CPO Command Identification Badges are special United States Navy and United States Coast Guard badges which are issued to the most senior Chief Petty Officer in a given U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard command. The command may either be a shore or surface unit.
The appearance of the CPO Command Identification Badge is determined by the rank of its holder and the level of the command in which they serve. At the single command level, the badge is issued with word “Command” on its face with a Chief Petty Officer anchor showing the foiled anchor insignia of the bearer. E-7 CPOs display the anchor, Senior Chief Petty Officers the anchor with star and Master Chief Petty Officers the anchor with two stars.
The Coast Guard takes it one step further by have either a silver or gold badge. Silver badges are non-designated command positions while gold badges are Commandant-designated command positions. Non-designated command badges can be found at the Unit and Command level while Commandant-designated command badges are found at higher command elements.
At higher Navy commands, the designation of “Fleet” and “Force” is displayed instead of “Command” indicating the senior enlisted member of an entire Navy Fleet or Task Force. Holders of this badge are always Command Master Chief Petty Officers.
For the Coast Guard, the higher commands are always Commandant-designated command positions at the Command, Area, Reserve Force Master Chief (RFMC), Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force (MCPO-CGRF), etc. level. All Commandant-designated command positions are at the Command Master Chief Petty Officer pay grade.
The highest CPO Identification Badge of all is the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Badge and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Badge held solely by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard respectively.
CPO Identification Badges are worn on the lower left pocket of a Navy and Coast Guard uniform. Navy CPO identifications are considered temporary identification badges only and are surrendered at the termination of the assignment for which they are held. Coast Guard CPO Command Identification Badges are permanent awards. However, if a CPO is not currently filling a billet defined by the CPO Identification Badge they have earned, it is worn on the lower right pocket of the Coast Guard uniform.
Famous quotes containing the words command and/or badge:
“How did you get in the Navy? How did you get on our side? Ah, you ignorant, arrogant, ambitious—keeping sixty two men in prison cause you got a palm tree for the work they did. I don’t know which I hate worse, you or that malignant growth that stands outside your door. How did you ever get command of a ship? I realize in wartime they have to scrape the bottom of the barrel. But where’d they ever scrape you up?”
—Frank S. Nugent (1908–1965)
“Signor Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances.
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)