Surface warfare insignia

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The surface warfare insignia is the United States Navy badge awarded to personnel qualified to serve on surface warships. There are four classes: line, staff, special operations, and enlisted. Coast Guard personnel assigned to Navy commands may wear the line or enlisted surface warfare badge.

Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) pin
- The SWO pin is the first major surface warfare qualification for eligible officers.
- Requirements include qualifying as officer of the deck (underway and in port), small-boat officer, and combat information center watch officer, plus training in shipboard engineering, naval history, and damage control. Senior training occurs at Surface Warfare Officers’ School in Newport, Rhode Island.
- The SWO badge is usually a prerequisite for Tactical Action Officer (TAO) training.
- Junior officers in the surface community are called “1160s” until they qualify as SWOs; after qualification, their designator becomes 1110 (Regular Navy) or 1115 (Navy Reserve).
- Time limits for qualification have changed. Before 2018, junior officers had 24 months to qualify. After the McCain and Fitzgerald collisions, there is no fixed time limit on a first tour; officers must qualify before transferring to their next command, or they cannot transfer. If an officer leaves the SWO community, it is noted as “Non-Attained.”

Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS)
- The ESWS program began with approval in 1979 and is governed by Navy instructions.
- It is earned by completed ESWS qualification PQS while aboard a ship. ESWS is often required for advancement to E-6 and is denoted by adding the “SW” suffix after the rate (for example, CTR2(SW)).
- The ESWS badge is silver, with imagery reflecting the historical link to enlisted sailors.

Other versions and related notes
- In 2018, the Navy updated ESWS guidelines so that first-tour sailors aren’t automatically required to have ESWS on their first duty command; they may enroll after about a year aboard and have time to qualify, with expanded prerequisites.
- The Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer (SWSCO) pin is for Supply Corps officers who qualify as surface warfare supply officers; these officers train for shipboard supply, logistics, and related duties. SWSCO qualification is generally required within about 18 months of reporting aboard in afloat roles, and some positions limit duties (e.g., not standing Officer of the Deck underway).
- Other supply-related pins exist for specific communities (Naval Aviation Supply, Submarine Supply, and Navy Expeditionary Supply).
- The Surface Chaplain Officer Qualification Insignia began being awarded in 2023.
- The United States Coast Guard does not issue the SWO badge. Their closest equivalent is the Cutterman insignia, earned through PQS and time at sea; the Coast Guard Auxiliary also uses a Cutterman designation. Personnel permanently cross-assigned to afloat Navy commands may qualify for the Navy surface warfare system. The NOAA Commissioned Corps uses a deck officer pin for senior watch officers, authorized by the director of the NOAA Corps.