Marine Safety Insignia



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 Auxiliary Marine Safety (Trident) Device as part of the Auxiliary's Marine Safety Trident Program.

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, who accepted it "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.

Description
On the original Insignia criteria information sheet, the description and symbolism of the Marine Safety Insignia is explained: 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.
 * The trident represents the three pronged approach to our mission; prevention, preparedness, and response, and is also the recognized symbol of the MST [Marine Science Technician] rating.
 * The compass rose is a recognized symbol of the world – acknowledging our worldwide reputation, influence, and duty stations.
 * The shield represents the safety and protection of people, property, and the environment.
 * The combination of silver and gold in the same insignia represents the Enlisted members (silver) and the Officer Corps (gold). Not having a separate color insignia for each symbolizes the similarity of qualifications required to fulfill the mission, regardless of rank/rate.
 * The braided rope represents the Coast Guard Seal, our service, and its maritime heritage. The rope intertwined among the other symbols represents the coordination between all marine safety personnel and operations for the successful completion of our mission.

Criteria
To receive the Marine Safety Insignia the member must earn four marine safety competencies. To earn the permanent version of the insignia, the member must also serve a cumulative five years at marine safety field units. The list of marine safety competencies and definition of a "marine safety field unit" is detailed on the Coast Guard's CG Portal intranet webpage.

Temporary entitlement may be issued by the commanding officer of a marine safety field unit to a member who has received four marine safety competencies and completed the marine safety initial indoctrination training program but who has not been assigned to a marine safety field unit for at least five years. The temporary entitlement is for the period that the member is permanently assigned to that unit.

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. Updated guidance was announced in ALCOAST 192/10, which changed the marine safety field unit service requirement for permanent award from four years to five, and updated the criteria to reflect modified qualification codes and the adoption of the Sector organizational structure.

Policy regarding the Marine Safety Insignia is found in Chapter 4.B.4 of the Coast Guard Enlisted and Officer Accessions, Evaluations, and Advancements Manuals. The insignia must be worn in accordance with Chapter 3.E.1 of the Uniform Regulations Manual.

Auxiliary Marine Safety (Trident) Device
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has a similar device called the Auxiliary Marine Safety (Trident) Device. This device is awarded after completion of:
 * 1) The following marine safety courses: Introduction to Marine Safety and Environmental Protection; FEMA Emergency Management Institute Courses ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 210 or ICS 300, IS 700 and IS 800; and the Ocean Conservancy Good Mate Course.
 * 2) Four Performance Qualification Standards (PQS) as described in the USCG Auxiliary Marine Safety Performance Qualification Standards.
 * 3) Five years of service in Marine Safety & Environmental Protection missions (consisting of at least 96 hours of service per calendar year); however, a conditional award of this device may be awarded based on a recommendation from the local  USCG Captain of the Port if all aforementioned requirements are met other than the five years of service.