin consists of a small craft circumscribed by an anchor flukes on the sides and bottom and a three star pennant on top.

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 engineer, coxswain, gunner, and boat commander. Enlisted personnel must be the Petty Officer in Charge (POIC) of a small craft for six months before they qualify. Officers must hold the additional qualification of Watch Officer in order to be awarded the Small Craft Pin.

Sailors who have earned the silver pin while enlisted and later 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). Any officer who has earned the Surface Warfare insignia may automatically be awarded the gold Small Craft Pin upon joining a small boat command. The pin is also awarded, by default, to any officer given command of a unit which utilizes small boats , upon receipt of the Command Ashore Pin

Command Ashore insignia

Command Ashore insignia is a breast insignia of the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard.-United States Navy:In the U.S. Navy, the Command Ashore insignia is a gold metal, three-pronged trident device with a trident centered on an elliptically shaped laurel wreath...

, regardless of previous qualifications. Some warrant officers who earn the pin while enlisted continue to wear the insignia as warrant officers.

The Small Craft Pin is authorized by local commanders and is not considered the same as a warfare qualification badge, such as the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) insignia. The Small Craft Pin may also be retroactively awarded to the Second World War, upon request of the service member to the Department of the Navy.

The U.S. Navy maintains a similar pin, known as the Craftmaster Badge

Craftmaster Badge

The Craftmaster insignia is a decoration of the United States Navy which is awarded to those personnel who have qualified as underway boat captains of U.S. Navy small vessels and support craft...

, intended for those qualified in the operation of non-combat support small craft such as tugs and barges.

See also

• List of United States Navy enlisted warfare designations
• Badges of the United States Navy
  Badges of the United States Navy
  Insignia 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 States
  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...
  
  
• Obsolete badges of the United States military
  Obsolete badges of the United States military
  Obsolete 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 Navy
  Uniforms of the United States Navy
  This article examines dress uniforms, daily service uniforms, working uniforms, special situations, and the history of uniforms of the United States Navy...
  
  

The three stars represent the three main areas of U.S. Navy Riverine operations in Vietnam; OPERATION GAME WARDEN, OPERATION MARKET TIME, and OPERATION SEALORDS.

External links

• MILPERSMAN 1200-030: Small Craft Insignia