SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia
|
|
SSBNBadges.jpg
The SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by officers and men of the United States Navy's submarine service who have completed strategic deterrent patrols in nuclear ballistic missile submarines. It is the successor to the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia awarded for submarine patrols during World War II.
Design of the SSBN pin shows a silver Lafayette-class submarine with superimposed Polaris missile and electron rings with signify the armament and nuclear powered characteristics of the FBM Deterrent Force. A scroll beneath the submarine holds up to six service stars, with one bronze star authorized for each successful patrol or a silver star for five successful patrols. At twenty successful patrols, the SSBN pin is upgraded to a gold design.
After the insignia was approved, awards were made retroactive to the first strategic deterrent patrol of USS George Washington (SSBN-598) which was completed on 21 January 1961. The strategic deterrent patrols of the Regulus missile boats were not deemed worthy of this insignia.
The SSBN pin is typically worn on the left uniform pocket, below award ribbons. The badge is considered a "secondary insignia", meaning that the badge is worn secondary to a primary warfare pin, such as the Submarine Warfare insignia. Personnel eligible to wear other secondary submarine insignias, such as the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia or the Deep Submergence Insignia, may only wear one such insignia at a time according to their personal desire.
| United States Navy Submarine Service Insignia |
|
Submarine Warfare ("Dolphins") | Submarine Medical | Submarine Supply | Engineering Duty | SSBN Deterrent Patrol | Submarine Combat Patrol | Deep Submergence | Diesel Boats Forever |
References
MILPERSMAN 1200-010: SUBMARINE PATROL INSIGNIA QUALIFICATIONS, a public domain publication of the United States Navy's Bureau of Personnel