On 1 December 1978, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral T.B. Hayward approved the enlisted surface warfare specialist (ESWS) qualification program. This approval followed immediately by the promulgation of OPNAV Instruction 1412.4, which provided the specific details of the program.

Since the introduction of the surface warfare officer (SWO) qualification program in 1975, a strong advocacy for a similar program for surface enlisted was started. The program was initiated in 1977 when the surface warfare commanders (DCNO Surface Warfare, COMNAVSURFLANT and COMNAVSURFPAC) gave their conceptual approval to the development of a surface enlisted qualification program.

Initial guidelines for the program at that time were:

1. It was to reflect a level of qualification above and beyond the normal level of professional and performance criteria necessary for advancement.
2. The qualification was applicable to and reasonably attainable by all "surface" ratings.
3. Qualification was an attainable goal for dedicated enlisted serving on ships and afloat staffs.
4. Management of the program would not become an administrative burden on the ship.
5. Qualification criteria would be well defined and specific.
6. Participation was voluntary, and there was neither a financial reward nor hazardous duty associated with the qualification.

The silver cutlass was available for the first time in April 1979.

Specifically the criteria in 1979 to qualify was as follows:

1. Be a petty officer
2. Have 24 months on a surface ship
3. Have a performance mark and leadership marks of top 30% for CPO's and 3.4 for petty officers.
4. Complete the PQS for damage control, damage control petty officer, repair party leader, and work center supervisor.
5. Qualify in all watch stations for rating and pay grade.
6. Perform an oral board held by the commanding officer, executive officer or lieutenant commander.
7. Be recommended by the chain of command, and approved by the commanding officer.

OPNAVINST 1414.9 is the Navy instruction that governs the enlisted warfare qualification programs. This instruction also cancels OPNAVINST 1414.2A.

The ESWS pin is authorized for wear by any enlisted member of the United States Navy who is permanently stationed aboard a navy afloat command and completes the enlisted surface warfare qualification program and personal qualification standards (PQS). The ESWS badge can be obtained at any time after reporting to a ship. If in the paygrade of E-5 (petty officer 2nd class), it is a requirement for advancement to E-6 (petty officer 1st class). It is extremely uncommon for sailors in paygrade E-3 and below to earn their ESWS pin but strongly encouraged to stand among their peers for promotion. Sailors for whom ESWS is their secondary community (mostly those in the air warfare community) are not required to re-qualify.

An enlisted person who has qualified for his or her ESWS pin places the designator SW after his or her rate and rating; for example, Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Petty Officer Second Class Yefremov, having qualified for his ESWS pin, is identified as CTR2(SW) Yefremov.

For those enlisted personnel who are subsequently commissioned as officers and are shipboard SWO's, the ESWS badge is replaced, but only after they have fully completed their Surface Warfare Officer qualifications.

Features of the Pin

Unlike other warfare pins available to both enlisted and officers, the ESWS and SWO pins differ by more than just color (gold for officers and silver for enlisted is a common theme in U.S. Navy uniforms). The blade weapons behind the hull on the SWO pin are swords. The blade weapons on the enlisted pin are cutlasses. This can clearly be seen in the curvature of the blades and the shape of the handguards. This derives from the sword being a symbol of naval officers and their authority, while cutlasses were traditionally issued for battle to enlisted sailors during the age of sail. The ship that is featured in the middle of the pin is that of a “modern warship” of when the pin came out in 1978 and looks as if it’s a Knox Class Frigate.

The ESWS is 15⁄16 inch (24 mm) tall and 2.75 inches (70 mm) wide.^[1]

The new instruction will do away with the requirement for all first-tour Sailors to walk away from their first sea-duty command with their ESWS qualification. Sailors will not be required to enroll in a command’s ESWS program until they reach a journeyman or master-level (E-5 - E-9). These Sailors will be enrolled in their ESWS program after 12 months onboard, or at the commanding officer’s discretion, and from there will have 18 months to qualify in ESWS.

In attempts to improve damage control and ship survivability, the updated program will add more prerequisite PQS, including the following:

• Damage Control 301-312.
• Damage Control Watches 301, Sounding and Security.
• Ship’s Maintenance and Material Management (3-M) Systems 301-303.[1]