Marine Safety Insignia
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The Marine Safety Insignia is awarded to enlisted members (grade E-4 and above) and officers of the United States Coast Guard and United States Coast Guard Reserve, to Coast Guard Civilians, and to members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to recognize professional accomplishment in the Marine Safety program. In addition, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has a similar award called the Trident Device as part of the Auxiliary's Marine Safety Trident Program.
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[edit] History
Admiral James Loy, as Commandant of the Coast Guard, approved the creation of the Marine Safety Insignia on November 2, 2000 to recognize the professional accomplishment of personnel in the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Program. The Commandant presented Rear Admiral Robert C. North, then-Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, with the first Marine Safety Insignia on April 10, 2001 "on behalf of all the marine safety professionals past, present, and future." Admiral North then presented the second Marine Safety Insignia to Master Chief Bell, the Marine Science Technician Rating Force Manager.[1]
[edit] Description
On the Insignia criteria information sheet, the description and symbolism of the Marine Safety Insignia is explained:[2]
| “ | The Marine Safety Insignia is a gold rectangle with a trident extending within its length. A gold compass rose is centered above the trident with a silver shield covering the center of the compass rose. A braided rope runs the length of the trident and is intertwined with the compass rose.
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[edit] Criteria
To receive the Marine Safety Insignia the member must obtain four Marine Safety qualifications found in Chapter 7.C.2 of Marine Safety Manual, Volume 1 with the exception of the following qualifications: Liferaft Inspector (LR), Pistol (EP), Rifle (ER), Shotgun (ES), and any local qualifications such as OOD, CDO, or watchstander. The member must also have four years of service at a marine safety field unit.[1][2][3]
Marine Safety operational field units include Sectors, Sector Field Offices, Activities, Marine Safety Units, Marine Inspection Offices, Marine Safety Detachments, Port Safety Stations, Marine Safety Field Offices, Marine Inspection Detachments, Regional Inspection Offices, Detached Duty Offices, Container Inspection Training and Assistance Teams, Regional Exam Centers, or Strike Teams.
Temporary entitlement may be issued by the Commanding Officer of a Marine Safety field unit to a member who has received four Marine Safety qualifications but has not been at the unit for at least four years. The Marine Safety Insignia can be worn while the member is permanently assigned to the unit or another Marine Safety field unit. The entitlement becomes permanent after 4 years of Marine Safety field unit experience is completed.
[edit] Insignia qualifications
The list of Marine Safety qualifications was originally published in the Marine Safety Manual, Volume 1 as specified in ALCOAST 295/01. Over time some qualifications have been discontinued, while other qualifications have been created.[4] The merger of Marine Safety Offices into Sectors has changed the structure of which qualifications are offered in what division or branch.
[edit] Inspection Division
Marine Safety qualifications available in the Inspections Division include: Hull Inspector (HI), Hull Inspector-Tankship (HT), Machinery Inspector (MI), Machinery Inspector-Steam (MS), T-boat Inspector (TI), K-boat inspector (KI), Barge Inspector (BI), Dry Dock Inspector (DI), Facility Inspector (EU), Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) Inspector (MU), Foreign Chemical Tank Vessel Inspector (ML) (also called the Letter of Compliance (LOC) Inspector), Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) Inspector (OI), Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner (CFVE); Foreign Vessel Inspector (FV), Foreign Tank Vessel Inspector (TV), Control Verification Inspector (CV), Container Inspector (EC), Explosive Handling Team Supervisor (EB), Port State Control Boarding Officer (EI), and Harbor Safety Officer (EK).
[edit] Investigations Division
Qualifications include Maritime Casualty Investigator (FO), Maritime Enforcement Investigator (EO), Suspension and Revocation Hearing Investigator (RO), Suspension and Revocation Investigator (FN), and, depending on unit structure, Pollution Investigator (ED) and Federal On-Scene Coordinator Representative (ET).
[edit] Other Marine Safety Divisions/Branches
Depending on the structure of the unit, Marine Safety qualifications available in the Waterways Management Division, Incident Management Division, or Contingency Planning Branch include Waterways Management Representative (WM), Contingency Planner (CP), Harbor Safety Officer (EK), Explosive Handling Team Supervisor (EB), Pollution Investigator (ED), and Federal On-Scene Coordinator Representative (ET).
[edit] Regional Examination Center
Qualifications available at Regional Examination Centers (REC) include Licensing Evaluator (FG) and Licensing Examiner (FE).
[edit] Strike Team
Trainees assigned to Strike Teams should attend courses as detailed in the National Strike Force Training and Qualification instruction. Upon completion of specified courses, NSF members complete OJT and qualifications in a specific order. Areas of designation are: Response Member (EE); Response Officer (EH); Response Technician (EF); and Response Supervisor (EG).
[edit] Insignia guidance and references
The first detailed information on the Marine Safety Insignia was announced in ALCOAST 183/01. More guidance was included in ALCOAST 295/01. Other forms and guidance previously available on Headquarters websites are no longer available after the Headquarters reorganization that occurred in the mid-2000's. Additionally, the Marine Safety Insignia guidance was promulgated prior to the adoption of the Sector construct, so previous guidance may not completely reflect the current Coast Guard operational structure. Some references have been maintained on unofficial websites.[2][5]
ALCOAST 295/01 also says a future update of the Coast Guard Personnel Manual will contain guidance on the Marine Safety Insignia. As of 2009, the manual lists the Marine Safety Insignia in the table of contents as Chapter 6.C.4, but no Chapter 6.C.4 exists.[Note 1]
[edit] Wearing of the insignia
The insignia must be worn in accordance with Chapter 3.E.1 of the Uniform Regulations Manual.
[edit] Trident Device
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has a similar device called the Trident Device. This device is awarded for four years of support of the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Program.[6]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Also listed in the table of contents but missing from the manual in Chapter 6.C are sections on the Law Enforcement Detachment/Tactical Law Enforcement Team Insignia and the Boat Force Operations Insignia. Sections within Chapter 6.C on the Cutterman Insignia and the Port Security Unit Insignia are present and fully detailed. Officer-only insignia are discussed in Chapter 6.A, and enlisted-only insignia are discussed in Chapter 6.B.
[edit] References
- ^ a b ALCOAST 183/01
- ^ a b c MSThub.com - Archive of Marine Safety Insignia criteria hosted on an unofficial website.
- ^ ALCOAST 295/01
- ^ ALCOAST 387/07
- ^ MSThub.com - Archive of Marine Safety Insignia request form hosted on an unofficial website.
- ^ AuxMDept.org - Trident Program description
[edit] External links
- MSThub.com - Criteria - Archive of Marine Safety Insignia criteria hosted on an unofficial website.
- MSThub.com - Form - Archive of Marine Safety Insignia request form hosted on an unofficial website.
